ASSESSMENT OF THE EXTERIOR OF FIRST-CALF HEIFERS OF HOLSTEIN BREED

These are the results of studies on the assessment of the exterior of first-calf heifers of Holstein breed under the conditions of the Republic of Moldova. The aim of the presented scientific paper is the study of exterior features and morphological and functional indicators of the udder of Holstein breed in the herd of Holstein cattle of the breed of LLC "DokSanCom", v. Tomay, ATU Gagauzia. Exterior features were studied at 91 of first-calf heifers. As a result of the research, it was established that the first-calf heifers of Holstein breed were well-defined type of dairy cattle, which is confirmed by their proportional body shape, the development of the middle part of the trunk, and strong bone structure. The first-calf heifers in the herd of SLL "DokSanCom" were quite tall - 139.1 cm height at the withers and 146.6 cm - in the sacrum. The slanting length of the trunk is 198 cm on average. The prolixity index was 117.0%, which is by 2.5% less than compared to the standard for breeds of dairy direction of productivity. A compact physique with a consistency index of 122.1% characterizes the estimated the first-calf heifers. Measurements of the udder along the girth, length and width were on the average 137.1; 45.9 and 32.6 cm respectively.