Breeds Of Livestock

Livestock : Kalmyk Bactrian Camels

2008-06-04T10:40:00.002+07:00

Kalmyk Bactrian Camels

The Kalmyk breed is considered an improved one. They are large animals with well-devloped skeleton, musculature and hiar cover and have a great capacity for carrying loads and for work.

The females have a live weight of 650-700 kg, net meat yield 56.8%, wool yield 8 kg. Their milk yield is 10-15% less than that of the Kazakh breed and the milk-fat content is 5.5%. The average live weight of breeding males is 760 kg (maximum of 1042 kg) with a meat yeild of 60% and wool yield 10-13 kg.

Kalmyk Bactrians are reared primarily in the Kalmyk ASSR, Astrakhan region of RSFSR and in Guryev, Mangyshlak, Ural and Kzyl-Orda regions of the Kazakh SSR.

Reference:

Dmitriez, N.G. and Ernst, L.K. (1989) Animal Genetic Resources of the USSR. Animal Production and Health Paper Publ. by FAO, Rome, 517 pp.

Images:

Dmitriez, N.G. and Ernst, L.K. (1989) Animal Genetic Resources of the USSR. Animal Production and Health Paper Publ. by FAO, Rome, 517 pp.

Livestock : Alxa Bactrian Camels

2008-06-04T10:39:00.002+07:00

Alxa Bactrian Camels

The camels of China are all of the bi-humped, Bactrian type. Camels are mainly distributed in the high plains, deserts and semi-deserts of the north and northwest China. The Bactrian camel is a multi-purpose animal, mainly used for working and producing wool, meat and milk.

Camels can tolerate extremely hot weather. They can suffer thirst, going without watering for 7-8 days, even under the sun, and may lose as much as 221 lbs of water which is about 22-25% of their body weight.

The camel can travel 25-40 km per day for one month. A load of 330 lbs can be carried for 7-8 hours a day at the ordinary speed of 25-35 km per day. One camel can pull a load of 1650 lbs or 3300 lbs by two, per day at normal walking speed.

The total production of wool is 11 lbs from the undercoat. As a percent of the carcass, meat ranges 25-42%. Camels can be milked when nursing young, lactation lasting about 14-16 months. The Alxa camel can produce 3 lbs daily plus the milk suckled by the young.

Reference:

Cheng. P. (1984) Livestock breeds of China. Animal Production and Health Paper 46 (E, F, S). Publ. by FAO, Rome, 217 pp.

Images:

Cheng. P. (1984) Livestock breeds of China. Animal Production and Health Paper 46 (E, F, S). Publ. by FAO, Rome, 217 pp.

Livestock : Pandharpuri

2008-05-20T21:22:00.002+07:00

Pandharpuri

The name Pandharpuri is from the town Pandharpur in Solapur district which is the home range of these buffalo. They are found in Solapur, Kolhapur and Sangli districts of Maharashtra state of India.

Most of the region is highly draught prone, but some parts of the Sangli and Kolhapur districts do have good irrigation facilities.

Characteristics:
The breed can be easily identified by its long, sword shaped, sometimes twisted horns, which measure from 45-50 cm upto 1-1.5 m of length.

The majority of the breed are black with white markings found on the forehead , legs and switch of tail. The Pandharpuri are medium sized with average body weight of 450-470 kg.

The long horns usually turned upwards or lateral. The udder is compact, trough shaped with cylindrical teats. The head is long, narrow with prominent nasal bone and the horizontal ears.

The breed is famous for its high reproductive ability, producing a calf every 12 months. Under average management conditions and hot -dry climate these buffaloes yield 6-7 liters of milk per day; however under good management they are reported to yield up to 15 lit of milk per day.

Reference:
Ambardekar D. V., 2000. Studies on body measurement and qualitative traits in Pandharpuri buffaloes. M. Sc.(Agri.) Thesis submitted to Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri, M. S., India

Livestock : Nili-Ravi

2008-05-20T21:21:00.001+07:00

Nili-Ravi

The Nili-Ravi buffalo is a milk type of buffalo breed. They are found mainly in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Multan and Bahawal Nagar districts in Punjab Province. Their color is black and their average weight at maturity is 800 kg for the male and 525 kg for the female.

They have a wedge shape, massive frame, small curly horns, and wall eyes. They often have white markings on the forehead, face, muzzle and legs and white switch of tail (buffaloes with such markings highly desired and popularly called "Panj Kalian"). They have a large, strong udder and are generally docile. Average age at maturity is 30 months in males and 36 months in females. Longevity of production is good. White markings extending above hock and knee and over the neck and body, constitute a serious disqualification.

Reference:
Muhammad Tahir, Associate Professor, Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Photographs:
R. E. McDowell, Professor Emeritus of International Animal Science, Cornell University, and provided by Paul O. Brackelsberg, Professor of Animal Science, Iowa State University

Livestock : Murrah

2008-05-20T21:20:00.001+07:00

Murrah

Murrah breed of buffalo, the pride of Haryana, is a milk type animal. The home tract of Murrah buffalo is Rohtak, Jind and Hisar districts of Haryana (India). It is also found in Nabha and Patiala districts of Punjab (India) and around Delhi .

The physical characters of Murrah
Body : Sound built, heavy and wedge shaped.
Head : Comparatively small.
Face : Comparatively long.
Neck : Comparatively long.
Body colour : Jet-black.
White markings on face and leg extremities may be there (2, 3), but are not generally preferred.
Eyes : Should not be walled i.e. the cornea should not have whiteness.
Tail : Long reaching upto fetlock joint (2, 3, and 6) with black or white switch upto (maximum) 8.0 inches (4).
Horns : Different from other breeds of buffaloes; short, tight, turning backward and upward and finally spirally curving inward. The horns should be somewhat flattened. As the age advances the horns get loosened slightly but spiral curves increases.
Limbs : Comparatively short but strong built.
Skin : Soft, smooth with scanty hairs as compared to other buffaloes.
Udder : Fully developed, drooping.
Teats : Equally distributed over the udder but hind teats are longer than fore teats.
Loin : Broader and sliding forward.
Body weight : The average body weight of males, 550 Kg and the females, 450-Kg.
Height : The average height at withers; male: 1.42 meter; female: 1.32 meter.
Age at fist calving : 3 years but we have also the buffaloes, which calved at 3 years with good milk production.
Inter-calving period : 400 to 500 days.
Lactation period : 300 days. (with minimum of ~230 days recorded under top quality Murrah)
Daily lactation in peak period : 14 to 15 litter but upto 31.5 Kg milk production had also been recorded. The elite Murrah buffalo produces above 18-litter milk per day. A peak milk yield of 31.5 kg in a day has been recorded from a champion Murrah buffalo in the All India Milk Yield Competition conducted by the Government of India.
Dry period : About three months. But less than three may be there.
Gestation period : 310 days (average)

The Murrah buffalo is good milk producer, not only in India but also probably in the world (2, 7). The bulls of this breed are extensively used to upgrade the non-descript buffalo stock.

The Govt. Haryana ( India ) had launched an incentive cash prize for farmers to expand export of Murrah buffaloes.

References :
Parihar, M.L.; 'Major Buffalo Breeds of India' Pashudhan (Hindi), Vol. 16 No. 01, page 6
Banerjee, G.C.; "Animal Husbandary" 7th ed. (reprited, 1996), p. 10 5 . Published by Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.
H andbook of Animal Husbandary" 2nd (revised) ed. July 1990, p. 11. published by I.C.A.R., New Delhi.
' Performance Recording Programme Grant of Incentive', Letter No. 2645-63 HLDB-1, dated 14/08/2003 from the Director, Animal Husbandry, Haryana; and Dairying-cum-Managing Director, Haryana Livestock Development Board, Chandigarh to all the Deputy Directors etc.
The Water Buffalo: New Prospects For An Underutilized Animal (1984)
Ashwani Sharma and Tantia M.S., 'THE BUFFALO: A valuable genetic resource that needs more attention' Livestock International, Vol. 3 No. 3 (March 1999) p. 9.
Dr. Daya Singh and Dr. Ziley Singh Rana, 'Principles of Animal Breeding' (PASHU PARJANAN KE SINDHANT) 1 ST edition (1991) p. 234.

Provider:

Dr. K.L. Dahiya, Veterinary Surgeon, Regional Artificial Insemination Centre, Shahzadpur (Ambala)

Photographs:
Dr. K.L. Dahiya, Veterinary Surgeon, Regional Artificial Insemination Centre, Shahzadpur (Ambala)

Livestock : Kundi

2008-05-20T21:19:00.002+07:00

Kundi

The Kundi breed is of the milk type. It is found in Dadu, Hyderabad, Karachi, Larkana, Nawabshah, Sanghar and Thatta districts in Sind Province. The color is solid black. The average weight at maturity for the male is 600 kg and 375 kg for the female.

They are massive animals. The horns are small and spirally twisted and hence the name "Kundi". The udder is large and strong and the longevity of production is 'good'.

Reference:
Muhammad Tahir, Associate Professor, Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Photographs:
Muhammad Tahir, Associate Professor, Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Livestock : Eqyptian buffalo

2008-05-20T21:18:00.001+07:00

Eqyptian

The Egyptian buffalo is kept as a draft animal and for milk production. They are grey-black with short curved horns. The varieties include Baladi (lower Egypt) and Saidi in upper Egypt.

Reference:
Mason, I.L. 1996. A World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties. Fourth Edition. C.A.B International. 273 pp.

Photographs:
R. E. McDowell, Professor Emeritus of International Animal Science, Cornell University, and provided by Paul O. Brackelsberg, Professor of Animal Science, Iowa State University

Livestock : Australian Buffalo

2008-05-20T17:45:00.001+07:00

Australian Buffalo

Buffalo were introduced into Australia from the eastern Indonesian islands in the early 1800's

There are now 30,000 domesticated buffalo in tuberculosis and brucellosis free areas in Australia's Northern Territory. Feral buffalo number over 80,000.

The Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry is implementing a program whereby all feral buffalo will be eradicated by 1990. The purpose of this program is to halt the spread of brucellosis and tuberculosis from infected areas.

Both the Department of Primary Industry and the Buffalo Industry Council are assisting producers to build up controlled domesticated and game park herds of buffalo for production of meat and breeding animals.

Feedlots have been established to turn out young male buffalo (approx. 180 kilograms dressing weight [400 pounds]) and work is currently underway to establish a standard carcass.

Objective data are available on growth rates and fertility of the Australian buffalo. In research programs conducted in Northern Australia, growth rates appear similar to those of Brahman cross cattle. Fertility is generally excellent.

A substantial buffalo meat export industry has developed with exports primarily to Europe and Asia. Buffalo meat is also consumed on the domestic market.

Australia is basically free of major diseases affecting buffalo elsewhere in the world.

Reference:
Handbook of Austrailian Livestock, Australian Meat & Livestock Corporation,1989, 3rd Edition

Livestock : Anatolian Buffalo

2008-05-16T16:13:00.002+07:00

Anatolian Buffalo

Also Known As: Turkish

The Anatolian buffalo is found in northwestern Turkey. They are a dairy and draft breed which is usually dark gray to black. They often have white markings on the head and tail. The Anatolian buffalo has sickle or cresent shaped horns.

Reference:
Mason, I.L. 1996. A World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties. Fourth Edition. C.A.B International. 273 pp.

Photographs:

Prof. Dr. M. Ihsan SOYSAL and Research Asst. Emel ÖZKAN, Trakya University, Agriculture Faculty, Dept. of. Animal Sci., Tekirdag/TURKEY