Hair structure of the open range cattle

The animal hair coat has been developing for many centuries under the influence of changing environmental and climatic conditions. The article presents information on the morphological and histological hair structure of Kostroma and Yaroslavl cattle breeds depending on the season of the year. The hair of the cattle has been found to consist of hairs of different structures and to comprise top, intermediate and fur hairs. Their function is to keep the animal from the adverse environmental factors, ensure thermoregulation, protect against insects. In winter, the fur hair in the heifers of both breeds from the group under study made up more than 50% of the hair weight per one square centimeter. The top, intermediate and fur hairs were longer in the experimental group of animals, especially at withers, back and loin. During the pasture period, the hairs became shorter and thinner, the fur hairs partially falling out.