Important Indigenous Livestock Breeds of India

India has been blessed with a large repository of indigenous bovine population with rich bio-diversity. There are 50 well-defined breeds of cattle and 17 breeds of buffaloes. These breeds have evolved over generations, surviving due to their adaptability to harsh climatic conditions, ability to perform on poor quality feed and fodder, resistance to diseases etc. Adult males of some native breeds are also known for their draft qualities. Thus these Indigenous breeds are well adapted to our existing agro-climatic conditions and are resistant to many tropical diseases and can survive and produce on marginal and poor feed and fodder resources. Some of these breeds are well known for their high milk and fat production. However, the production potential of these animals has deteriorated over a period of time due to lack of selection.

The population of some of the breeds have declined over years and the primary reason for such decline in numbers of such breeds is reduced productivity - an uneconomical proposition for farmers. The solution therefore lies in the genetic improvement of these breeds for milk production. Systematic efforts in this direction will not only ensure that these breeds become more productive, it will also arrest their further decline.

With the twin objectives of development and conservation, NDDB through various agencies is implementing programmes for genetic improvement of select indigenous dairy breeds. The future holds a promise for improvement in the productivity of our indigenous breeds of cattle and buffaloes
BREEDS OF CATTLE

INDIGENOUS BREED
Indigenous Breeds are classified under three groups based on utility / purpose.
a) Milch breeds / Milk breeds
b) Dual Purpose breeds
c) Draught breeds

Milch Breeds / Milk Breeds:
The cows of these breeds are high milk yields and the male animals are slow or poor work animals. The examples of Indian milch breeds are shahiwal, Red Sindhi, Gir and Deoni The milk production of milk breeds is on the average more than 1600 kg per lactation

Dual Purpose Breeds:
The cows in these breeds are average milk yielder and male animals are very useful for work. Their milk production per lactation is 500 kg to 150 kg. The example of this group is Ongole, Hariana, Kankrej, Tharparker, Krishna valley, Rathi and Goalo Mewathi.

Draught Breeds:
The male animals are good for work and Cows are poor milk yielder are their milk yield as an average is less than 500 kg per lactation. They are usually white in color. A pair of bullocks can haul 1000 kg. Net with an iron typed cart on a good road at walking speed of 5 to 7 km per hour and cover a distance of 30 - 40 km per day. Twice as much weight can be pulled on pneumatic rubber tube carts. The example of this group Kangayam, Umblacherry, Amritmahal, Hallikar.
In humanity’s lexicon, the word Cattle is an umbrella term referring to a range of animals belonging to the genus Bos. These include Cows, Bulls, Oxen, or calves. They are the most commonly domesticate

1. Breeds of India
Prepared by-
Dr. SubhrajitDas
Veterinary Officer, PecharthalVD
ARDD, Govt. of Tripura

2. Abreedis a specific group of domestic animals
havinghomogenousappearance (phenotype),
homogeneousbehaviour, and/or other
characteristics that distinguish it from other
organisms of the samespecies.
What is Breed?

3. Breeds of Cattle

4. Mithun(Bos Frontalis)
Key Characteristics
Nagamiand Arunachali
Stunt but muscular
body
Black, Red and B&W
260-360 kgs
Lactation yield-800-
1300 litres
Native Tract
Bangladesh, NE, Myanmar
Basic Utility
Milch

5. Breeds of Cattle-
Indigenous

6. Gir
Key Characteristics
Half moon shaped horn,
curved backwards
Pendulous ear
Skin is white with dark
red and chocolate
brown patches
Lactation yield-1200-
1800 litres
Native Tract
Saurashtraof Gujarat
Basic Utility
Milch

7. Sahiwal
Key Characteristics
Loose Skin
Stunt Horns
Pale Red or Reddish
Dun
Lactation Yield: 1400-
2000 Kgs
Native Tract
Punjab, Haryana, UP, Delhi
Basic Utility
Milch

8. Red Sindhi
Key Characteristics
Red color body
Umbilicus is large and
hanging
Head is smaller
Backward & downward
facing horn
Lactation yield: 1200-
1800 kg
Native Tract
North India
Basic Utility
Milch

9. Tharparkar
Key Characteristics
Color white and grey
Semi pendulous &
forwarding facing ear
Lyre shaped horn
The dewlap is large
Lactation yield: 1200-
2000 Kg
Native Tract
Western Rajasthan & Gujarat
Basic Utility
Milch

10. Rathi
Key Characteristics
Skin colour white with
big red patches
Dewlap is large and
pendulous
Horns are backward
and outward
Lactation yield: 1500-
2500 Kg
Native Tract
Western Rajasthan
Basic Utility
Milch

11. Hariana
Key Characteristics
White in Color
Strong Build
Small horns
Lactation yield: 1000-
1500 Kg
Native Tract
Haryana, Punjab, Western UP
and East Rajasthan
Basic Utility
Milch & Draught

12. Kankrej
Key Characteristics
Heaviest cattle breed
White or light grey
colour
Lyre Shaped horn
Sawai Chal
Lactation Yield: 1400
kg
Native Tract
Kutch (Gujarat) and Barmer,
Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
Basic Utility
Milch & Draught

13. Ongole
Key Characteristics
Large Muscular breed
Well developed hump
White or light grey in
colour
Lactation Yield: 1000
kg
Native Tract
Andhra Pradesh
Basic Utility
Milch & Draught

14. Krishna Valley
Key Characteristics
Deep, loosely built
short body
White with darker
shade on fore and hind
quarter in male
Lactation yield: 900
Kgs
Native Tract
Karnataka & Maharashtra
Basic Utility
Milch & Draught

15. Amritmahal
Key Characteristics
Grey in color but shade
may be darker also
Muzzle, feet and tail
are black
Long and sharp horn
with black tip
Native Tract
Karnataka
Basic Utility
Draught

16. Nagori
Key Characteristics
Heavy breed
White and grey colour
Flat forehead
Long pendulous ears
Native Tract
Nagaur district of Rajasthan
Basic Utility
Draught

17. Breeds of Cattle-Exotic

18. Holstein
Key Characteristics
Without hump
White color with Black
patches
Lactation yield: 8000
to 14000 litres
Native Tract
Netherlands
Basic Utility
Milch

19. Jersey
Key Characteristics
Reddish-Brown in
colour
Without hump
Lactation yield: 5000-
8000 Kg
Native Tract
Europe & America
Basic Utility
Milch

20. Breeds of Buffalo

21. Murrah
Key Characteristics
Jet black with white
markings on tail
Tightly curved horn
Lactation Yield: 1500-
2500 kg
Fat %-7-8%
Native Tract
Haryana, Punjab & UP
Basic Utility
Milch

22. Surti
Key Characteristics
Rusty brown to silver-
grey
Sickle shaped, flat and
long horn
Two white collars, one
round the jaw and near
Lactation yield: 1000-
1300 Kgs
Fat%-9-12%
Native Tract
Central Gujarat
Basic Utility
Milch

23. Jaffrabadi
Key Characteristics
Heaviest buffalo breed
Horns droop and
turning up at point
Bulls used for draught
purpose
Lactation yield:800-
1000 kg
Native Tract
Gujarat
Basic Utility
Milch

24. Bhadawari
Key Characteristics
Light copper colour
Eye lids also cooper
colour
Two white lines are
present at lower side
of neck
Lactation yield: 800-
1000 kg
Native Tract
West UP and West MP
Basic Utility
Milch

25. Nili Ravi
Key Characteristics
Head is small bulging
at top and depressed
between eyes
Horns small and tightly
coiled
Lactation Yield: 1500-
1850 Kg
Native Tract
Punjab
Basic Utility
Milch

26. Mehsana
Key Characteristics
Body is longer than
Murrah
Lighter limbs
Horns are less curved
and irregular
Lactation Yield: 1200-
1500 Kg
Native Tract
Gujarat & Maharashtra
Basic Utility
Milch

27. Nagpuri
Key Characteristics
Black coloured animal
with white patches on
face, legs and tail
Long and thin horns
curved backwards
Lactation Yield: 700-
1200 Kgs
Native Tract
Marathwada region of
Maharashtra
Basic Utility
Milch

28. Breeds of Goat

29. Sirohi
Key Characteristics
Coat colour is brown
with light brown
patches
Body covered with
short and coarse hairs
Small horns, curved
upward and backward
Native Tract
Rajasthan & Gujarat
Basic Utility
Meat Purpose

30. Marwari
Key Characteristics
Predominantly black
Hair cover is lustrous
Well developed udder
Small tail
Thin upward facing
horns
Native Tract
Western Rajasthan
Basic Utility
Hair & Meat

31. Beetal
Key Characteristics
Predominantly black
or brown with spots of
different sizes
Long and flat, curled
and drooping ears
Backward and forward
slightly curved horns
Native Tract
Punjab
Basic Utility
Meat

32. Jhakrana
Key Characteristics
Black in colour with
white spot on ear and
muzzle
Large breed
Large udder
Native Tract
Eastern Rajasthan
Basic Utility
Milk and Meat

33. Barbari
Key Characteristics
Dwarf Breed suitable for
stall feeding
White with small brown
patches
Medium, thick & twisted
horns in upward and
backward direction
Males have a thick beard
Native Tract
East Rajasthan & Western UP
Basic Utility
Milk and Meat

34. Jamnapari
Key Characteristics
White or light yellowish
tan with brown to light
brown spots around
neck and face
Highly convex nose with
a tuft of hair (Parrot
shaped nose)
Thick hair growth near
buttocks known as
feather
Native Tract
Western UP
Basic Utility
Milk and Meat

35. Surti
Key Characteristics
Small breed
Well Developed Udder
High milk yielder
Highly developed udder
Medium drooping ear
High Feed Efficiency
ratio
Native Tract
Baroda and Surat
Basic Utility
Milk and Meat

36. Breeds of Sheep

37. Marwari
Key Characteristics
Black face extending to
the lower neck area
Extremely small and
tubular ears
Polled horns
Fleece is white, less
dense and coarse
Native Tract
Western Rajasthan
Basic Utility
Wool & Meat

38. Malpura
Key Characteristics
Light brown face
covering lower part of
neck
Long legs
Both sexes are polled
Native Tract
Central & East Rajasthan
Basic Utility
Wool and Meat

39. Magra
Key Characteristics
Medium to large size
White face with light
brown patches around
eye
Carpet quality coarse
white wool
Native Tract
Bikaner, Churu & Nagaur
districts of Rajasthan
Basic Utility
Wool and Meat

40. Chokla
Key Characteristics
Medium size breed
Face is light or dark
brown till neck
Fleece is thick and
relatively fine and it
covers belly and hind
legs also
Finest quality of carpet
wool
Native Tract
Churu, Jhunjhunu & Sikar
districts of Rajasthan
Basic Utility
Wool

41. Mandya (Bannur)
Key Characteristics
Small size breed
Generally white but
sometimes light brown
face till neck
Typical reverse U
shape conformation
from the rear
Extremely coarse wool
Native Tract
Mandya & Mysore Districts of
Karnataka
Basic Utility
Wool and Meat

42. Nilgiri
Key Characteristics
White small size animal
Face line is convex
(Roman or parrot nose)
Broad flat and drooping
ears
Extremely coarse and
thin fleece
Native Tract
Coimbatore of Tamilnadu
Basic Utility
Wool and Meat

43. Ganjam
Key Characteristics
Brown to dark brown
colour
Some animals have white
spots on face and body
Convex nose
Medium size drooping ears
Males are horned
protruding outwards
Native Tract
Orrisa
Basic Utility
Meat and Wool

44. Changthangi
Key Characteristics
Generally white in
colour, sometimes
brown or yellow
Pendulous ears
Legs are devoid of
fleece
Native Tract
Leh district of J & K
Basic Utility
Meat and wool

45. Gaddi
Key Characteristics
Medium size animal
Usually white, but tan,
brown and black also
seen
Males are horned
protruding outwards
Native Tract
Himachal and Uttarakhand
Basic Utility
Wool and Meat

46. Rampur Bushair
Key Characteristics
Medium size
Usually White in colour
Coarse and thin fleece
Legs are devoid of
fleece
Native Tract
Himachal Pradesh
Basic Utility
Wool

47. Breeds of Pig

48. Large White Yorkshire
Key Characteristics
Body colour is white
with occasional
pigmented spot
Erected ears
Snout of medium
length but large in size
Mature body weight:
300-400 kg
Native Tract
Britain
Basic Utility
Meat

49. Landrace
Key Characteristics
Highest quality of
bacon
Large and long body
Generally white in
colour, sometimes with
black patches
White bristles across
body
Native Tract
Denmark
Basic Utility
Meat

50. Middle White Yorkshire
Key Characteristics
Smaller than large
white Yorkshire
Body white in colour
Snout is small but thick
High lean meat to bone
ratio
Native Tract
Britain
Basic Utility
Meat

51. Ghunghuroo
Key Characteristics
Black in colour
Bull dog face
appearance
Can produce high
quality pork by
utilizing kitchen waste
Prolific
Native Tract
North East
Basic Utility
Meat

52. Breeds of Poultry

53. Rhode Island Red
Native Tract
United States
Basic Utility
Egg and Meat
Key Characteristics
Rust coloured feathers
Red orange eyes
Reddish brown beaks
Yellow feet and legs

54. Black Australorp
Key Characteristics
Black with beetle green
coloured sheen
Red coloured face
Large, heavy &
beautiful breed
Soft feathered
Excellent layer
Native Tract
Australia
Basic Utility
Egg and Meat

55. White Plymouth Rock
Key Characteristics
Barred/white
Red mouth
Yellow skin colour
Moderate deep, full
breast
Excellent meat quality
Native Tract
United States
Basic Utility
Meat and Eggs

56. Leghorn
Key Characteristics
White feathers
Yellow skin
Head is of red colour
Capable to fly
Excellent egg layers
Native Tract
Italy
Basic Utility
Egg

57. Minorca
Key Characteristics
Skin colour is white
Black feathers
Very large comb-
waddles
Excellent egg layer
Native Tract
Basic Utility
Eggs

58. Kadacknath
Key Characteristics
Completely black in
colour
Black plumage with a
greenish iridescence
Black meat having
medicinal value
Native Tract
Central India
Basic Utility
Eggs, Meat & Medicinal purpose

59. Giriraja
Key Characteristics
Brown or dark brown
in color
Excellent layer
A disease resistant
breed except for
Ranikhet disease
Native Tract
Karnataka
Basic Utility
Eggs

60. THANK YOU
To [email protected]

61. Thank You
To [email protected]