Major Indigenous and Exotic Cattle Breeds for Various Purpose and Their Characteristics

Major Cattle Breeds for various purpose and their characteristics

Indigenous Dairy Purpose Cattle Breeds

(1). Sahiwal:-

• Originated in Montgomery district in undivided India (now in pakistan).
• This breed otherwise known as Lola (loose skin) and Montgomery.
• Best dairy breed for Indian conditions.
• Reddish or pale red in colour.
• Heavy breed with having loose skin.
• The average milk yield is between 1400-2500 kg/lactation.

(2). Gir  

• This breed is also known as Bhadawari, Kathiawari and Surati.
• Origin place of this breed is Gir forests of South Kathiawar in Gujarat also found in Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
• Basic colours of skin are white with dark red or chocolate-brown patches or sometimes black or purely red.
• Horns are peculiarly curved, giving a ‘half moon’ appearance.
• Milk yield between 1200-1800 kg/lactation.

(3). Red Sindhi

• This breed is also known as Red Karachi, Sindhi and Mahi.
• Originated in Karachi and Hyderabad (Pakistan) regions of undivided India and also reared in several parts of our country.
• Skin colour is red with shades varying from dark red to light, strips of white.
• Milk yield is between 1250 to 1800 kg/lactation.

Indigenous Dual purpose breeds of Cattle

(1). Tharparkar

• Originated in Tharparkar district (Pakistan) and also found in Rajasthan.
• Also known as White Sindhi, Gray Sindhi and Thari.
• Body colour is white or light grey.
• The bullocks are quite suitable for ploughing.
• Cow yields about 1800 to 2600 kgs of milk per lactation.

 (2). Hariana  

• It was originated from Rohtak, Hisar, Jind and Gurgaon districts of Haryana.
• This breed have small horns.
• The bullocks are hard-worker animals.
• Cow yields about 600 to 800 kg of milk per lactation.

 (3). Kankrej

• It is also known as Wadad and Wadhiar.
• Originated from Rann of Kutch of Gujarat.
• This breed have lyre-shaped horns.
• Skin colour of this breed varies from silver-grey to iron-grey.
• This breed is famous for their Sawai Chal.
• Bullocks are fast, powerful and drought cattle which is used in ploughing and carting.
• Cows are yielding about 1400 kgs per lactation.

 (4). Ongole  

• Also known as Nellore.
• Originated from Ongole in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
• This is a large muscular breed with a well developed hump.
• Bullocks are suitable for heavy draught work.
• Skin colour is white or light grey.
• Cow yields about 1000 kgs milk per lactation.

Indigenous Draught breeds of cattle

(1). Hallikar

• Originated from the former princely state of Vijayanagar (Karnataka).
• The skin colour of this breed is grey or dark grey.
• Compact, muscular and medium size breed with strong legs.
• The breed is famous for its draught capacity and especially for its trotting ability.

(2). Amritmahal  

• Originated in Hassan, Chikmagalur and Chitradurga district of Karnataka.
• This breed is grey in colour.
• The muzzle, feat and tail are usually black.
• Horns are long and end in sharp black points.

(3). Khillari

• Originated from Sholapur district of Maharashtra.
• This breed is close to Hallikar breed.
• Skin colour of this breed is Grey-white.
• Long horns turn forwards in a peculiar fashion.
• Bullocks are fast, powerful and hard-working.

(4). Kangayam  

• Otherwise called as kongu and konganad.
• Originated in Kangayam and Dharapuram in Coimbatore district.
• Skin colour of male animal is grey with black with hump.
• Cows are grey or white.

Exotic dairy breeds of cattle

 (1). Jersey

• Originated from Jersey Island of  U.K.
• Smallest of the dairy types of cattle.
• This breed has well acclimatized in India. 
• This breed widely used also in cross breeding with indigenous breeds.
• The colour of this breed is reddish fawn.
• Milk of this breed having about 4.5% fat.
• Average milk yield is 4500 kgs per lactation.

 (2). Holstein Friesian

• Originated from Netherlands.
• Largest dairy breed and having large udder.
• Breeds have specific characteristics in colour, that's why it is easy to identify.
• The average milk production of cow is about 6000 to 7000 kgs per lactation.

 (3). Brown Swiss

• Originated from Switzerland.
• Average milk yield is 5000 kgs per lactation.
• Karan Swiss is the hybrid breed by crossing the Brown Swiss with an indigenous breed by NDRI, Karnal.

(4). Ayrshire

• Originated from Ayrshire in Scotland. 
• This breed is considered as most beautiful dairy breed.
• This breed does not produce as more milk or butter fat (only 4%).
• The breed was also known as Dunlop cattle or Cunningham cattle.

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