traditional cattle are part and parcel of agriculture.
Dear Kumar,
Over 800 breeds of cattle are recognized worldwide, some of which adapted to the local climate, others which were bred by humans for specialized uses.
Breeds fall into two main types, regarded as either two closely related species, or two subspecies of one species. Bos indicus (or Bos taurus indicus cattle, also called zebu, are adapted to hot climates. Bos taurus (or Bos taurus taurus) are the typical cattle of Europe, north-eastern Asia, and parts of Africa – they are referred to in this list as "taurine" cattle, and many are adapted to cooler climates. Taurus/indicus hybrids are widely bred in many warmer regions, combining characteristics of both the ancestral types
India has 37 pure cattle breeds. Five of these — Sahiwal, Gir, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar and Rathi — are known for their milking prowess. A few others, such as Kankrej, Ongole and Hariana, belong to dual breeds that have both milch and draught qualities; ie, they are good plough animals. The rest are pure draught breeds. India, over the past few decades, imported several exotic cow varieties to gain a boost in milk production. In Punjab, for example, 80% of the state's one lakh stray cattle are exotic breeds. These breeds theoretically produce a lot of milk, but are not well-adapted to Indian conditions.
69% of Indian cows are owned by the economically poor strata of the society. These folks cannot afford to house these exotic breeds in regulated climate conditions.
The government has significantly mismanaged cow breeding. The average milk yield per animal in India is just 3.2 kgs, compared to a global average of 6.6 kgs. The dairy policy and outlook is highly outdated and needs to be replaced with modern, evidence-based thinking.
India has 37 pure cattle breeds. Five of these — Sahiwal, Gir, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar and Rathi — are known for their milking prowess. A few others, such as Kankrej, Ongole and Hariana, belong to dual breeds that have both milch and draught qualities; ie, they are good plough animals. The rest are pure draught breeds.
Regards,
Prem Baboo
Please also take a look at this useful link.
https://www.biodiversityofindia.org/index.php?title=Native_cow_varieties_of_India
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Geoscience
- Asia
- India