MODERN CONDITION AND PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE UKRAINIAN WHITEHEAD BREED
Authors: Voitenko S. L. , Vishnevsky L. V. 
Published: November 2018

The article shows the state of Ukrainian Whiteheaded cattle, which includes distribution of cattle, the number of animals belonging to respective bloodlines, evaluation of young animals with live weight in the process of growing and milk production of cows during the first lactation. It reflects the historic development of the breed when it was colonism whiteheaded cattle, which turned into the original breed, undergone a significant expansion in livestock and increase of productivity, decreased in the number, was as basis for creation of Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy breed and now bred only in one breeding farm. Visual estimation of animal exterior showed good development of cows and calves and their belonging to the dairy type. In the vast majority the cows of the herd have a black suit, a white head with " glasses" around the eyes, white belly, udder, lower legs and brush of the tail. The youngsters aren’t consolidated by the exterior, and among them there are animals which are not typical for Ukrainian Whiteheaded breed. The young animals have some lag in live weight behind the breed standard [12] to 7 months’ age with exceeding of this trait in certain periods quite significantly in the future. It was established that selection of heifers on live weight will be effective at the early age (1-5 months), given the coefficient of variation of live weight – 22,63-30,21% and will not have a significant influence in the future.

Milk yields of first-calf heifers vary considerably depending on the origin. The milk yield of first-calf heifers in the herd was 4238,5 kg on average, the heifers belonging to Mart 171 and Ozon 417 bloodlines had the best milk performance – 4483,1 and 4254,9 kg accordingly. The most aligned milk yield during the first lactation was in the cows belonging to Ozon 417 bloodline, the limits of the trait are 4128,5-4327,4 kg with the average value by the line 4254,9 kg. In contrast, the first-calf heifers of Ryezvyi 33 bloodline with average milk yield 4048,9 kg had limits of the trait 2199,3-4736,1 kg. Even greater range in cows’ milk yield during the first lactation R= 4939 kg (limits 1687 – 6626 kg) is characterized for the herd in general, it shows, on the one hand, the possibility of qualitative improvement of cows’ productivity due to selection on the investigated trait and lack of selection in the herd on the other hand. It was established that daughters of bull Chardash belonging to Ryezvyi 33 bloodline produced 4736,1 kg of milk for 305 days of the first lactation with fat content 3,6%, whereas Zlak’s descendants of the same line were characterized by the lowest milk yield for the first completed lactation – 2199,3 kg with fat content 3,7% and the average value by the line – 4048,9 kg of milk, fat content 3,6%. Similar variability of first-calf heifers’ milk yields, depending on the origin, is typical for other bloodlines of Ukrainian Whiteheaded breed.

To increase milk productivity of Ukrainian Whiteheaded cows is recommended to repeat successful combinations of parental forms, and to preserve the breed – to carry out an objective assessment of animals by a range of traits, given the efficiency of selection of heifers on live weight at early age.