Search

The established correlations between subcutaneous fat thickness and the quality attributes of carcasses and beef are relevant for producers and the processing industry. The purpose of the study is to establish the characteristics of slaughter, chemical composition, sensory physical, and technological properties of beef made of young bulls belonging to the Ukrainian black-and-white dairy breed aged 18 to 24 months, depending on the thickness of the fat on the carcass. The colour of muscle and adipose tissue, the conformation of carcasses, the development of subcutaneous fat, marbling, chemical composition, and sensory attributes of beef and broth made of it were determined in the context of different fat thicknesses on the carcass. With an increase in the thickness of subcutaneous fat, the fleshiness (conformation) of carcasses increases by 55.2% (P>0.95), the cover of carcasses with fat increases by 43.5 (P>0.99), and muscle penetration improves by 45.8% (P>0.95). With the thickening of subcutaneous fat from 0.5 to 1.1 cm or more, there is a tendency of tendons and ligaments in carcasses to increase by 53.6%, with adipose tissue increasing by 25.6%, points for the juiciness of boiled beef increasing by 20.8%, its tenderness increasing by 12.5%, and the reduction in the m. longissimus dorsi 'loin eye' area increased by 7.3%, marbling increased by 19.0%, reduction of moisture content in meat increased by 27.8%, and its boiling properties increased by 7.9%. With an increase in the thickness of subcutaneous fat in beef, there was a tendency for the reduction of its acidity (pH), the amount of dry matter, the total content of fat and minerals, deterioration of taste, aroma, residue after chewing boiled meat, flavour, and aroma, concentration, and transparency of broth made of it. The practical significance of these studies is to obtain knowledge that allows the assessment of the quality characteristics of carcasses and beef by the thickness of subcutaneous fat for their further use by producers and processing industries.

Beef cattle breeding in Ukraine is considered to be a promising and socially important livestock sector, which is experiencing a systemic decline in production. The purpose of the study was to find the most effective options for organizing production in beef cattle breeding. The analysis was based on the production data of an agricultural enterprise with more than 4.5 thousand heads of meat cattle, including more than 1.7 thousand cows. Taking into account the company's development strategy, which provided for the expanded reproduction and sale of bull-calves and culled breeding stock, the production indicators of the farm's operation under the cow-calf system and the complete cycle with the rearing of young animals to slaughter conditions were analysed. The analysis of these production options was carried out for the conditions of using year-round and seasonal (from February to April) calving on the farm. It was found that when calving throughout the year, the number of cattle places in the premises and pens will be relatively constant. In the case of seasonal calving, the structure of the herd changes significantly during the year. Sales of finished products during seasonal calving should take place in relatively short periods of time and in large groups. In particular, the monthly sales of bull-calves for fattening in the cow-calf system during seasonal calving will be on average 11 times higher than during year-round reproduction in the herd. With a full breeding cycle, the batches of bull-calves for slaughter will differ less, but will occur only in the spring months. Seasonal calving during the complete production cycle resulted in a 1% reduction in silage and 3% reduction in hay consumption and a 10% increase in pasture grass consumption. The full cycle of raising bull-calves for meat makes it possible to increase the total live weight of cattle sold by 59%, increase sales revenue by 54% and reduce total feed costs per 1 tonne of live weight by 20%. The practical significance of this study is to obtain results that can be used in the Ukrainian beef cattle industry to plan efficient production organization

After calving, changes occur in the reproductive system of cows, aimed at restoring the ability to reproduce. These processes occur against the background of exhaustion from childbirth, lactation, and a negative energy balance, which often leads to violations of the reproductive function, so the search for methods that contribute to its restoration is urgent. The aim of the work was to investigate the effect of the drug with nerotropic-metabolic action as a stimulator of postpartum recovery in cows and improvement of fertility. The drug included L-arginine, sodium succinate, sodium glutamate and carboxylates of food acids (Fe, Ca, Mn, Cu, Zn). The study was conducted by the method of groups on cows of the Holstein breed. A control and two experimental groups of 15 heads each were formed. Cows of experimental group 1 were given injections in the subcaudal fold on the 5th, 7th and 9th day after calving, dividing the active substance into 3 parts. Cows of experimental group 2 were administered the drug intraparenterally in the first 1.5-2 hours after calving in a full dose once 21st days after calving, the cows of the experimental groups did not show any deviations in blood biochemical parameters compared to the reference values. But there was a tendency to decrease the amount of calcium, phosphorus, protein and carotene, compared to cows of the control group, which indicates the presence of an influence on metabolic processes. The content of total protein in the blood of cows of experimental group 2 was close to the lower limit of the physiological norm. No placental retention was observed in the cows of the experimental groups, while in the control group this disorder was present in 33% of cows. The introduction of the drug made it possible to reduce the frequency of endometritis by 20%, to shorten the period until the beginning of the first oestrus by 7th and 10th days, to increase fertility after the first insemination by 6 and 13 percentage points, and to shorten the service period by 16th and 22nd days. The second experimental group obtained a higher efficiency of using the drug. It is advisable to use the results of research on dairy farms. Intraparenteral administration of the drug 1.5-2 hours after calving will improve the process of restoring the sexual function of cows and their fertility

In Japan, Korea, the USA, and Australia, the area of the “muscle eye” (cross-section of the M. longissimus dorsi during the division of the half-carcass between the 12th and 13th rib into the front and rear parts) is used to assess the quality of cattle carcasses. The correlation between this feature and the slaughter and quality characteristics of carcasses in 20-22-month-old crossbred bulls (Ukrainian Black-and-White Dairy × Holstein) has been studied. The area of the “muscle eye” in bulls was determined before slaughter by an ultrasound analyzer Emperor 860. After slaughter, it was calculated by the length and depth of the "muscle eye". The colour of muscle and adipose tissue, carcass conformation, development, and subcutaneous fat thickness have been examined. The correlation between the size of the "muscle eye" and carcasses' quantitative and qualitative characteristics has been determined. The area of the "muscle eye" has a positive relationship (r = 0.612; p >0.999) with live weight after fasting, carcass weight (r = 0.598; p >0.999), flesh weight (r = 0.498; p >0.99), including the highest (r = 0.745; p >0.999), and first grade (r = 0.662; p >0.99), the amount of adipose tissue (r = 0.491; p >0.99) and tendons and ligaments (r = 0.435; p >0.99). With its increase, there is a tendency to an inverse relationship with the content of second-grade flesh in the carcass (r = 0.303), carcass conformation (r = 0.147), fat-irrigation thickness (r = 0.125), and marbling (r = 0.340). The area of the "muscle eye" is inversely correlated with the development of subcutaneous fat (r = -0.389; p >0.95) and the saturated colour of muscle tissue (r = -0.309). The correlation coefficients between the area of the "muscle eye" determined by ultrasound and quantitative and qualitative characteristics of carcasses are significantly higher than those obtained by post-slaughter calculation of the area of the muscle eye by measuring the length and depth. The data's practical significance is obtaining knowledge that allows beef to be sorted based on the correlation between the muscle eye area and the quality of carcasses and beef.

Determining the compliance of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the domestic cattle breed beef by the EUROP carcass standards is of great importance during Ukraine's accession to the European Union. The beef quality of a 21-month-old bull of the Ukrainian black and white dairy breed dependent on the subcutaneous adipose tissue development was evaluated at "Zhuravushka" FG in Kyiv region. From birth to 4 months of age, they were kept in groups of 25 heads. Growth and fattening were carried out at a feeding platform. For slaughter, the cattle were formed by a method of analogous groups. Following the EUROP system, the coverage of the carcasses with the subcutaneous fat was visually evaluated in five classes. The colour of the muscular and adipose tissue was determined by a scale of 1 to 7. The marbling of the muscular tissue was evaluated on a scale of 1 to 12, and the thickness of the carcass fat was measured between the 12th and 13th ribs as per the JMGA method. For chemical analysis to be conducted, 300 g of m. longissimus dorsi were taken from each cattle. The minced meat from that place was analyzed for total fat content – according to DSTU ISO1443:2005, mass, total ash - according to DSTU ISO 936-2008, moisture – according to DSTU ISO 1442-2005, pH – according to DSTU ISO 2917-2001 with the use of the laboratory ionometer (I-160M), penetration with the use of the automatic penetrometer PM DH in the laboratory of the department of meat, fish and seafood technologies of the National University of bioresources and nature management of Ukraine (NUBNMU). The beef's moisture-retaining capacity, broth tasting, and cooked meat were carried out in the "Meat Quality" laboratory of the Department of Milk and Meat Production Technologies of the NUBNMU. As the amount of subcutaneous fat increases, the marbling class of the bull beef does not increase. The development of the subcutaneous adipose tissue has no impact on the colour, pH, boiling, and transverse cut force of the beef. Due to better subcutaneous adipose tissue development, the meat has a higher moisture-retaining capacity than beef with its smaller amount. The development of the adipose tissue on the carcasses of the 21-month-old bull beef of the Ukrainian black and white dairy breed by the EUROP standard does not permit the prediction of the qualitative characteristics of the beef.

The paper covers the peculiarities of the degree of meat shapes in the bulls of the Ukrainian meat breed, depending on the adipose tissue content under the skin and between the muscles. They were evaluated according to their productivity from 8 to 18, 21, and 23 months. Bulls with better development of meat shapes are characterized by fat deposition in the carcass and between the muscles earlier and more intensively. They have from 15.1 to 44.7% more fatty tissue in the carcass, including under the skin – from 3.8 to 44.1%. With a different degree of meat shapes, subcutaneous fat is deposited more than between muscles. The content of adipose tissue under the skin relative to its total amount in the body of animals tends to decrease by 6.5 points with age for a better degree of meat shapes, and on the contrary, to increase by 2.6 points for a worse degree. If the fat under the bull skin at 18 months in the best shapes is 72.1% of the fat in the carcass, and in the worst – 72.3%, then at 23 months, its amount decreases by 13.6 and 4.4 points, respectively. The fat between the muscles, on the contrary, increases from 27.9 and 27.7% by the same amounts, respectively. With a greater degree of meat shapes and subcutaneous fat thickness on the carcasses of 18-month-old bulls, intramuscular fat (marbling) content is lower by 75.0%. 18-month-old bulls with better-developed meat shapes have fat cuts off from the carcass by 15.2% more than animals with less developed shapes, 23 – by 11.3%. A large amount of produced waste in the body of animals in the best meat shape leads to excessive (from 0.9 to 14.5%) feed consumption (feed unit) for the increase in live weight. The subcutaneous fat content and the number of cuts off from 16 to 24 months positively correlate with the degree of meat shapes in bulls at 15 months and have correlation coefficients of 0.26 and 0.17, respectively.

The relevance of this study is conditioned upon the need to establish the possibility of using artificial lighting to increase the productivity of cows with tethered maintenance. This paper is aimed at identifying the effect of adjustable lighting of the feed table with LED lamps on the dairy productivity of cows. The cowshed lighting was provided by the SmartAC (LRC) automatic control system. The research method was to analyse the dynamics of cow milk yield under controlled photoperiod conditions and the level of illumination of the room. Two groups of cows were formed: experimental cows were kept in an experimental cowshed with natural illumination of the feed table of 101±20.2 lx and artificial illumination of 202±19.9 lx, the control group was kept in a typical 2-row room for 100 heads, in which natural illumination feed table was 139±22.8 lx, artificial – 26±3.2 lx. The duration of the photoperiod was 16 hours, and the ratio between natural and artificial lighting depended on the astronomical length of the day. Milk productivity of cows was assessed according to the method of control milking. Milk yields were recorded one month before the installation of the experimental lighting system (in February) and for the next four months (from March to June). Before the installation of the experimental lighting system, the difference in milk yield of cows was not statistically significant. In the future, despite fluctuations in the amount of milk yield caused by feeding, the experimental group of cows exceeded the control group in terms of milk productivity. The advantage of the cows of the experimental group in terms of daily milk yield was from 2.3 kg in March to 5.8 kg (p

The expediency of using freshwater fish and aromatic root vegetables in the technology of preserves has been substantiated. Based on the organoleptic analysis, the compatibility of freshwater fish and aromatic vegetables as part of preserves has been determined. The conditions for pretreatment of salted semi-finished products to ensure their maturation as part of preserves have been theoretically substantiated and experimentally determined. It has been found that pretreatment of freshwater fish flesh with 1.0% and 1.5% malic acid for 60 minutes provides soft, tender and juicy consistency, which corresponds to an organoleptic rating of 5 points. Changes in the fatty acid composition of preserves are mainly associated with an increase in the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids that have been introduced with linseed oil, which is a positive factor. It has been found that, in comparison with the control sample, the level of all mineral elements in preserves with aromatic root vegetables is significantly increased, with fiber present, which indicates the expediency of introducing aromatic root vegetables into this product to enrich it with essential mineral and carbohydrate elements to obtain a high-value and healthy food product. Enriching the formulation of preserves made of freshwater fish with a variety of herbal additives increases their nutritional value and allows to get a product of high value enriched with such vital nutrients as carbohydrates, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, sodium, magnesium, manganese, and iron. Aromatic root vegetables such as horseradish, parsley, and ginger have been found to exhibit antiseptic properties and delay the activity of microbial enzymes as they content phenol. Therefore, the use of aromatic root vegetables helps to inhibit the oxidation and hydrolysis of fats, which may be due to the presence of phenols in their composition.

The impact of age, live weight, and growth rate of the bulls of Ukrainian breeds on the area of “muscle eye” (cross-section of m. longissimus dorsi when the carcass is divided into front and rear between the 12th and 13th ribs) was studied. The correlation between the size of the “muscle eye” and the carcass's characteristics and the meat's qualitative indicators was also determined. The research was conducted on the bulls of Ukrainian black-and-white dairy (UBWDB) and Ukrainian meat (UMB) breeds. Living animals “muscle eye” area was determined with the ultrasonic analyser Emperor 860, after slaughter. It was found that UMB bulls have the area of “muscle eye” twice as big as their UBWDB peers. The “muscle eye” area increases when growing the cattle to 400 – 450 kg. In the future, it will be practically independent of the age and weight of the animals and remains stable. An increase in the average daily gains within the breed leads to an increase in the “muscle eye” area. The area of “muscle eye” has a weak negative connection (r = -0.193) with meat tenderness and dry matter content (r = -0.345) and a positive one with slaughter weight (r = 0.614) and slaughter yield (r = 0.653). Of the three parameters (length, depth, and area) of “muscle eye”, the greatest impact on the technological properties of meat has depth. Its increase has a negative connection with meat tenderness (r = -0.810) and moisture (r = -0.474), but it has a positive impact on the moisture retention capacity (r = 0.338) and weight of weighed portion after heat treatment. The obtained results can be used to clarify the optimal growing parameters of the bulls of Ukrainian black-and-white dairy and meat breeds for meat and determine the optimal age and live weight of the cattle slaughter.

Existing massagers are characterized by relatively high energy consumption during operation, the metal consumption of the structure, complexity of the drive mechanism. Therefore, the search for effective implementation schemes of mixing operations and uniform structure formation of viscous and elastic-plastic raw materials, in particular, minced meat, subject to increased contact interaction while minimizing the force on the products, is relevant to the conducted research. The purpose of this work is to substantiate the technological preparation modes of the given minced meat with the use of a developed vibrating massager, as well as to determine the kinematic parameters of the oscillation system and graphic-analytical analysis of their change. The experimental model of the vibrating massager with an eccentric drive mechanism, a measuring evaluation base of rheological characteristics of the minced ostrich meat, and kinematic parameters of the vibrating drive of the massager, in particular, amplitude-frequency and speed characteristics were developed to carry out the specified tasks. High technological results were obtained when using the forced eccentric drive of the massager, which is characterized by a minimum mass of the oscillation masses of the parts compared to traditional unbalanced vibrators, which allow reducing 2 - 2.5 times the energy consumption to drive the vibrating massager under study. The practical value of the conducted work includes the use of the eccentric forced vibrating exciter for obtaining the force control over the minced meat to be formed, which reduces the oscillation masses of the drive and minimizes the energy consumption for the process, accordingly; it has the simplest structure among the mechanical vibrators, significantly reduces the dynamic loads on the supporting units of the vibrator as well as provides a sufficiently high contact interaction for both the vibration impact and the processing intensity in general.

Selection in meat cattle herds requires caution due to the manifestation of inbred depression in traits that affect the economics of this livestock industry. This paper analyses the productivity of inbred and outbred bull calves of the Ukrainian meat cattle breed and justifies methods of pair selection in purebred herds with natural pairing. In bull calves, the growth of animals and traits of their meat productivity after slaughter were considered. Inbreeding was determined based on their pedigree. Inbred animals tended to have a growth rate of 10.2% from birth to 8 months of age. Afterwards, their average daily gain in live weight decreases sharply compared to outbred peers, who grow faster over a more extended period. From 8 to 18 months of age, it is probably (p >0.95) higher by 27.3% compared to inbred animals. Inbred bull calves have higher variability (Cv,%) in average daily gains. This indicates different adaptations to the environment during the suckling period and after weaning. Outbred animals tend to gain 2.3% of body weight at 12 months, 4.7 at 15 months, and 10.3% at 18 months. Its variability with age decreases by 7.4 points in inbred bull calves and 0.4 points in outbred ones, from 8 to 18 months. The inbred animals spent 29.5% more feed per kg of gain (p >0.95) than the outbred ones. Inbred bull calves vs outbred ones at 15 and 18 months of age tend to improve the expression of meat forms by 1.3 and 2.7%. They are relatively shorter and have a more rounded barrel. As a result, they have a shorter period of rapid growth. With the small size of the Ukrainian meat cattle population, one of the most important problems is reducing genetic variation in beef productivity traits and manifesting inbred depression in them. In purebred commercial herds, the mating of close animals should be avoided. To do this, an "order" for bulls should be made, and pairs should be selected without using inbreeding at different grades. Thus, outbred bull calves will reach live weight more quickly, spending less feed per growth unit, and have better basic slaughter traits.

The research focuses on analysing and generalising the distribution of internal adipose tissue and organs that are not part of the carcasses of inbred and outbred bulls of the Ukrainian beef breed. Animal stock inbreeding was determined based on five breeding records according to Wright’s method modified by Kyslovskyi. Two experimental groups of 5 bulls were formed. The average inbreeding coefficient for inbred bulls was 3.43%. Animals were bred up to 18 months of age. Following slaughter, the mass and the yield of the head, liver, lungs, heart, kidneys, and brain were determined, and 4 types of fat were separated and weighed: perirenal, from the stomach, intestines, and pericardial. Inbred animals are more prone to the accretion of internal adipose tissue. Inbred bulls have 1.8 points more of it. Fat is more intensely accumulated around inbred bulls' multichambered stomachs and kidneys. Intensive fat accumulation was observed around the hearts and intestines of outbred bulls. Adipose tissue around the heart and intestines is more variable in inbred and outbred animals – from the forestomach and kidneys. The weight of inbred bulls’ liver is less by 22.4%, kidneys – by 62.5%, heart – by 11.1%, and head – by 23.8% compared to outbred ones. The weight of their lungs is more by 10.5%. At the same time, inbred bulls tend to have brain weight gain of 12.5% and testicles – by 8.3%. Thus, inbreeding application in Ukrainian beef breeds with a small population size affects the growth of internal organs and the intensity of accumulation and distribution of interior fat. Due to more intensive accumulation of internal adipose tissue, inbred bulls have increased expenditure of forage energy for its formation. They are characterized by an increased yield of low-value raw fat, making them less efficient than outbred bulls for beef production.

The productivity of cows with the first calving depending on live weight and average daily gains of heifers during rearing studied. The data of animals of Ukrainian Black-and- White dairy breed of Kyiv factory type used for the research. Every three months, from birth to 18 months of age, heifers were determined live weight and average daily gain. According to the indicators of weight growth, the heifers divided into 5 groups of the standard deviation principle from the mean. In animals included in these groups studied the performance of the first lactation. It found that obtaining a live weight of 3-month-old heifers over 127 kg can significantly reduce the age of the first calving. The advantage over animals belonging to the groups with less weight is 2.7-3.5 months. Increasing the live weight of heifers at 12 and 15 months also allows reducing the age of the first calving. Moderate (less than 722 g per day) growth of heifers at the age of 6-9 months also has a positive effect on the reduction of the age of the first calving. The weight of newborns heifers during lactation was associated with first calving cow’s milk yield. Heifers born with the lowest live weight (less than 28 kg) had after the first calving milk yield per lactation 145… 1956 kg more than in other groups. The live weight of 3-month-old heifers is of the greatest importance for the formation of high milk productivity of cows. Obtaining live weight of heifers of this age 117-127 kg with an average daily gain of 902-1037 g provided in first the lactation the largest milk yield with an advantage over animals of other groups up to 3119 kg. In older age periods, the influence of growing heifers on the formation of milk productivity is less pronounced, and the optimal live weight and growth rate was at the level of the average size of the herd. The research results can used to optimize the growth plans of heifers and their selection

Lately, more and more often to stimulate the reproductive function of animals people use biochemical products, which are based on neurotropic and metabolic compounds and trace elements of nanobiotechnological origin. In order to new biotechnical drugs search and development, and more effective and safe combinations of dietary supplements in them, one should know Biochemical mechanisms of membranotropic action of these substances on a cell. Since these substances can lead to physiological changes in the cell and trigger nonspecific toxic effects on the body of animals depending on dose and period of action. The article presents the results of studies on the effects of neurotropic and metabolic drugs on structural and functional state of lipid matrix of the cell membrane. In experiment were used four drugs: hlutam 1-M (Sodium Glutaminate), stymulin (Sodium Glutaminate, Sodium Succinate), nanovulin-VHR (Sodium Glutaminate, Sodium Succinate, Copper Citrate), nanovulin-R (Sodium Glutaminate, Sodium Succinate, L-arginine, Copper Citrate). The main task of the experiment was to investigate the concentration effects and primary mechanisms of membranotropic influence of the components of investigated drugs in the range of physiological concentrations of the active substance on the structural and functional state of the lipid matrix of cell membranes. According to research results, it was found that Sodium Glutaminate, which is part of all the investigational drugs, affects the polarity of the hydrophobic zone of the membrane and increases the polarity of the lipid surround. An application of Sodium glutaminate with Succinate in same drug (stimulin, nanovulin-VHR, nanovulin-R) reduces the destructive effects of Sodium Glutamate on the lipid membrane of cells. Also, it should be noted that Copper Citrate in combination with Glutaminate and Succinate (nanovulin-VHR, nanovolin-R) excludes the membrane-stabilizing and membrane-disruptive effects of their influence on the structure of lipid packing in the bilayer. From the results of the research we can suggest, that aquachelates penetrate the hydrophobic lipid bilayer zone, as evidenced by the total fluorescence quenching of pyrene

The aim of the researches was to improve the reproductive capacity of cows by accelerating the uterus involution after the use of a complex substances mixture of neurotropic-metabolic action (L-arganine (C6H14N4O2), sodium succinate (Na2C4H4O4), sodium glutamate (C5H8NNaO4)) and trace elements nanocarboxylates (Fe, Ca, Mn, Cu, Zn)) in the first decade of the postpartum period. The experiment was conducted on cows of the Ukrainian black-spotted dairy breed. One control and three experimental groups were formed, 10 animals in each group. Animals of the first experimental group were injected into the caudal fold in a volume of 10 ml once a day for 6 days from the fifth day after calving, the total volume of the drug was 60 ml. Animals of the second experimental group were injected the drug in a volume of 20 ml once a day for 3 days on the fifth, seventh and ninth days after calving, the total volume of the drug was 60 ml. Animals of the third experimental group were injected the drug in a volume of 20 ml once a day for three days on the seventh, eighth and ninth days after calving, the total volume of the drug was 60 ml. Animals in the control group were not injected the drug. It was found that the use of a complex substances mixture of neurotropic-metabolic compounds with nanocarboxylates of trace elements has a positive effect on the timing of uterine involution in cows and their first arrival in sexual hunting after calving. Thus, the injection of the complex according to the scheme of the second group reduces the involution of the uterus by 2.3 days (P - 0.01) and reduces the independence period by 3.4 days (P - 0.05). Injection according to the scheme of the third experimental group accelerates the involution of the uterus by 2.1 days (P - 0.05) and reduces by 2.5 days (P - 0.05) the period from calving to the onset of the first sexual hunt. The scheme in which animals were injected within six days after calving (the first experimental group) in a volume of 10 ml from the fifth day was less effective and more time consuming

Professor Mykola Kravchenko developed scientific approaches to the creation of new beef cattle breeds for Ukraine. His elaborations on genealogical breeding, animal selection, reproductive crossing of breeds, line breeding methods and their classification were used for the Ukrainian Beef cattle breeding. These scientific provisions have been analyzed for the animals productivity at various stages of breeding and use Ukrainian Beef cattle breed. In animals studied reproductive capacity, meat productivity, meat forms of exterior and body types. In cows milking and calves safety evaluated. The selection methods are based on the M.A. Kravchenko scientific provisions allowed to create a dominated breed in the former USSR by average daily gain in weight. These animals were significantly inferior to Simmental breeding traits of cow’s productivity. This indicates a low level of dams breeding methods justification. Detected significant influence of the original breeds on the features intrabreed types. The use of Charolais breed influenced the increase of bulls muscle development and the calving difficulty of cows. The use of Chianina cattle breed increased the growth size of animals, but significantly worsened of the calf’s mortality. Not all Ukrainian Beef cattle breed breeding schemes were successful. Simmental and Chianina cattle breeds were not satisfactorily combined at crossbreeding. In the development of breeding selection theory the possible manifestation of inbred depression studied. The direction of inbreeding has been found to be more important than its coefficient value. In inbreeding for the mother line ancestor and “middle ancestor” cows calf’s mortality up to age of 3 months old less than with intra-linear breeding. Proved that reduce expression of inbreeding depression diversity parents of the body type and blood groups antigens. Research data should be used to create and improve new synthetic cattle breeds

The goal of research was to analyze the calving process and duration of calving stages in beef cows under moderately continental climate conditions and various systems of housing and feeding. Duration of calving stages have been studied in Ukrainian Beef breed cows under four types of housing conditions: tie-stall housing before and during calving; free stall housing before calving with calving in the calving pens; housing in the outside paddocks and calving in the calving pens; keeping cows on pasture before and during calving. It has been proved that under tie-stall housing system of cows, the preparatory stage is the shortest, and period of withdrawal of the fetus and period of placenta discharge are the most prolonged. When cows were kept on pastures, the preparatory stage labour lasted for or a longer time, but the withdrawal of the fetus and the after-labour period were the shortest. When close-up cows stayed in free-stall barns and calved in the pens or calving chutes, the stages of labour went faster as compared to calving in the outside paddocks, but longer as compared to calving on pasture. Movement of cows from outside paddocks into calving pens increases variability in the duration of parturition, due to the stress of changing location.