MEAT PRODUCTIVITY OF KAZAKH HORSES AND THEIR CROSSBREEDS WITH THE MYGALZHAR BREED IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE KYZYLORDA REGION

Abstract

The article presents the results of a comparative assessment of the meat productivity of local Kazakh horses and their crossbreeds with the Mugalzhar breed in the Kyzylorda region. Local horses constitute the majority of the equine population in the region; therefore, improving their meat productivity is of considerable economic significance, and this dictates the relevance of the research. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to provide a comparative evaluation of the meat productivity of local Kazakh horses and their crossbreeds with the Mugalzhar breed. The research materials included data on animal fattening and the results of control slaughter of horses. When assessing meat productivity, pre-slaughter weight, carcass weight, slaughter weight and slaughter yield were taken into account. The results showed that crossbred animals have more intensive growth in live weight and better slaughter qualities. The average live weight of crossbred horses was 352.1 kg, which is 26.5 kg, or 8.1% (p<0.001) higher than that of their local peers. Similarly, the carcass weight of the crossbreeds weighed 15.7 kg heavier than that of Kazakh horses. In terms of weight and specific weight of first-class meat, Mugalzhar-Kazakh hybrids had the advantage. Kazakh horses had a specific weight of products necessary for the preparation of national dishes, such as kazy, zhaya and zhal in the carcass weight of 15.68%, which is 0.32% lower than that of crossbreeds. The research findings showed that crossbreeding with the Mugalzhar breed is an effective method of increasing the meat productivity of local Kazakh horses in the Aral Sea region.