Monitoring the main reasons for culling and dismissal of Holstein cows in farms of the Kurgan region of the Trans-Urals

The article analyzes the dynamics of milk production in Russia and the specifics of cow retirement, especially in the Kurgan region. In 2024, the average retirement age of productive, full-grown cows on farms in the region was 3.2 calvings, comparable with the previous reporting period and corresponding to low productive longevity. Out of 89 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, 60 regions increased or maintained production volumes as of the beginning of 2025. The number of cows, according to Rosstat data for 2024, decreased by 3.6% - and amounted to 3,023.8 thousand heads as of 1.1.2025. The Ural Federal District includes 4 regions: Sverdlovsk; Tyumen; Chelyabinsk; Kurgan. Cow productivity increased from 8,067 kg in 2023 to 8,531 kg in 2024. The study identifies the relationship between the age of cow retirement and their productivity, and examines the causes and factors influencing the reduction in the herd. The main objective of the work is to monitor the reasons for the culling of Holstein cows at the leading breeding farms of the region, focusing on identifying the most significant factors and comparing them with the average indicators for the region. The data from the appraisal and databases of regional farms were used as materials, and the analysis was carried out using the methods of variation statistics. The article presents data on the reasons for the disposal of fullgrown cows and first-calf heifers as a percentage in the Kurgan region and in comparison with the regional data for the Trans-Urals. The main reasons for the disposal of first-calf heifers are gynecological diseases and infertility (26.0% + 6.0% of the regional average); for limb diseases, respectively (18.8% + 2.4%); and due to infections, respectively 3.5% + 3.3%. In the group of mature cows, an increase in culling due to injuries was noted from 1.2% to 4.2%. The need to develop disease prevention measures to increase the lifespan of productive cows is emphasized.