Dairy Cattle Breeds and their Characteristics.
Introduction
Dairy cattle form a unique niche among animals used for human purposes. They have been selected out among cattle to perform one very specific purpose, the production of fluid milk.
While many dairy cattle also have value as beef or draught animals, there are no other types of livestock that have been selected as systematically, and for as many years, as dairy cattle have been selected to produce milk.
In many parts of the world, cattle are raised for dual (meat and milk) or even triple (meat, milk and draught) purposes. Breeds of cattle frequently show the effects of such multiple objectives.
The dairy cattle breeds are those which have been specifically improved, especially in Europe and North America, for milk production. Nowadays Dairy cattle breeds were improved genetically to get high amounts of milk content for a long time. Dairy Cattle breeds were categorized according to mainly two criteria.
Indian Dairy Cattle Breeds
European Dairy Cattle Breeds
Indian Dairy Cattle Breeds
Gir
Red Sindhi
Sahiwal
Tharparkar
Ongole
Gir Cattle
Gir cattle's are distinctive in appearance and a heavy breed. Their body is well proportioned and the udder in cows is well developed and round. Their body color is shining red to spotted white.
Although, their body color can vary from pure red to speckles, yellowish red to white with large red spots. Their skin is soft, thin and glossy. They have a big head with a prominent bulging shield and a long face.
The convex forehead of Gir cattle is the most unusual feature of this breed. Their convex forehead acts as a cooling radiator to the brain and pituitary gland. Their ears are very long and are an excellent fly and insect swatter.
Their eyes are hooded and black pigmented and there are lot of loose skin around their eye area. They have very hard feet which is black in color. The horns of Gir cattle are set well back on their heads and thick at the base.
Their horns grow downwards and backwards with an upward curve. They have large hump. The average body weight of a Gir bull is about 545 kg and 385 kg for cows.
The Gir cattle are very gregarious, and at night they form a circle very close together with their calves sleeping under their necks. It is a very popular dairy cattle breed in India.
And the average milk yield of a Gir cow is 1500 kg per lactation.
Average lifespan of Gir cattle is about 12-15 years. And a cow produces 10-12 calves during their lifespan.
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