Istoben cow — beli atau jual

Breed history: The Istoben cow is a unique representative of Russian animal husbandry, excelling in both milk and meat productivity. The origin of the Istoben breed is closely linked to the Kirov region (formerly Vyatka province). The breed was developed in the late 19th to early 20th century in the area of the settlement of Istoben, where a large butter factory was located. The goal of the breeders was to improve the local cattle, known as the Great Russian breed, by crossing it with the best foreign and domestic breeds. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the import of Kholmogor and Swiss breeds began. Later, the Yaroslavl breed was added. In 1936-1937, limited crossing with the East Frisian breed was conducted. It is important to note that these crossings did not radically change the productivity of the local cattle but only improved certain characteristics. The main focus was on making the milk richer. In 1935, the breeding book of the Istoben breed was opened, and it received official recognition in 1943. The development of the breed occurred under favorable feeding conditions (flood meadows in the floodplains of the Vyatka and Moloma rivers) and a developed infrastructure for dairy product processing. However, in the following decades, due to competition with more productive dairy breeds, the population of Istoben cows significantly decreased. Currently, the preservation of the breed is carried out within special breeding farms in the Kirov region, where outbreeding and moderate inbreeding methods are used to maintain valuable lines. Exterior: The Istoben cow is medium-sized and characterized by a strong and compact build. These animals have noticeable dairy traits, making them versatile for both productive spheres—dairy and meat. The head of Istoben cows is quite coarse, with an elongated muzzle. The neck is thin, with slight folds. The chest is deep and long but not very wide, which somewhat limits their milk productivity compared to other breeds. The withers of these cows are narrow and of medium height. The back and loin have good length, giving the cow's body a proportional appearance. The hindquarters are long, sufficiently wide in the area of the hips, but slightly narrow at the ischial tuberosities. The legs are generally not well-placed, as defects such as cow hocks or splay legs and knee hooks are observed.