Cattles in India
Animal productivity is an integral component of national economy. In
India, agricultural prosperity is intimately associated with the livestock
development because this sector not only contributes to the principal
motive power for agriculture operations and transport in rural areas, but
also supplies nutritionally rich food for human being, such as, milk and milk
products. The socio-economic aspects of livestock development may have
a larger impact on marginal farmers and landless laboureres, since
livestock forms a movable asset especially in stress situations and is more
easily convertible than land.
Indeed, the acceptance of animal production is one of the programmes, which has
prime significance in rural development. As this vocation offers good employment potential
particularly for women and children – an aspect which is of significance in rural
development. Truly speaking, livestock production blends very well with crop production
and both are symbiotic to each other.
India has rich and diverse livestock genetic resources as is evident from the
availability of many more species of livestock and a large number of breeds / strains within
each species. India has some of the best breeds of dairy, draught and dual purpose cattle. All
the breeds of indigenous livestock have long evolutionary history. These indigenous breeds
are essentially the products of long term natural selection for adaptation to a certain set of
agro-climatic condition and low managemental inputs, especially feed and health care.
However, they are better adapted to withstand tropical diseases and are efficient converters
of low quality feed and fodder. Due to selection and adaptation, a number of such native
breeds acquired some unique traits, which not only distinguished them from others but also
have a special economic role to play.
1
2
Introduction
India owns one of the largest livestock population in the world. It accounts for 57
percent of world’s buffaloes, 16 percent of goats, 4 percent of sheep and poultry each and
one percent of pigs. Livestock in India consist of 204.58 million (43.45%) cattle, 84.20 m
(17.88%) buffaloes, 115.28 m (24.48%) goats, 50.78 m (10.79%) sheep, 12.79 m (2.72%) pigs.
Milk provide 63 percent of animal protein and almost 100 percent of animal fat in the daily
diet of an average Indian milk constitute 66.8 percent of the total value of output from
livestock (Verma and Rajput,2003).
The role of identification, conservation and improvement of indigenous breed has
been realised very seriously at the technical session of XXI Dairy Industry Conference held in
1986 to bring about technological break-through in the field of breeding and milk
production. Inspite of India’s position as highest producer of milk, productivity per animal is
very poor, it is only 987 kg per lactation, as against the world average of 2038 kg per
lactation. This low productivity is the result of the gradual breed deterioration due to
general neglect over centuries and consequent rise in the population of the non descript
cows (80 percent) and buffaloes (50 percent). Other factors contributing to low productivity
include poor fertility of dairy animals and the chronic shortage of feed and fodder coupled
with their poor nutritive value.
The programme for dairy development in general has to be viewed in terms of the
facts that 75% of the population lives in villages. The average farm size is 2 hact. and 60% of
draught power for farm operation and rural transport comes from bullock and 30% of rural
families are landless. It is true that, cross breeding is one of the tools for bringing about
quickest increase in milk production but it has been poorly accepted in areas with poor feed
resources and difficulties of fluid milk marketing.
Experimental evidence shows that Zebu cattle have lower metabolic heat production
which suits them well as hot climate. They do not need any special feed or house as against
the crossbred animals.
There is serious lack of information on the indigenous genetic resources and it has
been emphasized by various research workers that we should conserve and generate
superior germplasm of indigenous breed at our existing institutional farms, rather than
allowing them to be lost through cross breeding.
R.B.S. College of Agriculture, Bichpuri, Agra (U.P.)
3
Introduction
Madhya Pradesh is one of the largest state of the country with great biodiversity of
livestock, however, most of them are non descript type. Few important native breeds of
cattle found are Nimari, Malvi, Gaolao, Kenkatha etc. Nimari breed of cattle is found in
Nimar region and is also known as Khargoni breed. It is a well recognized dual purpose breed
of cattle which is believed to be developed by cross of Gir and Khillari breeds around the
valley of the Narmada river.
Over the years due to introduction of crossbreeding programme in India the
population of this breed has been declining gradually and at present it is confined mainly to
the West Nimar region which includes Khargone and Barwani districts of the state. The
available information on physical and economic characteristics for the breed is sketchy. This
is not based on extensive survey and did not cover the extent of variability present in
animals of a breed. Not much information is available about their native environment and
management to which this breed was subjected. There is, thus, a need to generate
information on economic parameters related to production, reproduction and calf mortality.
In addition, the information about feed resources, prevalent maangement practices and
system of handling etc. need to be documented.
Need for conservation and improvement of animal genetic resources has been
globally accepted. FAO (1981) recommended the development of a global programme for
characterization and conservation of animal genetic resources.
The name Nimari breed has been derived from the place of its origin and home
tract, which at present is largely the West Nimar tract of the state, although the breed has
been reported to be found in certain adjoining districts of Maharashtra also. The exact origin
of the breed is unknown, however, it is believed to be originated from the cross of Gir and
Khillari breeds along the Narmada valley around Maheshwar and Barwani region. This area
of Nimar forms borders with Gujarat and Maharashtra states, which are the breeding tract
of Gir and Khillari cattle, the Nimari breed might have originated by their crossing and gene
fixation through generations.
Nimari breed, rated as relatively better breed of draught animals as compared to
other indigenous breeds. The breed needs exploration of its production and working
potential. Nimari bullocks are well known for their heat tolerance capability and can work in
the field in extremely not climate even in the hilly area.
R.B.S. College of Agriculture, Bichpuri, Agra (U.P.)
4
Introduction
The population of Nimari animals has declined considerably during the years in its
breeding tract. Although the breed is not under immediate threat to extinction, however, in
situ conservation along with selective improvement is essential, not only at recognized farms
but also at farmer’s door.
The milk production capacity of a cow is one of the most important economic
characters and the phenotypic expression of this is a complex physiological and biochemical
process governed both by hereditary and environmental factors. Milk yield is a quantitative
character, which is phenotypically expressed as the end result of long chain of events caused
by manifold and complex physiological functioning, which probably means that many pair of
genes and many kind of gene interactions are involved. Polygenes that have small and
cumulative effects on production traits are highly susceptible to environmental
modifications.
In dairy animals reproductive traits such as age at first service, age at first calving,
calving interval and production traits such as lactation yield, lactation length, dry period etc.
are important components of milk production studies.
Mortality of calf is an important trait both for breeding and economic point of view
in dairy enterprise. The success of any dairy enterprise depends upon the survival of the calf
crop produced. A high survival rate in a dairy herd helps to increase the selection difference
at which is one of the main factors controlling genetic gain and more economic returns.
The cost and return structure of dairying is an important aspect for producer
consumers and policy makers to provide an effective linkage between the milk producer and
consumers, so that producer get remunerative price for their milk and milk products at
reasonable rate. Moreover, commercial profitability also decides the fate of a breed,
whether or not, it should be conserved and be given due emphasis.
Keeping in view the above, the present study was taken up with the following
objectives:
(1)
To study the following productive and reproductive traits of
Nimari cattle and the factors affecting them:
(a)
Age at first service.
R.B.S. College of Agriculture, Bichpuri, Agra (U.P.)
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Introduction
(f)
(2)
(b)
Age at first calving.
(c)
Lactation yield.
(d)
Lactation length.
(e)
Dry period.
Calving interval.
To estimate the rate of calf mortality, in various age groups along its causes
of mortality.
(3)
Preparation of a package of practices to minimise calf mortality and to
ensure better calf management.
(4)
To calculate the economics of milk production.
R.B.S. College of Agriculture, Bichpuri, Agra (U.P.)