IMPROVING BREEDING AND PRODUCTIVE QUALITIES OF AYRSHIRE CATTLE IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF MARI EL OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

In modern conditions of development of dairy cattle breeding in the Russian Federation, the problem of qualitatively improving existing breeds and animal populations is coming to the fore. Ayrshire cattle bred in the republic are purebred and have an genetics elite class. The herd is relatively young - the average age of cows is 2.5 calving. Milking of first-calf heifers amounted to 6583 kg of milk, full-age cows - 7000 kg. Milking of first-calf heifers amounted to 6583 kg of milk, full-age cows - 7000 kg. The average milk fat content in the herd is 4.1%, and the milk protein content is 3.12%. Analysis of the milk productivity of cows, depending on the linear affiliation, showed that the animals of O.R. Lightning 120135 had the highest level of productivity (milk yield - 7315 kg, milk fat content - 4.14%, milk protein - 3.15%). Research has shown that have a high genetic potential, their parental index for milk yield was 8364 kg, in the mass fraction of fat - 4.41%, protein - 3.23%. Thus, Ayrshire cattle in the republic are characterized by excellent productive qualities and high genetic potential. Further improvement of livestock will be carried out on the basis of purebred breeding methods. When selecting cows for the breeding core, the breeding traits will be: milk yield, mass fraction of fat and protein in milk, reproductive abilities, exterior, milk flow rate. In the selection of Ayrshire cattle, an individual, corrective selection will be applied, which improves milk production and body type