Lesson 2. NEW BREEDS OF CATTLE (PART-6)

2.2.2 New Breeds of Cattle

Attempts have been made to introduce superior Exotic inheritance of Bos taurus into indigenous Bos indicus through cross breeding. Superior breeds/strains from such cross bred base have been evolved in cattle viz Karan Swiss, Karan Fries and Sunandini etc. The production performance is superior even to those of our indigenous pure bred dairy breeds besides these have shown reasonable adaptation to tropical heat and diseases.


Karanswiss

karan



Synonym

:

Nil

Origin

:

NDRI Karnal, Haryana, Cross between Sahiwal cow and Brown Swiss Bull

Color

:

Light grey to deep brown

Head and Neck

:

Forehead is slightly dished, neck is medium

Horns

:

Horns are sharp.

Ears

:

Small

Hump

:

absent

Naval flap

:

Slightly loose

Body

:

Body is large, Legs are proportationate in size and well set apart

Tail

:

Various in length some times reaches up to the ground

Udder

:

Large size deep, wide bowl shaped excellent capacity.

Body Weight-male

Body Weight-female

:

600 to 750kg

400 to 500kg

Milk yield

:

3500kg/lactation

Age at first calving

:

45 months


KaransFries:


karan


Synonym

:

Nil

Origin

:

NDRI Karnal, Haryana, Cross between Tharparkar cow and Holstein-Friesian Bull

Color

:

Black patches with white patches on the forehead and on switch of the tail, Udder and teats

Head and Neck

:

Proportionate to the body

Udder

:

Large size deep, excellent capacity.

Milk yield

:

3700kg/lactation

Age at first calving

:

30 to 32 months

Calving Interval

:

13-14 months


Sunandini:

sunandini


Synonym

:

Nil

Origin

:

Kerala, Crossing local non descript cattle with jersey/Brown Swiss/Holstein-Friesian Bull.

Color

:

Mosaic type

Hump

:

absent

Body

:

Body compact

Udder

:

Well developed

Milk yield

:

2500kg/lactation

Age at first calving

:

32 months

Calving Interval

:

13 months


2.2.3. Descriptive and productive features of Exotic Breeds of Cattle

The exotic cattle breeds belong to the group Taurus. They have got certain distinctive characteristics in comparison with indigenous cattle. They are high milk producers. They are hump less cattle. Though high producer they can’t with stand high temperature. Many exotic cattle breeds were brought to India for cross breeding and upgrading purpose to improve milk production potentiality in our cattle. The important exotic cattle breeds were Holstein-Frisian, Jersey, Brown-Swiss, Guernsey, Red Dane etc.

Holstein – Friesian:


holstein

Fig.2.17 (a) Holstein-Friesian Bull


holstein
Fig.2.17(b) Holstein-Friesian Cow

World’s heaviest cattle breed and also highest milk producer

Synonym

:

Nil

Origin

:

Holland

Colour

:

Black over white patches

Head / Neck

:

Long and narrow, Proportionate to body

Horns

:

Medium sized

Ears

:

Small, erect

Withers

:

sharp

Angularity of body

:

Conspicuous

Barrel

:

Lengthy, Voluminous

Udder

:

Capacious with medium sized teats

Switch of tail

:

White

Milk yield

:

6000 kg / lactation (Used for cheese making)

Fat %

:

3 to 3.5

Age at maturity

:

1 year

Age at first calving

:

24 to 45 months

Calving interval

:

13 months


Jersey:


jersy

Fig.2.18 Jersey Cow

Smallest of European breeds

Synonym

:

Nil

Origin

:

Jersey Island in English Channel

Color

:

Fawn

Head

:

Small, face is Double dished

Ears

:

Erect

Withers

:

Sharp

Angularity of body

:

Present

Udder

:

Large, Capacious

Teats

:

Well placed and medium sized

Tail

:

Long

Switch of tail

:

Black

Legs

:

Strong, straight, sufficient width

Body weight-male

Body weight-female

:

550 kg

400 to 450 kg

Milk yield

:

4000 to 5000 kg / lactation

Fat %

:

4 to 4.5

Age at first calving

:

25 to 26 months

Calving interval

:

1 year

This breed is Resistance to high temperature and humidity climatic conditions


Brown Swiss:

brown swiss


Fig.2.19 (a) Brown Swiss-Bull

b s cow

Fig.2.19 (b) Brown Swiss Cow


Second heaviest of cattle breeds after Holstein Freisien Dual purpose breed Docile animal and also fleshy

Synonym

:

Nil

Origin

:

Switzerland

Color

:

Different shades of brown, grey

Head

:

Short

Neck

:

Lean

Withers

:

Rounded

Body

:

Large sized

Back, loin, croup

:

Leveled

Udder

:

Large, Capacious

Body weight-male

Body weight-female

:

:

600 to 700 kg

500 to 600 kg

Milk yield

:

5000 kg / lactation with 4% butter fat

Fat%

:

5

Age at first calving

:

27 months

Calving interval

:

1 year


Ayrshire:

ayr bull

Fig. 2.20(a) Ayrshire bull

ayr cow

Fig.2.20 (b) Ayrshire cow


Most beautiful of the cattle breeds Large animal and over active and difficult to manage

Synonym

:

Nil

Origin

:

Scotland

Color

:

Reddish spots over white color

Head & Neck

:

Short and thick neck

Horns

:

Medium sized, curving upward

Withers

:

sharp

Angularity of body

:

Present

Rump, croup

:

Wide

Tail

:

Up to hock

Switch of tail

:

White

Udder

:

Large capacious

Body weight-male

Body weight-female

:

450-500kg

400-450kg

Milk yield

:

4600 kg/ lactation

Fat %

:

3.5 to 4

Age at first calving

:

26 to 27 months

Calving interval

:

13 months


Guernsey:


gue bull

Fig.2.21 (a) Guernsey bull

guer cow

Fig.2.21 (b) Guernsey Cow

Synonym

:

Nil

Origin

:

Guernsey island

Color

:

Brown with white patches

Head & Neck

:

Proportionate to the body

Horns

:

Short and Belt

Angularity

:

Present

Tail

:

Moderately long

Switch of tail

:

White

Milk yield

:

4000 to 5000 kg / lactation

Color of milk

:

Golden yellow because of presence of carotene

Age at first calving

:

26 to 27 months

2.3. Merits of Zebu and Taurus Cattle


Parameters

Zebu

Taurus

Hump

Present

absent

Color

Shades of red, brown, white, black and grey

Brown, mostly black with white parches

Body size

Small

Large

Body weight

Less

More

Back

Slightly curved

Straight

Wedges

Less prominent

More prominent

Dewlap

More developed

Developed

Feed in take

Less

More

Water In take

Less

More

Preference for shade

Yes

Relatively more

Heat tolerance

More

Less

Resistance to diseases

More

Less

Weaning

Easy

Easier

Management

Relatively easy

Difficult

Age at maturity

24-36 months

15-18 months

Age at first calving

3-3 1/2 years

2 1/2 years

Calving Interval

18-24 months

13months

Dry period

More than 60 days

Less than 60 days

Adoptability

Good

Poor

Milk yield

Less

More

Composition (%)



Water

86.4

87.5

Fat

4.5

3.6

Protein

3.7

3.5

Lactose

4.7

4.7

Minerals

0.7

0.7

Total solids

13.6

12.5

S.N.F

9.1

8.8



Last modified: Saturday, 29 September 2012, 4:41 AM