The Altai horse is a legend of the Altai region. Horses of the Altai breed Horse breeds in the Altai region name

Altai horses– representatives of one of the local mountain type breeds Altai Territory. In this area, horse breeding has become popular since the times of ancient nomads and is still in demand today. The nature of the Altai region contributes to the development of herd horse breeding. In taiga glades, mountain meadows, and river valleys there is enough pasture for horses at any time of the year. Altai horses are perfectly adapted to work in mountain conditions in harness, under pack and saddle. Representatives of this breed tolerate pasture feed well all year round.

External characteristics and impurities of the breed

A typical Altai horse has average height at the withers, a long and deep body, a wide chest (chest girth - 1.7 m), a powerful body, strong legs with strong hooves. She is somewhat unprepossessing in appearance, with a medium-sized head and a fleshy neck, a wide and long croup, which is well developed and somewhat drooping. Altai horses have a straight back and the same straight profile, with a convex, long loin, dry, short and correctly placed legs. Altai horses have small brushes on their legs, and they are crowned with strong hooves. Such hooves allow horses of the Altai breed to carry out transport work without shod on mountain rocky roads. Representatives of this breed are adorned with thick withers, mane and tail.

In autumn and spring, Altai horses quickly get fat. Mares produce large quantities of milk - in summer time years from 8 to 10 liters per day. Because of this, they are often used on dairy farms.

Today, horses of the Altai breed are bred mainly in the outback of the southern part of the Altai Territory. In the central regions and the northern part, admixtures of trotter and Don breeds are more common. Raised in herd conditions, they gain weight from 450 to 490 kilograms and height from 1.45 to 1.5 meters.

Altai mares are often crossed with heavy draft horses, resulting in stallions that reach a weight of 500 to 550 kilograms in adulthood. The main disadvantage of this horse is its low stature. The smallest individuals live in the east, in areas on the border with Mongolia. However, typical representatives of the Altai breed live in the same area, not crossed with any other breeds.

Larger horses are bred in the Ongudai region - the best pastures are located there. But it is not only improved feeding conditions that determine the size of horses in a given area. Here Altai horses were improved by crossing with blacksmith horses, and more recently with numerous riding breeds.

One of the main advantages of Altai horses is their endurance. They can easily withstand the harsh winters of the Altai Territory and being kept in a herd. Local collective farms are working to improve the breed through interbreeding and internal breeding. In addition, special horse breeding farms are currently being created, in which the best representatives of Altai mares and stallions are located.

Large tracts of natural pastures rich in vegetation provide an excellent opportunity to develop commercial horse breeding in the mountainous regions of Altai and produce horses for other regions. This is an additional incentive to increase the performance and growth of Altai horses.

Altai horses have a calm and good-natured character. They are unpretentious, adapted to life in fairly harsh conditions and successfully cope with large volumes of work. In addition, representatives of this breed are easy to train. Their temperament does not cause any problems to others. The ideal work horse.

History of the breed

The formation of the Altai breed lasted many centuries under the influence of the natural conditions of the taiga and the harsh continental climate. The remains of ancient horses, discovered by archaeologists in the Altai region, date back to the 4th-3rd centuries. BC. In ancient times, representatives of this breed were larger in size than their modern descendants. Currently, the breed is preserved in its pure form only in the most remote mountainous areas.

In the 18th-19th centuries, gradual improvement of the Altai breed began. Adaptation to the harsh mountain climate and year-round pasture, excellent health, remarkable strength, adaptability to work under saddle and in harness, endurance, ease of control - all this has been built into Altai horses for several centuries.

In addition, in the twentieth century, breeders began to actively work with this breed. Crossing with Arabian and English purebred stallions produced more massive and larger stallions, but just as unpretentious as Altai horses. And crosses with Soviet and Russian draft horses were actively used for the production of milk and meat. In 2000, the so-called New Altai horse breed, “Chumysh”, was created.

Today there are very few purebred Altai horses left. They are kept in the Altai experimental farm, and it was extremely difficult to collect the remaining representatives of the breed - Altai horses gradually mixed with other horses and simply dissolved in time...

The most popular area of ​​livestock farming in the Altai Mountains is horse breeding. Various breeds were often imported into the region, but only those that were able to adapt to the harsh mountain climate and year-round grazing managed to take root. The attraction of this region is the Altai horse. Even nomadic peoples began to use these hardy and hardworking animals in harness work. Also, the Altai breed of horses was effectively used as saddle and pack animals. It has not lost its relevance to this day.

The Altai horse appeared, still III-IV centuries. BC. This is confirmed by archaeological excavations, during which the remains of ancient animals were found. The formation of the breed was facilitated by the climatic conditions of the Altai region, with its mountain and foothill reliefs. It became common for animals to be kept in herds on open pastures in a sharply continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers.

Despite the fact that horse breeding has been practiced in this area since ancient times, Altai horses developed rather slowly. Until the middle of the last century, there were no significant changes in the development of the local breed, which until 1948 was called Oirot. Give Special attention Breeding work began only when natural conditions began to change.

In 1978, breeding work began aimed at improving the Altai horse breed. For this purpose, stallions of Russian, Soviet and Lithuanian breeds were crossed with local females.

So in 2000, a new meat breed was bred, called Novoaltayskaya or Chumyshskaya.

This horse is well adapted to herd keeping and is very hardy.

Description and characteristics

Horses of the Altai breed are distinguished by their friendly, calm and good-natured character. They are flexible, hardworking, and have good health. Altai horses are predictable, manageable, unforgiving and not capricious, they are easy to train and make contact with their owner, becoming strongly attached to him. They are friendly towards children, willingly giving them rides.

The Novo-Altai horse breed is considered the most efficient, productive and unpretentious, thanks to which they can be kept in areas with a harsh climate and poor food supply. They are also incredibly brave creatures, capable of even fighting with wolves. There are known cases when herds, without human help, recaptured their foals from predators.

Appearance

A purebred representative of the Altai horse breed looks like this:

• straight profile;
• powerful body;
• long back;
• developed croup, slightly lowered;
• wide chest;
• medium sized head;
• fleshy neck;
• short thin legs with small brushes;
• strong hooves (not needing horseshoes);
• thick withers and mane;
• chic tail;
• average height at the withers is 1.4 – 1.48 m (females are shorter than males, approximately 5 cm);
• body length – 1.4 m;
• girth of the leg above the hoof (pastern): for a mare - 17-18 cm, for a stallion - 19 cm;
• girth chest– 1.60 – 1.65 m;
• average weight – 300-350 kg.

According to their exterior characteristics and measurement results, Altaians belong to the elite breeds of horses. Animals with improved selection characteristics reach the following weight when kept in herds:

• 2 year olds – up to 425 kg;
• 3 year olds – up to 600 kg;
• meat horses (Novoaltai breed) – up to 630 kg.

A special feature of these horses is their colors, which can be varied. The most common types of animals are:

• redhead;
• gray;
• bay;
• black;
• dun;
• nightingale;
• savrasaya;
• mousey;
• chubaraya;
• leopard and brindle (rare color).

Selection

The Altai horse is the most popular breed used for selective breeding. Stud farms and farms are engaged in breeding selection. And the longer Altai breeds are crossed with other breeds, the less often one can find purebred Altai.

But there are breeders who are trying with all their might to preserve a “pure” breed, such as, for example, the spotted Altai horse forelock suit. This ancient and extremely rare variety of local horses, similar in color to Dalmatians, is considered the cultural heritage of the Altai region.

The Altai horse began to be actively crossed with Arabian and English horses, resulting in massive and large animals, but with the same endurance as the thoroughbred Altai. When Russian heavy trucks are used for breeding breeding, a breed of meat and dairy production is obtained.

Breeding

Altai horses are bred year-round in herds on pasture. This is facilitated by a large number of pastures and natural walks. Despite this, the animals are large, tall with excellent productive qualities. The breed is mainly raised on meat and dairy farms to produce meat products and products from kumis (mare's milk). Sometimes the profitability of breeding reaches 300%. During winter grazing, herds are used for riding and transporting goods.

Mares reach sexual maturity at 18 months, stallions a little later. Females begin to breed at 3 years of age, and males at 4 years of age. Pregnancy lasts 11 months, during which the female’s body is sensitive to violations of the feeding regime and maintenance rules, which can lead to miscarriage. For the first 6-7 months they can work at full capacity, but from the 9th month it is important to provide them with peace.

Sometimes, when breeding Altai horses, breeders identify defects in the breed that relate to appearance and do not in any way affect the performance of the animal or its general condition.

Horses with a slight curvature of the back, in the form of peculiar humps to the right or left of the vertebral axis, are considered defective.

For this reason, they are not used for breeding selection, but, nevertheless, such horses are distinguished by excellent performance. Purebred Altai horses are bred mainly in the southern regions of Altai.

Feeding

The feeding diet should be developed in strict accordance with the physiological characteristics of horses. It should be based on the following products:

• hay;
• oats;
• silage;
• combined feeds;
• bran;
• fruits and vegetables (potatoes, carrots, apples).

One horse with an average weight of 500 kg needs about 4 tons of hay, 2 tons of oats, 1 ton of root vegetables and 0.5 tons of bran per year.

General norms for animal feeding depending on physical activity(feed in%):

When feeding, you should adhere to the following rules:

1. Vitamin, mineral and biological supplements should be included in the diet. Under no circumstances should dirt or dust get into the food. It is strictly forbidden to feed moldy foods. You can prevent feed spoilage by ensuring it is properly stored, preferably in a specially equipped room.
2. It is necessary to follow the feeding regime. Altai horses, like most other animals, quickly develop habits, and disruption of the usual diet can lead to changes in their behavior and lead to stress.
3. Animals should be fed 3-4 times a day, ensuring constant access to hay. It is better to reduce the amount of food per day, but give it as often as possible. In this way, digestion can be normalized.
4. A working animal should receive food 1-1.5 hours before work. Failure to comply with this rule can provoke disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract, which will result in serious health problems.
5. It is necessary to ensure stable access to drinking water. In the cold season, it should be warmed to room temperature. The norm of fluid intake for an adult horse is 30-40 liters per day. It is strictly forbidden to give water to animals immediately before feeding.
6. It is important to add salt to your food. You can simply add salt to the food constantly, or you can put special licks in the feeder, which allow you to control the rate of mineral intake into your pet’s body. The simplest option is to put a solid block of salt, but it is very problematic to determine visually how much the pet has eaten.

Today, Russian horse breeds surprise with their diversity. In addition, these animals always show strength, power and turn out to be very useful for farming. Most breeds not only meet these requirements, but also delight with their special appearance.

The most popular breeds

The most common varieties include the following.

Kabardinskaya

The Caucasus is a special mountain region that has become the homeland for distinctive breeds. The Kabardian, which has existed for 3 centuries, is one of the most interesting breeds. It appeared thanks to aboriginal, as well as Arabian and Akhal-Teke stallions. Over time, Karabakh blood was added.

Note! Kabardian horses are distinguished by strength, endurance and impeccable health. This was facilitated by year-round grazing on pastures, because in the summer it was possible to taste forbs, and in the winter - meager but important food.

Kabardinskaya

Karachaevskaya

The Karachay breed is a worthy result of Russian selection, which has been carried out over several centuries. The breed appeared thanks to steppe horses and Arab, Akhal-Teke blood. Karachay horses are very important for the Caucasian peoples, because they help herd livestock, make long treks and carry out field work. Sometimes Karachais of the riding type are used in equestrian tourism and peculiar local games, running over various distances. This breed has endurance and energy.

Bashkir breed

Transbaikalia also has native breed, which is Bashkir. She managed to get used to the severe frosts, because even in winter the horses grazed in the steppes. Horses can rake snow with their hooves to feed on snow grass. Bashkir horses took part in the Patriotic War of 1812 and were known as playful, brave, and obedient. This character continues today.

Yakut breed

Yakut horses are among the most northern. In winter, their fur can grow up to 15 cm. In addition, there is a thick undercoat, which guarantees resistance to even the most severe frosts.

In Yakutia, horses can be kept on pasture even in winter. In addition, they are resistant to long hikes without the slightest rest, horse games and competitions. Sometimes animals are bred to produce high-quality meat and milk. During the lactation period, mares can produce more than 2500 liters of valuable milk.

Horses of the Budenovsky breed

The Budennovskaya breed was created in 1948. The appearance of such thoroughbred horses contributed by S. M. Budyonny.

For your information! To create the breed, Don and purebred horses were crossed. As a result, we managed to obtain a worthy army breed.

Among all the horse breeds in Russia, the Budenovskaya is considered one of the most worthy. Its main breed differences:

• increased resistance to adverse conditions;
• optimal riding qualities;
• agility and the ability to quickly cope with any tasks.

Today the Budenovsky breed is universal, which is why it is so important for equestrian sports and other areas.

Russian riding

The Russian riding horse appeared thanks to Count A.G. Orlov-Chesmensky. His main goal was to create a breed that would be ideal for military operations and even riding in riding arenas. By the end of the 19th century, Russian riding horses, distinguished by their graceful appearance and docile character, began to win in Russian and international exhibitions. After the revolutionary events in Russia and the Second World War, the breed practically disappeared, but since the 1980s. its reconstruction began. Now such horses in the Altai Territory are considered one of the best.

Russian riding

Orlovskaya

The Oryol horse is an amazing horse that has won world records in racing. Such a trotter is a worthy pride of horse breeding throughout Russia. These horses are graceful, valiant, good-natured and loyal.

The Orlov Trotter was named in honor of Prince G. G. Orlov, who in 1778 built the Khrenovsky stud farm, where he transported the best horses of various breeds that had previously been bred in the Mediterranean and various Asian countries.

Note! The Oryol trotter appeared thanks to the Arabian horse Smetanka. A stallion was crossed with 4 mares different breeds and even heirs. The best representatives were selected from the resulting offspring. The efforts paid off.

The description of the trotter is amazing:

• height at the withers reaches 160 cm;
• powerful, lean physique;
• thick and soft wool;
• wide forehead;
• small ears;
• straight profile with a small hump;
• long neck and legs.

The Oryol horse is one of the most worthy in all of Russia.

Ukrainian riding

The Ukrainian riding horse is recognized as one of the most worthy. She has correct movements and can be dynamic in strong and fast jumps. Many breeders noted her lively temperament. Currently, work continues on the breeding and selection of horses in order to improve their characteristics.

Main differences:

• fighting character;
• height at the withers reaches 175 cm;
• beautiful expressive head and long neck;
• long straight back;
• strong legs, distinguished by pronounced joints, tendons, and even hooves.

The Ukrainian riding horse undoubtedly deserves popularity.

Ukrainian riding

Russian heavy trucks

Russian draft horses are worthy horses for active agricultural work. As a rule, these horses are unpretentious, prolific, and energetic. The name of the breed speaks for itself, because the horse can pull a load weighing up to 20-26 tons. Some experts are sure that the draft horse is an ideal draft horse, the care of which will be as easy and quick as possible.

Transbaikal curly

The Transbaikal curly horse has existed since 1940, when its appearance was documented. It has Mongolian roots, as it originates from Transbaikalia. And today, among the horses of Primorye, it is the curly Transbaikalian that stands out to a greater extent.

Horses can delight you with their amazing endurance and powerful body build. In addition, they are ready to adapt to almost any living conditions and even harsh weather conditions. In winter, horses can graze on pastures, because they are ready to eat almost all feeds.

Note! The horse will be mature at 5-6 years old. By that time they reach 140 cm in height and weigh 400 kg.

The curly horse has a significantly different appearance from other breeds. They have strong strong legs and a long body. Such differences in the Transbaikal horse allow us to count on its successful maintenance and amazing help.

Altai

Altai horses are native to the mountainous region of the same name in Russia. In this area, horse breeding has been successfully developing since the times of ancient nomads. Altai nature ideally promotes the development of horses due to glades, mountain onions, and river valleys.

The main differences of the Altai horse:

• average height at the withers;
• long powerful body;
• wide chest;
• strong legs, distinguished by strong hooves.

It may seem that the horse is unsightly, but in reality it can adapt to almost any living conditions. Horses can even perform transport and cargo work, despite the mountains in the area.

Important! These horses also produce large amounts of milk. For example, in summer you can get 8-10 liters of milk per day. It is for this reason that horses are successfully used on dairy farms.

Currently, breeding of Altai breed horses is concentrated in the southern part of the Altai Territory. In the central and northern parts you can find horses with an admixture of trotter and Don breeds.

Altai

Terskaya

The Terek breed is universal, so such horses can be found in the Samara region and other regions of Russia. The horses have an attractive appearance. In addition, they can be used for riding and harness work. Currently, horses are truly worthy representatives in Russian cattle breeding. This type appeared more than 65 years ago and is still being improved. The main differences between horses:

• strong and athletic build;
• a head with a concave profile, and the horses are particularly elegant;
• height reaches 154 cm;
• the withers are developed, which smoothly turns into a wide back;
• smooth croup with a short lumbar part, which is the main difference in the appearance of horses;
• dry and developed legs.

Terek horses in the Smolensk region and other parts of Russia are ideal for learning to ride and organizing horse racing. In addition, they can be trained, thanks to which they successfully participate in circus acts.

Russian trotter

The Russian Trotter is a breed that appeared at the beginning of the 20th century thanks to the Oryol breed, crossed with the American Trotter and the Dutch Friesian. As a result, it was possible to create a breed that pleases with its beautiful appearance and amazing speed. Initially, the horses could not please with decent speed, but over the past couple of decades, unsystematic crossings of Russian and American breeds. As a result, it was possible to improve the agility of the horses and even transform their appearance. Now the breed cannot be called purely Russian.

Note! Russian trotters are especially popular in Tyumen. This is where you can buy a purebred stallion.

Donskaya

The Don breed is a worthy variety of horses. The horses are large and tall, healthy and unpretentious to their living conditions. They are ideal for creating cavalry regiments and mounted police.

The ancestor of the Don breed is the steppe horse. Active selection occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries. The steppe horse was crossed with Turkish, Persian, Karabakh and Turkmen breeds, thanks to which today its special appearance and amazing agility are noted.

Tavdinskaya

Among the horses of the Kaluga region and even the northern regions of Russia, many note the Tavda breed. Northern draft horse distributed in the Sverdlovsk, Perm and Tyumen regions. Horses show resistance to harsh climates and minimal living conditions, but at the same time feeding and caring for them must be at a decent level. Tavda horses can live in swampy and forested taiga regions of Russia, and they are almost always successfully used in cattle breeding and farming.

Tavdinka perfectly tolerates even the most severe frosts. Despite the meager winter nutrition, she can remain well-fed and efficient.

Horses are short in stature, but are characterized by:

• deep body;
• wide chest and croup;
• developed muscles;
• dry, strong legs with strong ligaments and hooves.

Note! Horses are the shortest in Siberia, but their physique surprises with its massiveness. The weight sometimes reaches 350 kg. Even the head and neck are muscular.

The Buryat breed is considered ideal in the following areas:

• horseback riding;
• sled trips;
• production of meat and milk.

The breed has a short but frequent stride. Usually, when traveling long distances, it is possible to cover 5-6 km in 1 hour. At the same time, Buryat horses overcome 11-14 kg at a trot, and 20 km in 1 hour at a gallop.

In June - July, mares produce about 11 liters of milk per day.

Obvinskaya

The Obvinskaya breed is considered primitive, as it appeared as a result of natural selection. No breeding was carried out for this horse.

It is believed that these horses appeared during the reign of Peter the Great, that is, in the 18th century. In any case, Obvinsk horses are forest animals. Before the Oryol trotters, they were considered the best for harness work, but even now they are used for the same purposes.

Nogai

Nogai horses became the progenitors for many modern horse breeds in Russia. They initially differ in their adaptability to different conditions and amazing speed, thanks to which they are successfully grown and actively work for the benefit of people.

Russian silver horse

The Russian Silver Horse, distinguished by its silver-colored mane and amazingly beautiful appearance, also deserves special attention. It is easy to maintain and can be used for a variety of purposes. She is considered a worthy horse.

Thus, the variety of horse breeds in Russia is amazing, and each variety turns out to be worthy thanks to correct natural selection or successful selection.

Since the times of ancient nomads, the Altai horse (Oirot) has been a landmark of the region. Horse breeding is very popular here today, and the incredible nature of Altai fully contributes to this.

In the harsh climate of the taiga, a very hardy breed of stallions has been formed that are well adapted to work in the mountains. Over the years, Altai mares have been crossed with many other species to improve their physical qualities. There are very few true purebred representatives left, and they can only be found in remote mountainous regions of Altai. Mainly in the central and southern parts.

Altai horse breed - external signs, physical features

The species is distinguished by its rather powerful, long body and strong legs. Height is average - at the withers approximately 150 centimeters. Chest circumference is 165-175 centimeters. The animal's head is quite large. The neck is fleshy and wide. The back is straight, the legs are placed correctly. The hooves are massive and well suited for transport work on stone roads. In this case, the animal does not need to be shoed.

The following main colors of the representatives of the group can be distinguished: black, gray, bay, piebald, red, nightingale, dun. Sometimes you can even find brindle or leopard color.

Some historical sources classify the Oirot breed as a representative of small Mongolian horses. But unlike them, she has physical qualities improved in the process of long-term independent development.

Horses of the Altai group are used both for harnessing and for riding in the saddle. They have a very calm nature and are therefore easy to train. They are often used in equestrian sports. Excellent health and physical form allow them to transport quite large loads.

Horses are bred in large herds in the Altai Territory. They are grazed all year round. The special climatic conditions and the unpretentiousness of the Altai people fully contribute to this.

Improved species - the history of the Novoaltai breed

The first thing that became the impetus for improving the Oirot breed was a major flaw in the horse’s exterior – short stature. Local horse breeders and farmers began to combat this problem since the beginning of the 20th century. The work on the selection of Altai horses was carried out exclusively for commercial purposes, and was of a spontaneous nature, which did not have a structured methodology and objectives. For this reason, the process took quite a long time.

At the beginning of metalization, Kuznetsk heavy trucks were used. The new Altaians have gained quite a good reputation and popularity. A very large number of these animals were used for the needs of the Red Army. You can find a less common name for these horses – “Argymayevskie”. It came from Argymay Kuldzhin, the man who bred the breed.

Since the beginning of the 50s, stallions of the Don and Budenovsky lines began to be widely used for crossbreeding. Altai horses were crossed with Russian heavy draft horses, Lithuanian and Vladimir breeds. All sorts of experiments have begun to breed meat and dairy species. By the end of the 70s, it was possible to develop species that differed little in appearance, but had a significant superiority in height and weight. The number of Altai horses, the photo of which is presented below for the period of 1975, was about 30 thousand heads. A year later, their number increased in the Altai Territory and increased by half.

The main breeding technique used at that time was introductory crossing. Altai mares were crossed with factory breeds. Absorptive crossing was also used. It made it possible to remove impurities in 2-3 generations.

Absolutely new stage breeding began at the end of the 20th century. Institutes were involved in the development of new Altai breeds, which carried out detailed research and selected stallions and mares for crossing using the method of expert assessment. Six of the largest farms in the Altai Mountains were involved in the creation of the new line.

In the process of research, three main breeding groups of Altai mares were identified to develop new breeds:

• Desirable;
• Universal;
• Indigenous.

The first type was mainly used for the production of inexpensive animals for meat horse breeding. Universal mares were already used more widely. They were used not only for meat production, but also harnessed to carts. The group of indigenous trotters retained their adaptive properties and became the maternal basis for crossing.

For many years, crossing of Altai breeds was carried out to consolidate excellent physical qualities. physical qualities animals. Their adaptation to year-round grazing was preserved. Much attention was paid to the ability to rapid recovery after wintering.

After a long research period, which included a lot of discoveries and mistakes, on March 29, 2000, horses of the Novo-Altai breed of the Altai Territory were bred. They have improved qualities for meat production - the fatness of the animal is 50% higher than the average. At the same time, feeding animals allows you to save enormous amounts of money, which is very important for large enterprises.

During the breeding period, genealogical breeds of New Altai horses were formed, on the basis of which two lines of the Lithuanian draft breed were formed - Arbas and Zhaizdras, horses from the Soviet breed - Rekrut.

Today the animal is crossed with purebred Arabian stallions and British breeds. Research on Altaians does not stop, and new breeds appear almost every year.

How to care for Oirot horses

As mentioned earlier, these animals have a very pleasant character, and difficulties should not arise with them. If you decide to buy a horse in the Altai Territory, young or older, you have done a good choice. The Oirot horse is absolutely universal. It can be used both on the farm and for other purposes, for example, for horse riding.

By special care we mean not only proper feeding, which is also important, but also other factors. Let's look at the main ones:

These are small, but very important tips will help keep your trotter in great shape.

Some difficulties and features of the breed

Horses in the Altai Territory have strong immunity, but this does not mean that they cannot get sick. Like most horses, Altaians are prone to diseases of the heart and circulatory system. They are also susceptible to diseases such as laminitis and pneumonia, which requires special attention.

To protect a horse from viral infections, first of all you need to provide him with decent and comfortable conditions for his stay. Animals must live in insulated stables. Make sure there is no high humidity in the pens. Change the bedding regularly.

Proper feeding

Another basis for healthy body Altai stallion is proper nutrition. The main diet includes hay, which supplies the body with a large amount of fiber, oats, muesli, and bran. Feed and other biological additives are already classified as non-staple food. Food for the animal should be served without dust and dirt, and make sure there is no mold. In general, it is better to use special rooms for storing food.

In addition to the basic diet, you also need to follow the correct regimen. The Altai breed, like many other animals, quickly develops habits, and failure to adhere to the routine can negatively affect their behavior and cause them stress.

A working horse cannot be fed immediately before work - an hour to an hour and a half must pass. Otherwise, you can disrupt the digestion process, which can lead to serious consequences.

It is imperative to ensure constant access to clean water. An adult requires 30 to 40 liters of fluid per day per day. Make sure that the stallion does not drink before eating - this is very important. During the cold season, only heated water should be given.

The main goal of creating productive beef horse breeding is to satisfy the population's needs for high-quality meat products while making the most of cheap natural forage land.

Work on the development of the Novoaltai breed of horses for meat production has been carried out for 20 years on farms in the Altai Territory (OPH “Novotalitskoe”, JSC “Sibir”, JSC “Bashchelak” and ST “Gornoe”) and the Altai Republic.

The initial forms for breeding the breed were improved horses of the Altai breed and factory heavy breeds: Lithuanian, Soviet and Russian.

The selection of horses of the Novo-Altai breed, kept on pasture all year round, made it possible to create animals adapted to a variety of conditions, with a strong constitution, good health, high fertility, endurance, strong limbs, durable hooves.

The horses of the Novoaltai breed are large: the height at the withers of mares is 146-153 cm, of stallions - 152-158 cm, live weight is 553-564 and 600-620 kg, respectively. Animals have good meat qualities, high milk production, and the ability to quickly “get fat” (intensive increase in live weight). At the same time, they retained the valuable qualities of local breeds: good adaptability to year-round grazing and the use of pasture lands inaccessible to other species of animals.

Stud stallions are large, massive, with a well-developed body, wide, deep chest, broad back, smooth, muscular lower back, muscular forked croup and strong legs. They have a strong instinct for pack leaders.

Mares have a somewhat coarse head, a muscular neck of medium length, a long well-developed body, a wide and deep chest, a wide muscular back, an even muscular loin, a croup of medium length, sometimes forked. Legs are strong, bony, with correct positioning and a strong hoof horn.

Horses of the Novoaltai breed have high performance meat qualities: slaughter yield is 55% with average fatness, above average - 58%. From one mare you can annually obtain over 2 quintals of meat in live weight, the cost of which is 2-3 times lower than in beef cattle breeding. In the cost structure of horse meat production, feed accounts for 3-7%.

The value of keeping horses on pasture all year round lies in its cheapness. The cost of production is two times lower than in cultivated horse breeding. Horse care is limited to changing pastures, veterinary treatments and protection.

The use of Novoaltai breed horses on hard-to-reach forage lands can ensure high profitability and stabilize the economy of farms.

This breed is zoned in all natural and climatic zones of Western and Eastern Siberia.