Volume 1

European breeds of cattle / prepared by M.H. French ; in association with I. Johansson [and others].

  • French, M. H.
Date:
1966
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: European breeds of cattle / prepared by M.H. French ; in association with I. Johansson [and others]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    velopment. The animals may now be considered dual-purpose in type. The hair color is a deep red, with the bulls slightly darker than the cows. Small white markings are tolerated in the inguinal and sternal areas but not elsewhere. The hair is soft, short and sleek, while the loose, thin skin is fairly darkly pigmented. The head is moderately long and the horns grow out from the poll and turn forward and downward. The muzzle is slate colored. The back is level, and the rump is long, with a prominent tail head. The body is deep, with properly sprung ribs. The udder is of a good size and well attached, and the past fault of a somewhat unbal anced udder is fast disappearing. Table 6 shows the average live- weights and body measurements of Red Danish cattle. Table 6. - Average liveweights and body measurements of Red Danish cattle Males Females 1 year 2 years Mature 1 year 2 years Mature Liveweight (kg) 450 715 950 250 425 650 Wither height (cm) 124 135 143 112 125 131 Chest girth (cm) 174 209 234 144 171 196 Chest depth (cm) 61 72 79 55 65 74 Hip width (cm) 43 51 60 37 45 57 Source: Larson and Ipsen, personal communication. r UNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS The average age at first calving of 3,083 Red Danish heifers in the period 1947-53 was 30 months but this average has now been reduced to 27 months (in 1961). Following this first partu rition, the above group of heifers was served, on an average, 132 days later (Johansson, 1954), and the aim in Denmark is to obtain a calving interval of 12 months. Johansson and Venge (1951) have also reported that 2.7 percent of parturitions have resulted in twin calves. Bulls are first used for service when 10 months old and certain males may have an active breeding life of up to 15 years.