The Hereford breed
Differential characteristics of the breed
• The Hereford breed.
• Tolerant to long-duration walking trips.
• Bull-calves need 319 days for increasing the weight up to 210 kg.
• Easy calving.
• Low death rate of the calves.
• Good slaughter yield.
• Satisfactory acclimatization abilities.
• Resistant to some typical livestock diseases.
• Adaptation to various pasture types.
Average index of our livestock efficiency
| Index | Bulls | Cows |
|---|---|---|
| Birth weight (kg) | 28-33 | 25-30 |
| Mature animal weight (kg) | 900-1350 | 650-850 |
| Weight gain (gram/day) | 900-1500 | 800-1250 |
| Age at the first calving (months) | - | 24-30 |
Effective response to battening and formation of the carcass weight at slaughter has lead to the increased popularity of the breed for the needs of both purebred rearing and crossbreeding with dairy and beef breeds.
Slaughter yield is 60-70%. The milk producing ability is relatively low with the 1000 - 1200 kg of 3,9-4,0% fat milk being produced during a lactation period.
The beef is characterized by a tender structure and marbling. The Herefords have originally been reared as a beef breed and are rather unpretentious which has won them one of the most significant places in the beef market.
