Increasing competitiveness of Holstein cattle breed in Moscow region

The Holstein breed of cattle was registered in the Russian’s "State Register of Breeding Achievements Approved for Use" in 1993 (application № 9352682). By that time, its relative abundance was 0,7 %. Over the past 28 years, despite the continuing decline in the number of dairy cattle in the Russian Federation the share of the Holstein breed has grown to 34,7 %, while for the vast majority of other breeds and almost all domestic breeds This indicator has significantly decreased: for the Red Steppe breed to 2,7 % (3 times), Kholmogor breed to 4,4 % (almost 2 times), Simmental breed — to 4,5 % (4,8 times). The relative number of Black-and-White cattle from 1993 to 2010 increased from 45,8 to 57,9 %, over the next 11 years it decreased to 42,4 %. During the study period (from 1993—2021), in our country there was not only a reduction in the number of dairy cattle but also the replacement of domestic breeds for Holstein cattle (Red Steppe, Kholmogor, Simmental and Black-and-White). The results of studies convincingly testify: milk production of Holstein breed increased annually by 29,4—150,0 % higher than that observed in animals of domestic breeds; consumer demand for pedigree Holstein heifers and primiparous is constantly growing while for animals of domestic breeds is declining and in the last 11 years, the annual demand for breeding Holstein breed has increased by an average of 3,7 %; the overall assessment of the body type of Holstein first-calf cows increased by an average of 0,3 points annually and at the same time productivity increased by 206,7 kg per year; if the identified rates of improvement of Holstein cattle are maintained in the near future, by 2026, the milk productivity of pedigree cows of this breed can reach an average of at least 11,0 thousand kg in milk yield, the fat content in milk is 4,20 % and protein is 3,40 %.