Study on the exterior of cows of the Hereford cattle breed reared in Bulgaria

Svetoslav Karamfilov

Abstract: The present study examines the exterior of 111 cows of the Hereford cattle breed, reared in Central
and South West Bulgaria. The exterior measurements taken are of cows born in Bulgaria and Germany.
The full adult cows have height at withers approximately 133.77 ± 0.68 cm, athwart body length
165.89 ± 0.91 cm, range of chest 194.41 ± 1.00 cm, range of shin-bone 20.42 ± 0.11 cm. The country
of birth of the cows influences the croup heights – at the hook bone, the tail setting (P < 0.001), the
rump (P < 0.01), the height at the withers (P < 0.05). Apart from the heights, the country of birth also
significantly influences the width (P < 0.001) and the range (P < 0.01) of the chest, and the croup width
at the hip joints (P < 0.01). The cows born in Bulgaria have 3 cm larger height at the withers when
compared to those born in Germany. The body height of the cows born in Bulgaria is more noticeable.
The depth of chest as well as the width of the croup are practically the same with reference to the animals of countries. The range of the chest of the cows born in Bulgaria is 6 cm larger than that
of those born in Germany.

Keywords: development.; exterior measurements; Hereford; origin

Date published: 2020-10-02