Kharlamov AV, Frolov AN, Ilyin VV, Azhmuldinov EA.

Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2025. Vol. 108. No. 3. Р. 169-182.

doi:10.33284/2658-3135-108-3-169

Original article

Productivity of Kazakh White-Headed bulls under different rearing

and fattening systems

 

Anatoly V Kharlamov1, Alexey N Frolov2, Viktor V Ilyin 3, Elemes A Azhmuldinov

1,2,3,4Federal Research Centre of  Biological Systems and Agrotechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia

1harlamov52@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9477-6568

2 forleh@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4525-2554

3vvilin1957@gmail. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3430-872X

4fncbst@mail.ru

 

Abstract. A scientific and practical experiment was conducted in the Southern Urals to identify optimal technologies for raising and fattening young beef cattle. The main objectives of the study were to improve animal productivity, reduce maintenance costs, and minimize environmental impact. The work involved a comparative biotechnological evaluation of Kazakh White-Headed bulls during growing and fattening in feedlots and indoors, using both loose and tied housing systems in the final fattening phase. The experiment was carried out on four groups of bulls aged 8 to 18 months. Before weaning (8 months), the animals were suckling, after which they were transferred to year-round stall housing. The control group was kept loose on an open lot combined with a lightweight shelter. In Group I, the bulls were kept under  the  same  conditions  until  15  months  of  age,  then  they  were  transferred to tied housing (15-18 months).  In  group  II, a combined rearing system was used: loose housing with indoor feeding until 12 months, followed by an open feedlot from 12 to 15 months, and tied housing in the final fattening stage (15-18 months). In Group III, free-range housing with indoor feeding was used until 15 months, then the animals were placed on an open feedlot. The results showed that differences in housing methods significantly affected animal productivity. The highest live weight gain was recorded in the experimental groups, surpassing the control group by 14.4-38.9 kg, with a 0.9-3.1% increase in slaughter yield. The obtained data allow for recommendations on the most effective fattening technologies for commercial farms specializing in beef production.

Keywords: bulls, Kazakh White-Headed breed, growing, fattening, tied housing, free-stall housing, live weight, control slaughter, carcass weight, slaughter yield

Acknowledgments: the work was performed in accordance to the plan of research works for 2024-2026 FSBRI FRC BST RAS (No. FNWZ-2024-0001).

For citation: Kharlamov AV, Frolov AN, Ilyin VV, Azhmuldinov EA. Productivity of Kazakh White-Headed bulls under different rearing and fattening systems. Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2025;108(3):169-182. (In Russ.). doi: https://doi.org/10.33284/2658-3135-108-3-169

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Information about the authors:

Anatoly V Kharlamov, Dr. Sci. (Agriculture), Professor, Chief Researcher of the Department of Technology of Beef Cattle Breeding and Beef Production, Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agricultural Technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 29 9 Yanvarya St., Orenburg, 460000, tel.: 8(3532)30-81-78.

Alexey N Frolov, Dr. Sci. (Biology), Head of Department of Technology of Beef Cattle Breeding and Beef Production, Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agrotechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 29 9 Yanvarya St., Orenburg, 460000, tel.: +7 (3532) 30-81-78.

Viktor V Ilyin, Cand. Sci. (Agriculture), Head of the Project Management Laboratory, Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agricultural Technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 29 9 Yanvarya St., Orenburg, 460000, tel.: 8(3532) 30-81-70.

Elemes A Azhmuldinov, Dr. Sci. (Agriculture), Professor, Chief Researcher, Department of Technology for Beef Cattle Breeding and Beef Production, Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agrotechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 29 9 Yanvarya St., Orenburg, 460000, tel.: 8(3532)30-81-78.

The article was submitted 14.08.2025; approved after reviewing 20.08.2025; accepted for publication 15.09.2025.

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