Characteristics of the structure of the broodstock of Ayrshire cattle in the Republic of Mari El

Introduction. The article describes the constitutional and productive qualities of the Ayrshire breed of cattle bred in ZAO “Mariiskoe” of the Medvedevsky district of the Republic of Mari El, lists the shortcomings. The purpose of the following work was to determine the breed and class composition of the herd; description of the genealogical structure of the herd and characteristics of cows in terms of milk production; assessment of the reproductive ability of cows of the Ayrshire breed bred in ZAO “Mariiskoe” of the Medvedevsky district of the Republic of Mari El. Materials and methods. The studies were carried out at ZAO “Mariiskoe” − a breeding reproducer for breeding Ayrshire cattle and on the basis of the regional information and breeding center − OOO “Biogenetic Center “Povolzhye”. For the experiment, 121 heads of Ayrshire cattle were selected. The studies were carried out in accordance with The procedure and conditions for the grading of breeding cattle of dairy and dairy-meat areas of productivity (approved by order of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation dated October 28, 2010 No. 379). In addition, documents of breeding and zootechnical accounting were used. Research results, discussion. In the course of the study, the following results were obtained. First of all, the breed and class composition of Ayrshire cattle was determined in the period from 2013 to 2020. The genealogical structure of the Ayrshire herd is shown. The main part of the livestock belongs to the line of R.U. Errant AAA 13093 and accounts for 31.4 % of the total number of cattle of the Ayrshire breed, in second place is the line of S.B. Comander 174233, then O.R. Lichting 120135, 13.2 % and 9.09 % respectively. The number of cows of all ages belongs to the same lines and remains in the same places with a percentage of 31.4 %, 13.2 % and 9.09 %, respectively. Heifers of all ages belong to R. U. Errant AAA and Sniperum SRB 63640 lines. The distribution of Ayrshire cows by the number of calvings for 2020 is given. The characteristics of cows of the Ayrshire breed in terms of milk productivity and reproductive ability in dynamics for 7 years are given. Conclusion. Monitoring determined the increase in productivity of Ayrshire cows.