Cattle - Lithuanian Red

   The Lithuanian Red cattle breed is found in north-eastern part of Lithuania and was developed from Lithuanian local cattle, by crossbreeding with Angeln, Latvian Brown, Swedish Red and White, Estonian Red cattle but the biggest influence on the productivity traits had Danish Red cattle breed.
   As independent breed Lithuanian Red is known since 1951. Nowadays the Lithuanian Red breed contents approximately 33% of whole Lithuanian cattle population and the biggest part of animals is improved.
   The animals have red colour, light, forward oriented horns and dark hoofs. Adult males weight on average 900 kg and females 550 kg with an average wither height of 135 cm and 129 cm respectively. The young stock of the Lithuanian Red breed are noted for their rapid growth rate, good food conversion and high carcass quality. The breed is known for producing milk of good quality and most part of animals belong clearly to the dairy productivity type.
   The average milk yield of Lithuanian Red cows is 4489 kg; the milk fat content 4,43% of fat and 3,39% of proteins.
   The Lithuanian Red Cattle Improvers Association according to National Red Cattle Improvement Selection Program is responsible for breed management and maintenance. The old Danish type of Lithuanian Red cattle population should be conserved with purpose to keep its main genetic charakteristics as they can be lost of intensive crossbreeding nowadays.
   The semen of males and DNA samples are stored, genetic characterization of this breed using DNA and biochemical markers is done, breed is also characterized by such parameters as body measurments and body confirmation indexes.