This document discusses the characteristics of various dairy cattle breeds found in India. It describes the origins, distinguishing physical traits, and milk production capacities of important native breeds like Sahiwal, Gir and Tharparkar as well as exotic breeds introduced to India such as Holstein Friesian and Jersey. It also examines hybrid breeds developed in India through crossbreeding native and exotic cattle. The document serves as a comprehensive reference for the traits and production capacities of different dairy cattle breeds in India.

1. “ Characteristics of Dairy Breeds”
Dr.K.RAMESHKUMAR
Assistant Professor of Zoology
Vivekananda College
Tiruvedakam West
Vivekananda College
Tiruvedakam- West

2. Bio-farming Technology
Topic:
“ Characteristics of Dairy
Breeds”

3. Synopsis:
1.0 An Introduction
2.0 Terminology
3.0 Characteristics of indigenous (Native) breeds.
4.0 Characteristics of exotic breeds.
5.0 Characteristics of hybrid breeds.
6.0 References

4. Introduction:
• Dairy breeds (Dairy cattle/cow) are cattle cow bred for the ability to
produce large quantities of milk, from which dairy products are made.
• Dairy cows generally are of the species Bos taurus.
• India has a large indigenous bovine population with rich biodiversity.
• There are 40 well defined breeds of cattle and 13 breeds of buffaloes.
• They are using various purposes such as milch, draught and dual
purposes.

5. Terminology:
• Calving: Giving birth to a calf.
• Inter calving: This the period between two successive calving.
• Lactation: The secretion of milk from the mammary glands and the
period of the time that mother lactates to feed her young.
• Switch: A tuft of hair at the end of the tail.
• Docile: Quiet and easy to control.
• Dewlap: A fold of loose skin hanging from the neck or throat of the
animal.
• Navel flap: Skin hangs in the ventral side of cow near to the udder.
• Muzzle: The nose and mouth of an animal.

6. Native Breeds: (Based on Morphology)
1. Lyre horned grey cattle:
Kankrej, Malvi, Tharparkar
2. White or grey cattle with coffin shaped skull:
Hariana, Krishna valley, Ongole
3. Heavy built and curly horns:
Gir, Red sindhi, Sahiwal
4. Prominent forehead with long horn:
Hallikar, Amint mahal, Kangayam
5. Hilly breed:
Ponwar, Siri

7. Native Breeds: (Based on Purpose)
1. Milch Breeds:
Sahiwal, Red sindhi, Gir, Tharparkar
2. Dual Purpose Breeds:
Hariana, Ongole, Deoni, Kankrej
3. Draught Breeds:
Amritmahal, Kangayam, Malvi, Siri, Hallikar, Khillari

8. Sahiwal: • Origin & Distribution:
Central and southern dry areas of the
Punjab particularly in Montgomery district
in Pakistan.
• Distinguished Characters:
 Deep body, loose skin, short legs.
 General colours are Various shades of red,
pale red, and dark brown splashed with
white.
 Long whip like tail almost reaching to the
ground, tapering to good black switch.
 Male- 522 Kg and female- 340 kg.
 It is heritable breed- “Jamica hope” in West
indies.
• Production:
First calving- 32 months
Inter calving- 420 days
Lactation- 2800 Kg/Lactation

9. Red Sindhi: • Origin & Distribution:
The home of this breed is round about Karachi
and Hyderabad (sindhi).
• Distinguished Characters:
 Medium size and compact, well proportioned
body, extremely docile.
 Thick horns emerging laterally and end in
blunt points.
 Deep dark red colour varying from dun yellow
in almost dark brown.
 Male- 450 Kg and female- 295 kg.
• Production:
First calving- 32 months
Inter calving- 420 days
Lactation- 2800 Kg/Lactation

10. Gir: • Origin & Distribution:
Gir forest of south Kathiawar (Junagarh
state) and some other states of western
India.
• Distinguished Characters:
 Pendulous front wards turned ears.
 Appearance strikingly impressive, docile
temperament.
 Colour is seldom entire varying from
almost red to almost black.
 Male- 544 Kg and female- 386 kg.
• Production:
First calving- 45-54 months
Inter calving- 515-600 days
Lactation- 1200-1800 Kg/Lactation

11. Tharparkar: • Origin & Distribution:
Thaparkar district of Hyderabad, distributed
in south-east sind.
• Distinguished Characters:
 Medium size, deep built, short, straight
and strong limbs.
 The tail is fine with black switch.
 Moderately developed dewlap with
straight and moderately long back.
 Udder is moderately developed with 3-4
inches long teats.
• Production:
First calving- 38-42 months
Inter calving- 430 days
Lactation- 2600 Kg/Lactation

12. Hariana: • Origin & Distribution:
Originated in east Punjab and are now in
karnal and Delhi provinces.
• Distinguished Characters:
 Proportionate body, compact graceful
appearance.
 Popular colour is white or light grey, long
and narrow face.
 Sheath is short, navel flap absent.
 Legs are moderately long and lean.
• Production:
First calving- 40-60 months
Inter calving- 630 days
Lactation- 1500 Kg/Lactation

13. Ongole: • Origin & Distribution:
Ongole tract of Andhra pradesh.
• Distinguished Characters:
 Large, heavy and muscular.
 Hump is well developed and erect.
 Animals are greatly alert and docile with
good gait.
 Popular colour is white, male are dark grey
at extremities.
• Production:
First calving- 38-45 months
Inter calving- 470 days
Lactation- 1500 Kg/Lactation

14. Deoni: • Origin & Distribution:
North-west and western portion of
hyderabad.
• Distinguished Characters:
 Resembles gir breeds, less pronounced
forehead.
 Colour in black and white or red and white
irregular patches or spots.
 Lean face but not clean cut.
 Deep chest, well arched ribs, straight back,
strong quarters.
• Production:
Average yield about 900 Kg in 300 days.
1800 Kg if well maintained.

15. Kankrej:
• Origin & Distribution:
Originated in north Gujarat, distributed in
south-east of Rann of
Kutch.
• Distinguished Characters:
One of the heaviest breed, Broad chest,
forehead dished in the centre, tough skin,
male is silver grey, iron grey or black, female
colour markings are lighter.
• Production:
First calving- 50 months
Inter calving- 480 days
Lactation- 1400 Kg/Lactation

16. Amritmahal: • Origin & Distribution:
Karnataka.
• Distinguished Characters:
 Compact form with short straight back,
well arched ribs, powerful sloping quarters.
 Narrow face and prominent forehead with
furrow in the middle.
 Tail is of moderate length with black
switch.
 Grey coloured body with dark head,neck,
hump and quarters.
• Production:
First calving- 72 months
Inter calving- 600 days
Lactation- 650 Kg/Lactation

17. Kangayam: • Origin & Distribution:
Kangayam division of dharapuram taluk of
Coimbatore district.
• Distinguished Characters:
 Body moderately long, straight back, short and
strong neck.
 Special points are strong horns with sharp tips.
 The colour of the cow is white with black
markings just in front of the fetlocks on all four
legs and sometimes in knees.
 Moderate sized hump, wide muzzle, strong
limbs.
• Production:
First calving- 72 months
Inter calving- 600 days
Lactation- 666 Kg/Lactation

18. Malvi:
• Origin & Distribution:
Malawa region of Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan.
• Distinguished Characters:
Mainly draught animal, massive built body
having resemblance of kankrej, tapering
horn to blunt point, grey to iron grey colour,
• Production:
First calving- 50 months
Inter calving- 480-600 days
Lactation- 650 Kg/Lactation

19. Siri:
• Origin & Distribution:
Hill tracts of Darjeeling (WB), Sikkim and
bhutan.
• Distinguished Characters:
 Massive body, small head, square cut, wide and flat
forehead.
 Sharp horns, relatively small ears, well placed hump
covered with a tuft of hair at the top..
 It lives at a height of 1000-4000 meters.
 Strong legs and feet, dewlap is not prominent.
 Colour is black and white or red or white.
• Production:
First calving- Late breeders takes more than 6 years.
Inter calving- Lengthy
Lactation- 1000 Kg/Lactation

20. Hallikar:
• Origin & Distribution:
Vijayanagaram of Karnataka, mainly found in districts
of hassan and tumkur.
• Distinguished Characters:
 Massive body, small head, square cut, wide and flat
forehead.
 Sharp horns, relatively small ears, well placed hump
covered with a tuft of hair at the top..
 It lives at a height of 1000-4000 meters.
 Strong legs and feet, dewlap is not prominent.
 Colour is black and white or red or white.
• Production:
First calving- 70 months.
Inter calving- 560-660 days.
Lactation- 700 Kg/Lactation

21. 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 produces, they hapless 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.

22. Jersey:
• Country of origin:
England (Island of Jersey)
• Desirable colour & Marking:
Fawn with or without white markings
• Average body Size:
Female-450 Kg
Male- 675 Kg
• Average Milk Yield:
4500 Kg/Lactation
• First Calving:
38 Months
• Distinguished Character:
Docile, Nervous and sensitive rough
environment tolerance.

23. Holstein Friesian:
• Country of origin:
Holland
• Desirable colour & Marking:
Black and white
• Average body Size:
Female-675 Kg
Male- 1000 Kg
• Average Milk Yield:
6500 Kg/Lactation
• First Calving:
36 Months
• Distinguished Character:
Long and young head, Udder are long and
stout.

24. Ayshire:
• Country of origin:
Scottland
• Desirable colour & Marking:
Red or brown with white patches.
• Average body Size:
Female-550 Kg
Male- 850 Kg
• Average Milk Yield:
5800 Kg/Lactation
• First Calving:
40 Months
• Distinguished Character:
Most beautiful breed, over active
animal, difficult to manage,
shorter animal.

25. Brown Swiss:
• Country of origin:
Switzerland
• Desirable colour & Marking:
Distinctly brown
• Average body Size:
Female-625 Kg
Male- 900 Kg
• Average Milk Yield:
6250 Kg/Lactation
• First Calving:
35 Months
• Distinguished Character:
Mainly for beef production, quite and
docile large head.

26. Hybrid Breed:
Karan Swiss
• Breed evolved in NDRI karnal in
Haryana.
• It is a cross between Brown Swiss with
Red Sindhi or Sahiwal.
• It is a pollution tolerant animal.
• It resembles Sahiwal.
• First Calving- 32 months.
• Inter Calving- 400 days.
• Lactation- 4500-5000 Kg/Lactation.

27. Karan Fries:
• It is a cross breed between Tharparkar
and HF.
• Body completely dark with white patches
on the fore head.
• Switch and poll are white strains.
• Udder is dark colour with white strains.
• First calving- 30 months.
• Inter calving- 400 days.
• Lactation- 4000 Kg/ Lactation.

28. Buffalo Breeds:
Pandharpuri buffalo Sambalpuri buffalo Surti buffalo
Tarai buffalo Toda buffalo

29. Bhadawari buffalo
Murrah buffalo
Jafarabadi Buffalo
Jirangi buffalo
Kalahandi buffalo
Manda buffaloMehsana buffalo
Nagpuri buffalo
Nili-Ravi

30. Thank You…