This document provides information on dairy cattle breeds from around the world, including their origins, distinguishing characteristics, and production levels. It discusses native Indian breeds like Sahiwal, Gir, and Tharparkar as well as exotic breeds like Holstein-Friesian and Jersey. Key details on breeding, reproduction techniques, and the current cattle situation in the Philippines are also summarized.

1. “ Characteristics
of
Dairy Breeds”

2. 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.

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

4. Sahiwal: 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.
o Production:
First calving- 32 months
Inter calving- 420 days
Lactation- 2800 Kg/Lactation

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

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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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 center, tough skin,
male is silver grey, iron grey or black,
female color markings are lighter.
•Production:
First calving- 50 months
Inter calving- 480 days
Lactation- 1400 Kg/Lactation

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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 color,
▪Production:
First calving- 50 months
Inter calving- 480-600 days
Lactation- 650 Kg/Lactation

15. 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

16. 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.
• Color is black and white or red or white.
Production:
First calving- 70 months.
Inter calving- 560-660 days.
Lactation- 700 Kg/Lactation

17. 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, BrownSwiss, Guernsey, Red Dane etc.

18. Jersey:
Country of origin:
England (Island of Jersey)
Desirable color & 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.

19. 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.

20. Ayshire:
Country of origin:
Scottland
Desirable color & 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.

21. Brown Swiss:
Country of origin:
Switzerland
Desirable color & 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.

22. BREEDING A DAIRY
COW
Raising cattle for milk production requires proper breeding
for maximummilk production.
Planning is necessary: record keeping, selection and mating
is paramount

23. 1. Characteristics of a good dairy cow

24. • Steps in a breeding program
Dam selection - select the best dam basedon traits
of economic importance
Bull Selection - select the most superiorbull with
the desired traits
Breed - use the most appropriate methodof
breeding to achieve the objectives set

25. Reproduction techniques
https://pixabay.com
Cross breeding
Bull – Direct mounting by a bull

26. Artificial Insemination (AI)
– Extraction of semen from
a superiorbull and
administering to selected
dams
MOET – Multiple ovulation
and embryo transfer

27. Cattle Situation
As of 30 June 2022, the total cattle inventory reached 2.58 million
heads. This was -0.9 percent lower than the 2.61 million heads
recorded in the same period last year. Cattle population in
backyard farms expanded by 2.5 percent, while stocks in
commercial farms contracted by -60.8 percent. About 97.9
percent of the country’s total cattle inventory came from backyard
farms, while the remaining 2.1 percent was from commercial farms.
(Figure 2 and Table 2)

28. 60.99 61.54
46.00
32.6
0.9
-29.5
Figure 1. Volume and Annual Growth Rate of Cattle Production, Philippines
April-June 2020-2022p
2020 2021 2022
2020 2021 2022
Volume of Production
(in thousand mt, liveweight)
p - preliminary
Growth Rate (in percent)
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
Cattle production from April to June 2022 was registered at
61.54 thousand metric tons, liveweight. This represents an annual increase
of 0.9 percent from its previous year’s level of 60.99 thousand metric tons,
liveweight.

29. As of 30 June 2022, the total cattle inventory reached 2.58 million heads.
This was -0.9 percent lower than the 2.61 million heads recorded in the
same period last year. Cattle population in backyard farms expanded by
2.5 percent, while stocks in commercial farms contracted by -60.8
percent.About 97.9 percent of the country’s total cattle inventory came
from backyard farms, while the remaining 2.1 percent was from
commercial farms. (Figure 2 and Table 2)

30. Figure 3. Distribution of Cattle Inventory by Region, Philippines
As of 30 June 2022p
Central Visayas
CALABARZON
Ilocos Region
Western Visayas
Northern Mindanao
Central Luzon
Cagayan Valley
SOCCSKSARGEN
BARMM
MIMAROPA
Davao Region
Zamboanga Peninsula
Bicol Region
CAR
Eastern Visayas
Caraga
23.5
19.3
57.6
151.1
139.9
125.1
106.2
89.2
249.6
248.7
244.7
211.2
195.8
192.4
191.8
336.4
p – preliminary
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
in thousand heads
In terms of cattle
inventory, the top
regions were Central
Visayas,
CALABARZON, and
Ilocos Region with a
combined share of 32.3
percent to the total
cattle population.
(Figure 3 and Table 2)