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{{short description|Cattle}}
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{{Infobox cattle breed
| name = Kalmyk cattle
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'''Kalmyk cattle''' ({{lang-ru|Калмыцкая}}, Kalmytskaya) is a [[list of cattle breeds|breed]] of [[beef cattle]] of the former [[Soviet Union]], now found in the [[Russian Federation]], in [[Kazakhstan]] and in [[Tajikistan]].{{r|tiho|dad2}} It is believed to have originated in [[Dzungaria]], and to have been brought into south-eastern Russia by migrating [[Kalmyks]] in the seventeenth century.
== History ==
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== Characteristics ==
The Kalmyk is identifiable by a red coat with white markings typically seen on the head, belly,compact and legs. Theseof medium-sized animals have a compact body, a small head, a long face, and short horns. They also have a well-developed [[dewlap]], a characteristic trait ofsize: the breed. The average bodyweight for cows is {{val|430|u=kg}}, for bulls {{val|720|u=kg}}; average heights are {{val|126|u=cm}} and {{val|135|u=cm}} respectively.{{r|tiho}} The coat is red, in varying shades, with white markings to the head, belly, and legs. The head is small, with a long face and short horns.{{r|dmit|p=83}}
They are believed to have descended from [[zebu]], as suggested by their high number of [[Sweat gland|Sweat glands]], enabling them to endure high summer temperatures. This trait, along with their long, thick coat during winter months, allows them to survive in varying climates.
=== Adaptability and Survival Traits ===
Kalmyk cattle exhibit high adaptability, suitable for breeding in arid steppes, [[semi-arid climate]], and [[desert]] conditions. They are known for their hardiness, robustness, strength of frame, and overall conformation, which make their breeding techniques simpler, more efficient, and cheaper compared to other cattle breeds. Additionally, these cows have excellent maternal qualities and fiercely protect their calves and herd against predators and unfamiliar humans.
However, despite their survival traits, many researchers note the lack of muscling on the rear part of the Kalmyk breed's carcass, likely due to their nomadic living conditions. Efforts to crossbreed Kalmyk cattle with other breeds have shown mixed results, often leading to diminished adaptability to extreme environmental factors. Consequently, pure-breeding in steppe conditions is believed to be the most effective breeding method for this breed [[Citation needed|[citation needed]]].
=== Beef Quality ===
The beef produced by the Kalmyk breed is celebrated for its exceptional taste, especially in [[Broth|bouillon broth]]. This breed's potential for high-quality beef production contributes to the cattle industry in the Russian steppes in the East and West of the country.[[Citation needed|[citation needed]]]
== Pedigree Work and Conservation ==
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In his book "Beef cattle raising: breeds, techniques, herd managing" (Moscow, 2010), notable Russian cattle expert [[A.V. Cherekayev]] wrote that the Kalmyk breed was long considered an aboriginal cattle breed, like the [[Kyrgyzstan|Kyrgyz]] cattle, in need of further enhancement. However, subsequent research revealed the Kalmyk cattle to be quite modern and highly productive, with a distinctive structure embedded into the breed's array. Given these unique qualities, a decision was made to bring the Kalmyk breed into accordance with modern requirements.[[Citation needed|[citation needed]]].
Significant pedigree work on Kalmyk cattle has been carried out by scientists [[A.V. Zarkevitch]] and [[G.S. Azarov]] from the [[Orenburg Research Institute]] of beef cattle breeding. They identified highly productive related groups of animals, unified them into branches and families, and further developed different types within the breed.[[Citation needed|[citation needed]]].
== Historical Significance ==
The Kalmyk breed is recognized as one of the most ancient cattle breeds, believed to have populated the Russian steppes during the [[Mongols|Mongol]] invasion. [[Erenzhen Khara-Davan]], a historian of [[Genghis Khan]], posits that the Mongols have been engaged in migratory cattle breeding since Genghis Khan's time. The Mongols, along with their [[Yurt|yurts]], belongings, and animals, including horses and beef cattle, migrated as they ventured north and west, colonizing new lands. [[Batu Khan]] (Genghis Khan's grandson) notably halted the advance of his armies 200 kilometers from Novgorod. He recognized that the lush grasslands on the outskirts of Novgorod and [[Pskov]] were unsuitable for feeding steppe animals, resulting in their inevitable loss. Despite these historical accounts, Khara-Davan criticizes scientists for overlooking these factors when promoting Kalmyk cattle breeding in woodland and mountainous areas.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-05-28 |title=Kalmyk cattle |url=https://www.petmapz.com/breed/kalmyk-cattle/ |access-date=2022-06-21 |website=petmapz by Dr. Katz, Your veterinarian endorsed pet community! |language=en-US}}</ref>[[Citation needed|[citation needed]]].
== Pedigree Farms and Conservation Efforts ==
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The [[Zimovniki]] stud farm in the [[Rostov Oblast]] stands out as a significant establishment for breeding Kalmyk cattle. Founded by A.V. Zarkevich during the prewar period, the farm has continued to be a top pedigree farm for Kalmyk cattle.
In 2009, an ambitious project was undertaken by the owners of [[RusBusinessInter]], [[Shuchkin V.V]] and [[Mataru Raju]], who set up a substantial Kalmyk breed pedigree farm in the [[Samara Oblast]]'s [[Borsky District, Samara Oblast|Borsky District]] and [[Kinel-Cherkassky District]]. The cattle for this new herd were procured from [[Kalmykia]]. This initiative introduced beef cattle breeding in the area and implemented a unique resource-saving technique for herd management.[[Citation needed|[citation needed]]]
==Literature==
* [[DAD-IS]] ([[FAO]]): [http://dad.fao.org/cgi-bin/EfabisWeb.cgi?sid=3f74c9c5234afb34e0c55862407a94c1,reportsreport16 “Transboundary breed: Kalmyk.”]
== References ==
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[[Category:Cattle breeds]]
[[Category:Agriculture in Russia]]
[[Category:Agriculture in Mongolia]]
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