AGRICULTURE - Livestock

Livestock is a branch of agriculture dealing with breeding of agricultural animals for production of cattle-breeding products. It provides population with foodstuffs, industry with raw materials, gives live draught force and manures. Products and animal waste of stockbreeding are used for production of some fodder as well as various medicines. Development of stockbreeding and its productivity are closely connected with the development of plant growing, with the intensity of land use. The main branches of stockbreeding in Russia are: cattle-breeding, pig-breeding, sheep-breeding, goat-breeding, poultry raising, fish farming, bee-keeping, fur farming, reindeer-breeding.
For January 1, 1997 at farms of all categories in Russia there were 35.1 mln heads of cattle (including 15.9 mln cows), 19.1 mln heads of pigs, 20.3 mln heads of sheep, 2.5 mln heads of goats, 2.2 mln heads of horses, 372 mln heads of poultry. Besides, share of agricultural animals in the personal sector (crofts and farmings) makes 30-60% on the average. In 1996 in Russia more than 5 mln ton of meat (in slaughter weight) (about half of it is beef and veal, and about one third is pork), about 35 mln ton of milk, about 32 bln pieces of eggs, over 76 thousand ton of wool, over 46 thousand ton of honey were produced. Besides over 55% of meat, about 47% of milk, over 30% of eggs, and over 51% of wool were produced in the personal sector. Thus, the average for the country milk yield in 1996 per one cow made over 2100 kg, the average egg productivity made about 220 pcs per one hen, and the average wool clip made 3 kg per one sheep (in physical weight).
Development of stockbreeding at farms of the country is based on strengthening the fodder base, perfection of breed composition of herd, improvement of keeping and care of livestock, expansion of construction of cattle-breeding buildings in accordance with the requirements of zoohygiene, growth of mechanization, improvement of veterinary service.
In all in 1996 at farms of all categories about 139 million tons of fodder ( in terms of fodder units) were procured, including over 47 million tone of concentrates. Silage prevails, share of hay is smaller, and share of fodder roots is the least. Fodder consumption by one conventional head of cattle is made over 2.8 tons of fodder units. For liquidation of protein fodder deficit production of leguminous plants, grass and hay flour, nutrient yeast, and other fodder products with high content of protein is used.
Qualitative transformation of herd is of great importance for increase of stockbreeding productivity. Breed and productive qualities of the existing races are perfected. Pedigree livestock makes 98-100% of the total number. There is a network of pedigree farms dealing with perfection of pedigree qualities of animals.
In accordance with the accepted technology of keeping animals designing organizations elaborate standard projects of cowsheds, pigsties, hen houses, sheepcotes and other houses and constructions. In 1996 97 thousand units of for cattle, 60 - for pigs, 24.8 - for sheep, 727.7 thousand places for poultry.
Depending on natural and economic conditions of different zones stockbreeding in many subjects of the Federation has various directions. In the regions where the natural conditions are favorable for cultivation of herbs and silage species, where there are many pastures, manpower is available, where there are many large cities and thus milk demand, the leading branch is dairy. In the regions with large areas ploughed up, lack of pastures, developed cereal agriculture, and rather well provided with manpower dairy-beef stockbreeding and pig-breeding are mainly developed. In the regions with a great number of poorly productive natural pastures with lack of grain and succulent feed and insufficiently provided with manpower sheep-breeding and beef-stockbreeding are mainly developed. In the suburbs of large cities there is a network of farms specializing in whole milk production. Specialized poultry farms are set up. Many collective farms specialize in fattening of cattle and pigs.
Veterinary service in stockbreeding (prophylaxis and treatment of ill animals, veterinary sanitation examination of stockbreeding products) is fulfilled by a network of special institutions - stations on fighting against diseases of animals, veterinary clinics, points, laboratories, etc.

References
Romanenko G.A., Tyutyunnikov A.I., Pozdnyakov V.G., Shutjkov A.A. Agricultural-Industrial Complex of Russia. State, Place in Agro-Industrial Complex of the World, M., 1999 - 541, [in Russian].

Types of breeding
1. Dairy (2-3 kg of beef per 100 kg of milk; milling cows number more than 60%).
2. Dairy-meat (4-6 kg of beef per 100 kg of milk; milling cows number less than 60%).
3. Meat and milk (7-11 kg of beef and more per 100 kg of milk; miling cows number 35-40%).
4. Meat (no milk, beef production only).
5. Pig-breeding (cattle-breeding branch, specialized in production of pork and by-products).
6. Cattle fattening (fattening combined with green forage, silage and wastes of food industry).
7. Poultry (cattle breeding branch specialized in production of poultry meat, eggs and by-products).
8. Sheep-breeding (branch specialized in production of wool, lamb and fell).
9. Pedigree sheep-breeding (husbandry, dealing with pedigree sheep of high quality).
10. Pedigree fine-fleeced sheep-breeding.
11. Pastoral sheep-breeding (fattening on pastures during the year).
12. Stall-pastoral sheep-breeding (fathering on pastures located far from the farm).
13. Astrakhan sheep-breeding (cattle breeding branch specialized in breeding of pedigree sheep.
14. Camel breeding (branch, specialized in breeding of camels).
15. Herd horse-breeding (breeding of horses on pastures during the year).
16. Maral-breeding (breeding of reindeers in natural conditions).
17. Reindeer-breeding (branch, specialized in breeding of domesticated reindeers).
18. Cattle-breeding, specialized in production of milk and meat.

Cattle feeding types
1. Cattle-breeding based on fodder production.
2. Cattle-breeding based on mainly natural pastures and hayland (field fodder cropping and imported forage play a subsidiary role).
3. Cattle-breeding based imported forage.
4. Improved pastures and hayland are used for cattle breeding (forage reserves are obtained in areas under irrigation).
5. Cattle breeding is mainly combined with summer grazing on piedmont and mountain pastures (natural grassland in different vertical belts).
6. Winter grazing is applied for cattle-breeding.
7. Grazing during the whole year.
8. Different ways to keep cattle.

Reference
Rakitnikov A.N. Geography of Agriculture, M., 1970. - 255, [in Russian].

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