Craniological features of Siberian cattle from the collection of the State Museum of Animal Husbandry named after E. F. Liskun

Abstract

The study of the craniums of Siberian cattle has been carried out in the article. The research was carried out by researchers of the State Museum of Animal Husbandry named after E. F. Liskun of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy”. The purpose of the work was to analyze the craniological features of Siberian cattle from the collection of the State Museum of Animal Husbandry named after E. F. Liskun. The craniums of Siberian cattle collected by the expedition under the direct supervision of E. F. Liskun in 1910 served as the material for research. Unfortunately, to date not all craniums of this breed have been preserved in the museum’s collection, but morphological and craniometric studies conducted to a greater extent reveal the scientifi c aspects of craniology. The data of craniological measurements of Siberian cattle craniums collected more than 100 years ago clearly reveal the issues of the origin and formation of the breed. Siberian cattle had a number of valuable qualities that must be carefully considered, improved during purebred breeding and preserved during crossbreeding. It was the dairy cattle with highest fat content in milk among domestic cattle breeds in the beginning of twentieth century. The formation of local Siberian cattle was infl uenced by environmental conditions, as well as livestock breeds brought by Russian settlers. Based on the linear values of measurements of individual parts of the cranium and the study of the morphological features of the animal, Siberian cattle were assigned to one craniological type, and according to the measurements of the head it was divided into three groups. The craniums of cows and oxen within the same Siberian group of cattle diff ered slightly from each other in size. The main reasons for the diff erences in the cranium of Siberian cattle were the physical and geographical location of the habitat areas, natural and climatic conditions, as well as the cattle crossbreeding.