Breeding strategies for cattle, sheep and pigs in Estonia - O. Saveli

O. Saveli, Professor, Estonia University of Agriculture
Estonian Animal Breeding Association, Tartu, Estonia

Background

Estonia is located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea between 57°30 and 59°40’ latitude north and between 21°45’ and 28°15’ longitude East. The length of the coast on the mainland is 1 242 km, and the coast of the islands 2 552 km. The climate in Northern and Western Estonia is of the maritime type, while that in Eastern and South-Eastern Estonia is continental. The weather changes a great deal from year to year, which in turn makes the yield of agricultural crops unstable. Relatively constant is the yield of grassland.

The area of Estonia is 4 522 726 ha, of which 1 449 555 ha is agricultural land and of the latter 1 127 824 ha is arable land.

Ten years ago the arable land was used as follows: 42 % for grain crop, 42 % in grassland and the remaining 16 % in potatoes, vegetables and fruit. After the political changes big state farms were divided, private farms were formed and as a result l/3 of the arable land became unused.

In 1985 there were 305 big state farms and 25 to 30 thousand families used to keep farm animals. On January 1, 1995 there were 1070 agricultural enterprises and 13 5 13 farms in the country.

The population of Estonia is 1 491 600 people, 64 % of whom are Estonians. The rural population accounts for 30 %, i.e. 447 500 people. Manpower in the country is less than 10 % of the population and unemployment is rather high. According to the data of the State Statistics Department rural workers salaries are the lowest, i.e.: half of the average in Estonia and a quarter of that of a Bank officer.

Estonia is poor in minerals. Most important are peat and shale oil, with phosphorite in more limited quantity. As 40 % of the Estonian territory is covered with forest; timber, peat, shale oil and phosphorite are the only substantial raw materials for the industry. The rest must be imported. That was simple while Estonia was part of the huge Soviet Union: it led to forced industrial development. Industry accounted for 50.5 % and agriculture 17.5 % of the national input. On should take into consideration that one third of the industrial production was devoted to food production. So, practically, agriculture in Estonia provided one third of the national income.

For years animal husbandry provided 74 % of the total agricultural production and was even more important than commodity output. Plant production has been orientated towards that of forage production, but as regards commodities only grain-corn, grass-seed, food potatoes and brewer-barley. Only these products can be considered here. Many small-scale enterprises processed potatoes, grain or berries.

Cattle breeding accounts for 62-65 % of animal husbandry as a whole, pig husbandry for 25-28 %, poultry breeding for 10 % and sheep, horse and fur-animal breeding for 1-2 % of the whole of animal husbandry.

Animal husbandry

Animal husbandry in Estonia has gone through specific periods:

- the independence period 1919- 1940;
- the war period 1941 - 1945;
- the Soviet period 1945- I991;
- the I-e-establishment of independence 1991.

During these periods the animal population and production was as follows:

Table 1. Livestock population and production

The above data show the variation in the level of animal husbandry. They were due to political changes. not to any abnormal development of animal husbandry. Political changes have always the highest influence on rural economy, although rural population is the least interested in politics.

Table 2. Availability of animal products per capita

Compared with established quotas. Estonian animal breeders have produced more, and it enabled Estonia to export. From the plan, 4045 % the milk and meat products produced in Estonia were exported.

Cattle breeding

Cattle breeding has a long tradition in Estonia. In the middle of the nineteenth century new breeds were formed. In 1885 a herd-book was introduced and in I903 performance tests were begun to be used.

In Estonia there are 3 recognized cattle breeds: Black-and-White, Estonian Red and Estonian Native Cattle.

Estonian Native Cattle have historically been the base of other breeds. In the second half of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century the other breeds were formed by intensive foreign use of breeding material. In 1951 the Estonian Black-and-White and the Estonian Red were recognized.

During the last 30 years considerable changes in the structure of breeds have taken place.

The Estonian Red dominated. while currently the Estonian Black and White accounts for more than 60 % for the cattle population.

Table 3. Structure of cattle breeds

The increase in milk productivity of Estonian Black and White breed has caused changes in the structure of breeds. The Estonian Native has remained as an historical example of rural culture.

As regards milk fat and protein production Estonian Red and the Estonian Native are nearly on the same level. As to the Estonian Black and White, during the last 20 years the breed has quickly spread all over Estonia.

Estonian Red Breed

For the last 85 years this breed has been the most numerous. Tasty, fat-rich milk and long teats easy for hand milking it has been preferred by many dairy farmers. Strong legs and black hooves have also made them attractive.

The goals of breeding work have been variable, but the aim has always been to get a strong cow giving milk rich in fat and protein. Red color is the breed character.

The basis of the Estonian Red breed has been the Angeln and Danish Red breed. In the 1930’s Latvian Brown breed bulls were widely used. In 1955-1964 about 60 bulls and some heifers were imported from Denmark. The bulls were kept in A.I. stations and their influence was quick and extensive. On this basis several bull blood lines were formed. By the 1970’s the Estonian Red looked very similar to the Danish Red. Milk yield, fat and protein content and live weight had increased.

Table 4 Milk yield of Estonian cattle breeds

Subsequently the Angeln breed was used for blood renewal. Unfortunately body weight decreased, and only a few bulls could raise milk production.

Imports from Denmark were renewed in 1984, and by that time the American Brown Swiss was used in Red-and-White Holstein breeding. At the same time Red-and-White Holsteins from Germany were brought into the country. By that time the Estonian Black-and-White had developed further due to the use of the Holstein breed. The Danish Red breed with Swiss blood had a positive effect on milk production, live weight has increased, and the form and attachments of the udder have improved. The cows color varies from light red to nearly black. The legs are strong and the cows are sturdy.

The favorable influence of the Red-and-White Holstein was shown in milk yield, but fat and protein content dropped considerably. Less importance was attached to the legs, especially hooves aspects. The combination of the three breeds: 50 % Estonian or Danish Red, 25 % - Swiss and 25 % -Red-and-White Holstein have been used with success. The use of Holstein bulls has shown that very few Red-and-White calves were born, confirming that the Estonian Red had a low frequency of s-genes.

It previously was possible to buy heifers and a limited amount of semen through Moscow; now in independent Estonia, it can be bought directly and bulls can be assessed under leasecontracts.

The formation of the European Red Dairy Breed and Breeding Co-operative "Estonian Red Cattle". where bulls from Schleswig-Holstein, Denmark, Finland and Sweden are used, has helped a great deal. The bulls are assessed in their own country. Semen of Norwegian Red-and-White young bulls and Ayrshire bulls have also been used. At present all Northern countries Red and Red-and-White breeds are being used and in the near future the most favorable components will appear.

Estonian Black-and-White Breed

The Estonian Black-and-White was formed over 100 years when the Estonian Native was crossbred with the Dutch Black-and-White for several generations and, to a lesser extent with other European Black-and-White breeds. A.I. methods at the end of the 1950’s and the import of 70 bulls from the Netherlands have resulted in a Black-and-White herd very similar to the natives. Milk production was good, while body constitution was very compact, which caused rejection. The Eastern market was very interested in Black-and-White young cattle and their sale was profitable.

The first Holstein bulls were bought from the USA in 1975; the 12 bulls bought in 5 years were too few. During the "cold war" it was impossible to import from this source and the great difference with the Dutch type was unacceptable to many breeds. In the same period experiments were made with the Danish Black-and-White breed. The results were good in respect of milk production, but there were problems with legs and the udder attachments.

When it appeared that the Holstein had a favorable effect on milk production, and on the form and attachment of the udder, new ways for buying Holstein bulls were sought. Germany was the first country in Europe where Holsteins were widely used. The German Black-and-White bulls were not as effective as the USA Holstein only, however their effect was perceptible.

In the 1980’s the Dutch cattle breeders began to use Holsteins. Within a short period of time they succeeded in sharply increasing milk production, and they hold a leading position among the Black-and-White breeds for milk fat and protein content. Therefore the breeders of the Estonian Black-and-White breed have started using the Dutch Black-and-White.

An important role in raising the percentage of Holstein blood in Estonian cattle was the importation from Canada in the late 1980’s. Great assistance was rendered by the joint venture CANEST through which the improving bulls, sons of famous cows and bulls, were brought to Estonia. Negotiations are being conducted for the purchase on favorable terms of semen from the world best bulls.

Estonian Native breed

The Estonian Native breed is historically the oldest one. Small, polled, undemanding cow with high milk fat content, was very popular during the last century and during the first half of the present one. A rapid increase in milk production of other breeds caused a decrease in the number of cows of the Estonian Native breed: 600 to 700 cows is the smallest population which may exist independently from the gene pool of other breeds. The number of aboriginal breeds has quickly and dangerously decreased; owing to this, the selection of breeding components is extremely limited. The breeders of the Estonian Native breed have used the West-Finnish herd, and periodically the Jersey breed, to avoid an increase in inbreeding. The main objective of breeding work is the genetic conservation of the Estonian Native breed.

Performance test

Selection of bull dams and progeny testing of bulls have been systemized in Estonia. In recent years progeny testing has become more complicated as both the number of cows has sharply decreased and big herds have been divided into new herds where progeny test has not been applied yet.

Since 1964 performance data processing has been centralized in Estonia. In 1994 the Animal Recording Centre was established from the Breeding Centre of the former Estonian Research Institute of Animal Breeding and Veterinary Science. All the cattle herds of large- scale farms were progeny tested, only the cows of family farms were not subjected to testing.

Political reforms in the country have led to the situation where 88 % of the progeny tested herds account only 18 % of progeny tested cows. The proportion of small herds with less than 10 cows is too high, making the work of the Centre more complicated. However, on the other hand, it shows the great interest of small proprietors in breeding work. The internationally accepted marking of cattle with nonrecurring plastic numbers is being applied in Estonia.

Progeny testing of bulls has been carried out on experimental farms since 1960, and on all breeding farms since 1982. Data is being processed according to the BLUP Sire model and the BLUP Animal model will be put to use. Presently Estonia is a member of ICAR (since 1995) and participates in the activities of INTERBULL. The directions recommended by those international organizations are being followed.

In 1995 the Estonian Parliament passed "The Law on Pedigree Breeding of Farm Animals" on the basis of which the necessary regulations and directions for conducting breeding work in Estonia have been elucidated.

Objective of pedigree breeding of cattle

The pedigree breeding associations have set fixed objectives for improving the Estonian breeds of cattle. The most important principles are as follows:

- Estonian cattle breeds are dairy breeds with high milk production, with a milk fat content of at least 4 %, and a milk protein content over 3.2 %;

- Body weight should be increased up to 600 kg at least;

- The exterior shape and conformation of udder and the development of muscles should be considerably improved to guarantee an acceptable meat performance;

- Although both breeds are characterized by their placid nature, their temperament should be evaluated and polling should be legalized;.

- To make the evaluation and selection of cows more effective the BLUP method for estimating the relative breeding value will be adopted;

- A strict evaluation and selection of bulls will be applied so as to attain the above mentioned objectives listed above.

Pig breeding

The world best-known pig breeds are the Yorkshire and the Landrace. By using them breeds, two breeds of swine have been developed since the beginning of the present century in Estonia, i.e.: the Estonian Large White breed and the Estonian Landrace breed. Since the late 1920’s pedigree books have been issued and since 1930’s genomic tests have been carried out, even more purposefully since 1958 in Kehtna.

The Soviet planned economy forced meat production in Estonia to such an extent that measures to protect the environment had to be taken. Large pig units were constructed, where 4 to 5 thousand tons of pigs were produced yearly. More than 25,000 piglets a year were received on large reproduction farms. For instance, 1000 m³ of slurry were removed from the largest pig farm every day. One pig per hectare of arable land is far from being too much. However, a high concentration on a small territory creates problems.

As Estonian grain production did not satisfy the needs of fattening pigs, the import of feed was necessary. After the restoration of independence the number of pigs decreased by more than two fold in Estonia. As a result of the unsuccessful agricultural policy of the Estonian government, the amount of grain feed has also diminished in the same proportion. Therefore the number of pigs is continuously and rapidly decreasing. Milk, milk products and bacon have always been the most important traditional export products of Estonia. One day this wrong economic policy may be replaced by a wiser one, but the restoring of the national herd and increasing production will require some time. At present we are importing meat to supply the population of Estonia with meat products. Only seven years ago meat export accounted for almost half of the total output. Moreover, 34 to 35 thousand pedigree pigs were sold yearly to other regions of the former Soviet Union.

Organization

On large-scale farms in Estonia the average number of pigs has been usually 3,500, however now an important change has taken place. 3 to 4 years ago, on small farms, pig breeding was developing favorably as the price for pigs was 1.5 times higher than that of cattle. A rapid decrease in grain production and the high price of imported grain resulted in the loss of interest in pig breeding. Only the relatively large farms survived, where grain production has been satisfactory. Small farms try to earn money from piglet production.

The Estonian swine breeders have established joint ventures. The state-owned structures were privatized and the "Estonian Breeding Co-operative for the Large White Pig" and the "Estonian Landrace Pig Breeding Co-operative" were established. They comprise 120 pig breeders. The formation of a highly effective pedigree breeding association on the basis of the two co-operatives has been under discussion. The large-scale farms whose main objective is pig meat production, formed their own organization - the Estonian Association of Pig-meat Producers. The aim of the Association is to organize pork and feed. production as well as marketing at a higher level.

Estonian animal breeders are unhappy about the fact that although the processing industry has been privatized, the animal breeders are not its owners but merely the producers of raw material for shareholding companies.

Breeds

The Estonian pig breeds are the result of improving the local breed with others. However, frequent political and administrative changes have had an even stronger effect on the formation of the breeds. The regulating role of the market has been quite secondary, as an acute shortage of meat in neighboring countries made it possible for us to sell as much pig meat as we wanted. For these conditions, the Estonian pig breeds did not differ from each other concerning their performance data. For instance, in 1988, 86 boars of the Estonian Large White breed and 54 boars of the Estonian Landrace breed were progeny tested at the Kehtna Pig Breeding Experiment of Station. The daily gain differed by 4 g, carcass length by 0.6 cm, back fat thickness by 0.7 mm, loin eye area by 0.3 cm² and feed conversion by 0.03 FU.

To improve the Estonian Large White breed, pigs of the Yorkshire breed from England, Finland and Sweden have been used. To improve the Estonian Landrace breed, pigs of the Landrace breed from Sweden, Denmark and Finland were used. Their effect has always been favorable, although sometimes somewhat imperceptible. The imported pigs were located on breeding farms where the distribution of their progeny was not limited. In pig breeding artificial insemination is not widespread and is mostly applied only on some of the large-scale farms. Although progeny testing has a long tradition, the evaluation results show significant effects only over a long period, as a highly estimated boar will affect the breeding value of other herds only through his sons or grandsons.

At present discussions are being held as to whether the Estonian pig breeds should be replaced or improved by imported breeds. Pig breeders are aware of the different epizootological situation in different countries, regions or herds. Moving pedigree pigs from one herd to another is risky. The transfer of semen from herd to herd is considerably less risky. In Estonia, however, the epizootological situation is rather good, as acute infectious diseases have not been observed.

Table 5. Mean values of progeny testing

Objectives

- To diminish the back fat thickness to 15- 17 mm.
- To increase the share of lean meat over 57 % and loin eye area over 40 cm’.
- To raise the stress resistance of pigs.

Measures

- To apply the A.I. system for more effective utilization of imported boars.

- To continue the evaluation of boars and parental couples of pedigree book herds by progeny testing.

- To broaden the farm test by means of Piglog 105 and the FOM-system at Meat Processing Plants to increase the evaluation accuracy.

- In 1996, to initiate an accurate program with the DNA laboratory which, by means of MHS studies, will avoid stress prone pigs from getting into breeding herds.

- To introduce the Hampshire and the Pietrain breed which are quick improvers of the meat traits of pigs.

Sheep breeding

In the 1940’s, 1.5 million hectares of Estonian territory were covered with natural grasslands which were good for sheep production, although damp soils may favor the spread of parasitic diseases. As a result of collectivization one million hectares of natural grasslands are now under wood and brush.

Traditionally the Estonian family has always worn knitted goods made of sheep wool as well as fur coats made of sheepskin. At present the profitability of sheep husbandry has decreased due to the fast development of the textile industry, increase in imports and the backwardness of Estonian industry. Estonian families are raising sheep for their own requirements, to supply their children and grandchildren with warm and wholesome clothes. Several handicraft sales have been organized, however the income has been rather low. Neither tanning of sheepskins nor the washing of wool have yet been organized.

Organization

In 1989 the Estonian Sheep Breeding Association was re-established it comprises more than 250 sheep breeders. This Association is not so much an economic union. rather it unites people for whom sheep breeding is a main sphere of interest. In Estonia the number and the size of flocks is small. Usually there arc only 10 to 15 sheep on family farms. At present performance tests are carried out on flocks of 10 to 70 sheep, and only two flocks comprise more than 100 sheep.

Breeds

In the first half of this century two breeds were created in Estonia, i.e.: the Estonian Blackfaced sheep and the Estonian White-faced sheep. The first one is the result of mating local sheep with the Shropshire sheep breed and the second one by using the Cheviot breed. The average body weight of the Estonian Black-faced rams is from 96 to 100 kg, while that of ewes is 76 kg; for the Estonian White-faced breed the respective data are 90 to 95 kg and 60 kg.

Table 6. Data on progeny testing of the Estonian sheep breeds (1994)

It is clear that due to the small number of ewes in a flock it is almost impossible to prevent the level of inbreeding from increasing and to guarantee the mating of ewes with highly productive and unrelated rams.

Utilization of other breeds

Several sheep breeds have been imported into Estonia with the aim of enriching the gene pool of the Estonian sheep breeds. A number of prolific Finnish native sheep (2.5 lambs per lambing) were purchased. The results were positive. It resulted in 0.5 additional lambs per lambing in case of both Estonian breeds. Neither body weight nor wool production were improved. The latter traits were improved by the German Black-faced sheep breed.

The point to know whether one should prefer producing wool or mutton in was discussed. There is no doubt that mutton should be preferred. During the last three years, the Oxford Down and the Texel breeds were imported to improve the Estonian Back-faced and the Estonian White-faced sheep respectively. These breeds increase meat production and do not impair wool quality: the first results in this respect are encouraging. Some sheep of the Dala breed have also been bought from Norway. These experiments are still going on.

However, sheep husbandry will remain a kind of hobby for families living in the country, and sheep are used to control the growth of grass on their pastures. No economic profit will be expected during the next few years.