STUDY ON THE EXTERIOR OF COWS OF THE ABERDEEN ANGUS BREED REARED IN BULGARIA. I. EXTERIOR MEASUREMENTS

Svetoslav Karamfilov, Vasil Nikolov

Abstract: Subject of the present study is the exterior of 130 cows of the Aberdeen Angus breed, reared in Northern Bulgaria under selection control of the National association of beef cattle in Bulgaria. Exterior measurements of cows born in Bulgaria, Germany and Hungary have been performed. The wither height of the cows between 3-7 years is averagely 129.86 ± 0.74 cm, the body length is 163.18 ± 1.27 cm, the chest girth is 192.20 ± 1.33 cm, and the cannon bone girth - 19.73 ± 0.16 cm. With reference to heifers two years old, the exterior parameters indicated above are respectively 95.3%, 93.6%, 94.3 and 96.3% of those in the cows five years old. The origin of the cows has a real influence on the tail base height and the seated height (P < 0.01), and on the croup width at the seated heights (P < 0.05), and the age group - on the latter (P < 0.05) and on the chest length (P < 0.05). The cows born in Bulgaria are larger when compared to those born in Germany and Hungary – the wither height is respectively 5.25 cm and 1.79 cm higher. The body length of Bulgarian animals is 2.73 bigger when compared to that of the animals born in Germany and 3.71 bigger than that of those born in Hungary. The chest width is the same with reference to all animals subject to study but the chest girth of the cows born in Bulgaria is 6 cm bigger than that of those born in Germany.

Keywords: Aberdeen Angus; age; exterior; origin

Date published: 2019-01-28