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A great variety of recorded production systems both for crops and livestock have
been practised in India at some place, and at some point of time. Through these
practices, the country evolved fine breeds of livestock, particularly in case of cattle
and horses. These unique resources of livestock breeds are being used by farmers
for multiple purposes. They are being sought in other countries for their special
characteristics of disease resistance. Indian breeds like Gir and Sahiwal are
amongst the hardiest of high-yielders in the world. The Hallikar breed of Southern
India are poor milkers, but the bullocks are excellent draught animals.
Breed Improvement
The traditional technologies used for breed improvement in cattle and buffaloes
was castration of all males at or before maturity. Bull was considered more
important for breed improvement. This is supported by the fact that a vast majority
of the ancient pictures and clay models are of bulls, rather than of cows. The
animals were fed as per their productivity and following the prescribed feeding
schedules. Use of yagnas and religions festivals were used as occasions for display
of quality animals.
The present-day concept of livestock shows appears to have evolved from this
practice. The village administration used to keep account of livestock number. This
was an empirical form of livestock census/ Underfeeding, poor management and
cruelty to cattle were regarded as penal offences. The best-breed male cattle were
donated to temple trusts and they enjoyed wide patronage. The temple trusts had
grazing lands for the community.They also had Gaushalas to preserve the best
specimens. Grazing lands were regarded as common property resources and were
nurtured for that purpose. Stray, unknown bulls were not allowed to mix with the
herd to maintain purity of the breed.
The traditional breeding technologies were suited to a region where the pressure
on land was within its carrying capacity and animal numbers were only to be
increased. There were no limits on time taken to achieve breed improvements. In
the present-day scenario where every programme is with reference to a time scale,
and carrying capacity of the land is almost saturated, traditional technologies do
seem to be handicapped when compared with modern technologies.
The first hospital for treatment of animals anywhere in the world was
established in India and later in Rome, Italy. During the early medieval period,
drugs of vegetable and animal origin, minerals and rasa sastra (latro-medicine)
were used for treatment. Subsequently, the modern system of allopathy was
introduced in India by the British. for a while, the rulers in India patronized the
traditional system of medicine in pockets, but abolition of the princely states
orphaned the science. In the latter part of the 20th century, rejuvenation of the
science began in India and now this ancient India is steadily gaining world-wide
recognition.
Excessive use or abuse of modern medicine has brought several hazards which,
in turn, has made the scientist pay greater attention to the use of herbal medicine
for remedial purpose. The difficulties with modern medicine are that several
chemicals, antibiotics and sulpha drugs have toxic side effects as well as residual
effect on the animals' body systems. Many feed additives and drugs used for
treatment have residual ill effects on human health as well through consumption of
animal products. Chemicals are sometimes not easily degraded and excreted from
the system causing accumulated toxicity. Use of chemotherapeutic agents specially
steroids' and antibiotics may cause more harm than good especially in animal
practices where detailed examination is not always possible. Development of drug-
resistance by body, micro-organisms and parasites often pose serious problems.
Non-availability of modern medicines in the rural areas and increasing cost of
treatment are other deterrats, on the other hand, it is believed that most of the
problems mentioned above do not arise in the use of herbal medicine.
If herbal medicines can be developed, they would serve the same purpose. The
cost of treatment would be less, which the poor farmers can afford. Technology
transfer is easy with herbal medicine. Maintenance of medicinal plant gardens
would not only provide raw materials to drug industry but also increase revenue,
provide employment,preserve the ecosystem and earn foreign exchange for the
country.
Modern practice of Animal Husbandry makes use of one type of animal in large, efficient
farming units that generate animal products with the highest margin of profits
corresponding to the rate of investment. Intensive husbandry conditions are evident by
large numbers of animals in small clumps, enriched feed, stimulative growth by various
means and vaccination against disease. However contrary to these conditions, most of the
world’s domestic animals are raised in small units under less efficient conditions and
at lower rates of return.
Earlier, sheep and goats were reared and herded by a single person. Despite that, he was
known as a shepherd. Camels are also herded in many countries whereas in Tibet, it is the
yak that is taken care of.
33
Notes
Animal Husbandry
Ever since the beginning of civilisation, humans have depended on animals for
many requirements, such as that of food (milk, meat and egg), clothing (hide or
wool), labour (pulling, carrying load) and security etc. The development of desirable
qualities in all such animal species, through creating better breeds, has been an
important human achievement. For this, humans have consistently tried to improve
the breeds of domesticated animals to make them more useful for them. In this
lesson, you will learn about the common breeds of such animals, their uses and
some methods of improving their breeds.
OBJECTIVES
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
l define the term Animal Husbandry;
l defferentiate between wild, tamed and domesticated animals;
l classify the domesticated animals into various categories;
l list the high yielding breeds of cattle in India and abroad;
l describe in brief the raising and caring of cattle;
l enumerate principal dairy products;
l describe modern techniques of genetic improvement such as artificial
insemination and embryo transplant;
l list the important breeds of cattle, pig, sheep, goat, horse, poultry and their
specific uses;
l list the common diseases of animals, their symptoms and their causal organisms.
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is known as Animal Husbandry. The term husbandry derives from the word
“husband” which means ‘one who takes care’. When it incorporates the study of
proper utilisation of economically important domestic animals, it is called Livestock
Management.
Cattle
Cattle mainly include cow, bull, oxen, goat, sheep etc. The females of the species
provide milk, which in turn contribute animals protein to the diet of people. While
the female species of these cattle are used for milk, the male species play an
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important role in the agricultural economy by providing labour, meat and hide. Milk
itself is taken in many forms like ghee, curd, butter and cheese etc. The excreta
of these animals (dung) is used as manure, in biogas and as fuel. There are several
important breeds of cattle in India and abroad.
Notes
33.2.1 Milk yielding animals
What is a breed ?
A breed is a group of one species of animals, which have the same descent and
are similar in body shape, size and structure.
Breed Distribution
Murrah Haryana and Punjab
Bhadawari Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
Jaffarabadi Gujarat
Surti Gujarat
Mehsana Gujarat (cross breed between Surti and Murrah)
Nagpuri Maharastra
Nill Ravi Punjab
Porlakmedi Orissa
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The diet of cattle mainly consists of roughage (dry or green fodder or fibrous food)
and concentrates like grains, oil cakes and seeds, mineral salts and vitamins.
Cream : It is prepared by churning milk, the fat comes on the top which is separated
by draining out the liquid. It is known as cream with 10-70% fat contents.
Ghee : After heating butter, the water evaporates and fat contents are almost 100%.
Cattle Dung : Cattle dung is mainly used to make dung cakes for burning as fuels.
It is used mainly in villages of India. The farmers also use cattle dung to produce
bio gas and the leftover residue as manure.
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Breeds of Sheep
Breed Distribution
Chokla Rajasthan
Nial Rajasthan and Haryana
Notes
Marwari Rajasthan and Gujarat
Magra Rajasthan
Jaisalmeri Rajasthan
Pugul Bikaner (Rajasthan)
Malpura Rajasthan
Potanwadi Uttar Pradesh and Delhi
Muzaffararanagari Haryana
Hissardale Himachal Pradesh and Haryana
Nellore Andhra Pradesh
Bellary, Hassan, Mandya Karnataka
Mecheri, Kalikarsal, Vembur Tamil Nadu
Exotic Breeds
The main exotic breeds of sheep are Toggenberg, Saanen, French, Alpine and
Nuibian and Angora.
Feeding of sheep
They feed on green grasses and other wild plants. When sheep are reared for a
particular purpose, they are given protein, minerals and vitamin rich food. The main
constituents of their food are as follows :
Leguminous fodder : Urad, mung, berseem etc.
Oil cakes : Groundnut, seasame cake, (rich in proteins)
Grains : Maize, barley, oats and jowar.
Lime, common salt : Sterilised bone meal (rich in mineral salts)
(ii) Goat
Important breeds of goats used for milk, meat and hide. There are about 19 well
known Indian breeds, apart from a number of local non-descript breeds that are
scattered throughout the country. The breeds are mentioned below on the basis of
their location.
Himalayan Region (hilly track)
Cham, Gadd : Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh , Jammu and Kashmir
Pashmina : Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Lahul and Spiti valley
Chegu : Kashmir
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Northern Region
Jamunaparu – Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
Beetal – Punjab
Barhari – Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana
Notes Central Region
Marwari, Mehsana and Zelwadi – Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh
Kathiawar – Gujarat and Rajasthan
Southern Region
Surti – Gujarat
Deccani, Osmanabadi – Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu
Malabari – Kerala
Eastern Region
Bengali – West Bengal, Assam and Tripura
Feeding of goat
The goats are fed on open fields with enough green. They can be only given cereal
and grain products. Sometimes however, a milk goat requires a balanced feed with
4-5 kg of fodder and a mixture of crushed grains such as yellow maize, jowar and
other cereals and ground nut or linseed oil meal or steamed bone meal.
(iii) Pig
Pig farming is gaining importance in India. Pigs provide only 8% of total meat
production in our country. Pig skin, fat and hair are required for leather, soap, oil,
hair-brush industry respectively. Pig manure is rich in nitrogen, phosporus and
potassium.
Pigs contribute about 5% of total meat production in India, and constitute a rich
source of animal protein available at low cost. The calorific value of Pork (pig’s
meat) is much more than the other edible meats. Pigs can feed on farm waste,
garbage and spoiled grains.
Breeds of pigs
Breed Distribution
Large white Yorkshire England, India
Middle white Yorkshire England, India
Landrace Denmark
Essex saddleback Hempshire
Tamworth England
Bershile England
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Breed Region
Kathiawari or kaunchi Rajasthan and Gujarat
Marwari or malvi Rajasthan
Bhutia Tarai belt of Himalayan region (Punjab-Bhutan)
Manipuri Pony Eastern hill region
Sipti Pony Himachal Pradesh
Indigenous Breeds
Aseel – Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh
Busra – Gujarat and Maharastra
Chittagong – Eastern India
Karaknath – Madhya Pradesh
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(i) Indian Breeds
The Indian breeds of hen include Aseel, Chittagaog, Ghagus and Basra. Their egg
laying capacity is around 200 eggs per year.
(ii) Exotic Breeds
These breeds are important from other countries and include White leghorn, Notes
Minorca, Rhode Island red. These birds have high egg laying capacity but carry
less flesh as compared to Indian birds.
(iii) Upgraded variety
Some improved varieties have been developed in India by hybridisation such as
B 77, ILS 82 etc. They grow fast and also have as high an egg laying capacity as
the exotic varieties and are better suited to the Indian climate.
Poultry Feed
Depending upon the requirement of meat or egg production, poultry feed mainly
consists of maize, rice, wheat bran, ground nut cake, fish meal, lime stones, bone
meal, common salt, vitamins and minerals.
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33.7 COMMON DISEASES OF ANIMALS
Domestic animals often suffer from various diseases caused due to infection by
bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and worms.
(a) Cattle
Notes Common diseases in cattle are as follows:
l Gir, Red, Sindhi, Sahiwal and Tharparker are some high-yielding varieties of
cows.
l Cattle dung provides manure, fuel, and bio-gas for cooking and lighting.
l Aseel, Ghagus, Chittagong and Basra are some good varieties of Indian Poultry.
TERMINAL QUESTIONS
1. Define the term animal husbandry.
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3. Classify animals according to their importance. Also give two examples of each
category.
4. Name any three diseases that affect cattle, also name the pathogen involved and
give one symptom of each.
Notes
98 BIOLOGY
Scope of Livestock in Indian Economy Livestock Census, Trends in
Livestock Production
Livestock production performance has been more impressive than that of food grain
production. Milk, egg, meat, and fish showed impressive growth rates of 5to10%.The
minimum targeted growth rate for attaining self sufficiency in milk, fish, meat and egg
by 2001 AD are 5.54, 6.25, and 5.54 % per annum respectively.
Livestock represents the only way in which the natural vegetation that covers large parts
of India can be converted in to products that can be used by man. It provides drought
power and manure to the crop enterprise and this in turn provides feed and fodder. The
value of out put from the livestock sector was Rupees 79684 crores in 1994-95 which
was 9.3% the Total (GDP).
Fortunately India is blessed with a tremendous livestock wealth. It has the largest
population of cattle and buffalo in the world and its breeds are admired for heat
tolerance and inherent resistance to diseases and ability to thrive under different climatic
condition.
The cattle population of India is very large. According 1991 census the cattle population
was estimated at 467.9 million this comprised of 203.1 million catties, 83.1 million
buffaloes 50.7million sheep, 115.3 million goats and 12.1 million pigs. The others were
estimated at 3.6 million. The poultry population constituted a 400 million.
Milk production:
India ranks first with the average milk production of 78 million tons per annum. This has
been the achievement of 70 million dairy farmers and also through the striated efforts of
the animal husbandry practices, cattle cross breeding projects and cooperative dairy
farming. It is worthwhile to mention that the per capita availability of milk to the lacto
vegetarian Indians is estimated at 214 grams per day. It has been the only source of
sufficient energy, minerals, vitamins and animal proteins. A 60% of the total milk
production enters in. to the market in the form of dahi, butter, ghee, khoa and
shrikhand. Besides this the conventional dairy products including milk powder, Ice cream
and cheese are also manufactured. During last 20 years the supply f milk has been
possible in sufficient quantities through the pasteurization plants and chilling units.
The bullock pair may be regarded as the backbone of Indian Agriculture. Though the
animal draught power does not relate with human nutrition directly. Indirectly it
contributes in the production of food grains; the renowned draught animals (cattle and
buffaloes) include Khillar, Amrit mahal, Hallikar, Red kandhari, Ongole, Malvi, Rathi,
Nagore, Neman, Hariyana, Gir, and Deoni. There are about 86 million draft animals,
which comprise of 76 million bullocks. 8 million buffaloes, 1 million camels and donkeys.
The horsepower obtained from 1 bullock is equivalent 0.75 H.P.
Mechanization in Agriculture has been to the tune of 20% only. Whereas 80% of the
agriculture/farm operations are done by bullock drawn .implements. It is estimated that
40,000 mega watts, of Energy (Traction power) is made available through the use of
draft animals and the value of this has been estimated Rs. 5000/- crores.
Meat production:
Flesh foods are rich in protein and are good sources of vitamin B12 which is absent in
plant food. India's meat production is hardly 2% (4.08 million tons) of the global meat
production 209.31 million tons in 1995. Out of total meat produce in India 54% is from
mutton and chevon, 26% from beef 13% from chicken and 7% from pork. Even though
70% of India’s populations consume meat the per capita availability of meat is less than
5 kg per year. As compared to worlds average of 14 kg per year
Broiler production in India is recent one rearing poultry for meat purposes started only in
seventies, but the growth is significant Broiler production which was only 4 million in
1971 increased to around 215 million in 1991.
The poultry industry has achieved a spectacular growth during last thirty years. The
24'billion eggs produced in 1991 represented 13 fold increase compared to 1951.
With the annual production of 27 billion eggs (1995-96) India stands fifth in world. The
government has promoted the poultry development through intensive poultry
development project (IPDP) launched in third five years plan, (1969-74). Improved
breeds like RIR, WLH and Australia. The per capita availability of eggs in India is only 30
per annum as against the ICMR recommendation of 180 per year.
Fish production:
Fish is a cheap source of animal protein and a good source of calcium. The fish
production of India has risen to 4.95 million tons in 1995-96. The per capita availability
of fish in 1996 was 5.4 kg whereas the ICMR recommendation for total meat including
fish is 10.95 kg per annum.
A minimum of 10-20 kg dung is obtained on an average from every cow or buffalo. This
is an excellent source of F.Y.M. or compost manure. This is badly needed to improve the
inherent soil fertility, and to have the extended manorial effect on the crops parts. Dung
cakes are utilized as a source of fuel in rural parts of India. It is estimated that 640
million tons of cow dung is being utilized to meet the house hold fuel requirements.
Besides the cow dung, goat extreta, and poultry dropping can also be better utilized for
organic manure.
Present Trends:
Employment generation:
Animal Husbandry & Dairying may be regarded as a source to create the employment in
rural areas all round the year. Indian Agriculture is mainly dependent on monsoon and
hence agriculture field faces certain bottlenecks to provide employment during such
periods. On an average Agriculture sector may provide 200 days employment to the
rural persons. This means they have to find alternate source of employment for income
during the rest of the year. Dairy farming, sheep and goat rearing, poultry production,
pig farming rabbit rearing are the alternate sources of mix farming. It may be possible to
generate the employment for the farmers as well as land less laborers who can do this
job themselves, or it may be possible to employ young and the old family persons as a
side business. Many of the operations in Animal Husbandry and Poultry Farming can be
done by the rural women. It is estimated that on an average 35 million human
years/annum employment generation has been potential through this sector.
Breed: It is groups of animal that are result of breeding & selection have certain
distinguishable characteristics.
OR
A group of animals related by decent & which are similar in most of the characters like
general appearance, size, colors, horns it is called breed.
OR
A breed may be defined as a cluster domestic animal of a species where individuals are
homogenous in certain distinguishable characteristics which differ from one to other
group of animals.
Calf: Young one of cattle or buffalo below the age of six months is called calf.
Heifer: The younger female of cattle above age of six months to first calving.
Cow: The adult female of cattle from the date of first calving is called cow.
Bull: It is unsaturated of, cattle used for breeding or covering the cows.
Service: The process in which mature male covers the female i.e. in heat with the
object to deposit spermatozoa in the female genital tract is called service.
Conception: The successful union of male and female gametes & implantation of zygote
is known as conception.
Gestation: It is the condition of female when developing foetus in present in the uterus.
Gestation period: The period from the date of service (actual conception) to the date of
parturition is termed as parturition period or pregnancy period. This period varies
according to species of animals e.g. is cows 279-283 days, in buffalo 310 days, sheep
148-152 days, goat 150-152 days.
Lactation period: The period after parturition in which the animal produces milk.
Dry period: The period after lactation in which the animal does not produce milk.
Calving interval: The period between two successive calving is calving interval.
Overall average: It is average daily milk yield of the animal in the period of calving
interval.
Heridity: The occurrence of genetic factors derived from each of its parent in an
Individual.
Repeatability: It is the expression of the same trait at different times in the life of the
same individual or the tendency of an individual to repeat its performance e.g. dairy cow
in successive lactation.
Allel: One or two or more alternative foms of a gene. Alleles are those genes which may
appear at same locus in homologus chromosomes.
Recessive: Genes which have no. observable effect unless present in both members of
a chromosome pair.
Epistasis: Interaction of two or more pairs of a gene that are not allele to produce a
phenotype that they do not produce when they occur separately.
Lethal: (Deadly) A gene or genes that cause death of an individual which are possessed
by them during pregnancy or at the time of birth.
Prepotency: The ability of certain individuals to stamp or impress their characters upon
their offspring or prepotency is the ability to transmit characteristics to offspring to a
marked degree.
Fecundity: It is the potential capacity of the female to produce functional ova regards of
what happens to them after they are produced.
Cryptorchids:The failure of testes to descend fully into the scrotum. If one testes is in
scrotal position the male is usually fertile but if both are retained in the abdominal cavity
sterility usually reported.
Atavism:The reappearance of a character after it has not appeared for one or more
generation.
Teaser: A vasectomized (castrated) bull used to detect the heat or estrus of female
(cow).
Variation: The degree to which individuals differ with respect to the extent of
development of expression of characteristics.
Puberty: It is the period when reproductive tract & secondary sex organs/characteristics
start to acquire their mature form. Before on set of puberty the reproductive tract of
heifer grows proportionately to body growth but beginning at about 6 months age
growth rate of these organs is much grater than body growth. At about 10 months of
age the rapid growth phase of the reproductive tract ceases & this signifies the end of
puberty. Heifer reaches puberty earlier than bull.
Germplasm: The material on the basis of heredity taken collectively. The sum of gene
constitution of an individual.
Foetus: A term for developing young one during last quarter of pregnancy.
General Information:
Act of Average
Sr. No Species Female Male Young one
parturition Life Years
1 Cattle Cow Bull Calf Calving 16-20
Chick
9 Duck Duck Drake Hatching 4-5
(Duckling)
Terms Used in Poultry Production
Grower: A young chick of 9lh week of 20lh week of age of either sex.
Brood: A group of chicks of same age raised in one batch is called as a brood.
Brooding: The process of rearing the young chick from day old stage to 4 to 6 weeks of
age during which, heat is to be provided to keep them warm.
Broiler: They are the hybrid chicks having rapid growth and attaining about 1.5 kg
weight during the period of 6 weeks of age. Sold for table purpose within 8 to 10 weeks
period. They possess a very tender and delicious meat.
Layer: An egg laying female chicken up to one year after starting the laying of eggs.
Clutch: The number of eggs laid by a bird on consecutive days. A clutch of 3-4 eggs is
preferred.
Moulting: The process of shading old feathers and growth of new feather in their place
moulting normally occurs once in a year.
Culling: Removal of unwanted bird from the flock is known as culling e.g. old non-laying
birds, sick birds and masculine hens are removed.
Pause: It is the period between two clutches in which eggs are not laid by hen.
Hen-day-production: This is arrived by dividing total eggs laid in the season by the
average number of birds in the house.
Hen-housed-average: This is arrived at by dividing the total number of eggs laid in the
season by the number of birds originally placed in the house. No deductions are made
for any losses from the flocks.
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On the basis of their utility, the breeds of cattle are classified into 3 groups:
(i) Milch breeds,
(ii) Drought breeds, and
(iii) General utility breeds.
There are some high milk yielding imported breeds of cattle. They are called as exotic
breeds.
The following are some exotic breeds of importance:
(i) HolsteinFriesian:
It is a native cow of Holland. It is generally white or black in colour and yields upto
7000 litres of milk per lactation. It is preferred in dairying.
(ii) Jersy:
It is a native cow of Jersy Island, it is small and black, red or white spotted in colour.
Each cow yields about 4500 litres of milk per lactation.
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(iii) RedDane:
This is a crossbreed of Denmark. It is red in colour and yields about 6000 litres of milk
per lactation.
Crossbreeding:
Mating of animals belonging to different breeds is called cross breeding. Cross
breeding is done to develop breeds of cattle with desirable characters superior to that of
the parents. Crossbreeding of dairy animals is carried out to increase the capacity of
production of milk. Indian cows have been crossbred with exotic breeds to increase
milk production.
Two good varieties of cows have been developed by such crossbreeding. They are
Karanswiss at the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal and Sunandhini at the
National Dairy Research Institute, Kerala. Considerable crossbreeding have been
carried out using imported bulls during the last 50 years.
The Indian Sindhi cattle has been cross bred with the exotic european breeds like
Holstein Friesian and Jersy. The progeny of these crosses have a better milk yielding
capacity than their parents.
Advantages of crossbred cattle:
1. Calves grow faster, attain maturity quite early and reproduce in about 2 years.
2. Breeding period lasts for more than 10 months and reproduce regularly once in 15 to
20 months. Give birth to 8 calves during their life span.
3. Lactation period lasts for more than 10 months. Some breeds yield upto 4300 kg of
milk per year.
4. More resistant to diseases.
Artificial insemination:
It is a method by which semen (fluid carrying spermatozoa) is at first collected from a
known bull and then the semen in required quantity is introduced mechanically into
the reproductive tract of the cow. In this method, the semen obtained from a single
ejaculation (emission of semen) of a bull can be used to inseminate as many as 550
cows.
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Recent techniques are now available to freeze and store the semen of cattle which could
be used when there is a need. The frozen semen could be stored over 20 years at a
temperature between – 79°C and – 196°C. Such frozen semen could be used to
inseminate the cows all over the country as and when required.
Significance:
1. In artificial insemination healthy and superior variety of bulls can be used to
inseminate a number of cows.
2. Collected semen can be transported in vials { small medicine bottle) to distant
places and used. Hence, there is no need to transport the bulls for the purpose of
insemination.
3. Collected semen in vials is always available but not the required bulls needed for
insemination.
Superovulation:
It is a technique by which gonadotropic hormone is injected into the female body and
forcing the female to ovulate large number of ova. This technique is in use for cows. A
selected high milk yielding donor cow is injected with the gonadotropic hormones to
induce superovulation and the ova are fertilized by artificial insemination. The
fertilized ova are then used for transplantation.
Embryo transplantation:
Embryo transplantation technique is being used to increase fertility in cattle. This
technique involves transfer of embryo from a donor cow into the uterus of a carrier cow
or surrogate cow for further development and birth. For this purpose, a high milk
yielding cow is given hormonal injections to induce superovulation.
Then, the cow is inseminated with the semen of a selected good quality bull to fertilize
the superovulated ova. The developing embryos are collected from this cow and
transplanted into surrogate cows for further development and finally giving birth to
calf. It is now possible to deep freeze ( 196°C) the young embryos and store them for
several years. They could be used when needed.
Invitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer Technique:
In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVFHI) technique was initially developed for
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the production of human test tube babies. This technique has been now adopted for the
cattle also. By using this technique, hundreds of ova collected from selected donor cows
ai e fertilized in the laboratory by frozen sperms of good variety bulls.
2. Indian Buffaloes:
The scientific name of Indian buffalo is Bubalus bubalis. It is also commonly called as
water buffalo. It is a subgenes of genus Bos to which cattle belongs under family
Bovidae, order Artiodactyla and class Mammalia. In terms of number, the buffaloes
constitute about one third of total cattle number in India. But buffaloes produce almost
three times more milk than the cows and contain 50% more fat.
The average milk production from one buffalo is about 1020 kg per year as against 220
kg per year by a cow. Buffaloes possess a greater resistance to diseases and have a long
life span. Buffalo hide is an important raw material for the leather industry. The outer
skin of buffalo hide is about 3 to 5 times stronger than that of cattle hide.
Among the seven breeds, the best known breeds of Indian buffaloes are the Murrah,
Jaffabadi, Bhadawari and Surti. While the milk breeds are found in Punjab, Rajasthan
and Gujarat, draught breeds are mainly confined to Central and South India.
The uterine and ovarian cycle of the buffalo is 21 days. The duration of heat is usually 11
days. The female buffaloes show sign of heat at night, attains maximum at mid night.
The oestrous symptoms become very weak during the hot dry months (April to June)
and are known as silentheat. The length of gestation or baby carrying period of
buffaloes varies between 276 and; 340 days, but on an average it lasts for 307 days or
10 months.
In India the breeding season starts from September and continues upto February and
calving season (giving birth to calf) from July to November. During breeding season the
bulls become very active sexually and female buffaloes show maximum ovarian activity.
Improved breed of buffaloes are being produced by Artificial insemination in numerous
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A.I. stations in India.
In milch buffaloes, the lactation period is about 281 days. Calf mortality in buffaloes
generally occurs during autumn and winter months before the age of 3 months. The
death occurs due to diseases like pneumonia, enteritis, hepatitis, ascariasis and bloat.
The calves also suffer from diarrhoea, dysentery etc.
The buffaloes have lower heat tolerance. For this reason they dip themselves in water to
cool their body during summer. Buffaloes consume large quantity of coarse fodder
which are not readily eaten by cattle.
3. Sheep (Ovis Aries) and Goats (Capra Hircus):
According to live stock census, India has more than 41 million sheep and more than 80
million goats. Sheep .are reared for wool, skin and meat. Goats are reared for milk,
meat, skin and wool. Droppings of sheep and goats are a valuable source of manure. In
India, the wool yielding sheep are primarily concentrated in dry part of Rajasthan,
Kutch, Saurashtra and North Gujarat.
Sheep having superior wooltype are raised in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, hilly
districts of Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The main goat raising states
of our country are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, M.P., Maharashtra,
Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, U.P. and West Bengal.
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For breeding it is essential to select ewes (female sheep) and ram (male sheep) or goats
which are found most suitable for local conditions. Different breeds are known for
quality of wool and mutton or meat yield. Improvement of local breeds with respect to
the quality and quantity of wool can be achieved through crossbreeding with exotic
breeds (high yielding imported breed) of sheep like Dorset Horn, Suffolk Correidale or
Merino.
Sheep are economical converter of grass into meat and wool. Unlike goats, they hardly
damage tree. Sheep dung is a valuable fertiliser. Since they feed on different kinds of
plants, they are considered as important weed destroyer. Sheep farming is not a costly
affair as it does not require expensive building and maintenance.
4. Pigs (Sus scrofa):
Pigs constitute one of the most useful domestic animals of man. Pig meat is called pork.
It is comparatively cheaper and is mostly taken by the poor. Pig hide is used as leather
and its bristles are used for making brushes. The fat obtained from the pig is used for
soap manufacture. Pig dropping (faecal matter) is a good source of nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium for agriculture.
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From the pig meat or pork ham, bacon and sausages are prepared. The management of
pig is called piggery. Pigs feed on garbage, kitchen waste, vegetables and human
excreta. In India, pig rearing and pork production are the primitive practices. However,
pig rearing is almost entirely in the hands of poor people who follow old methods. For
this reason, the country pigs are mostly neglected and do not grow into an economic
group of animals.
5. Horses, Donkeys and Mules:
Horses, donkeys and mules are the beasts of burden and therefore, they are used for
transporting man and materials.
Horses (Equus equus):
Horses are one of the most useful and faithful pet of man. They are intelligent and fast
learners who can adapt to all sorts of climatic conditions. Horses are the main source of
transport at high altitudes, used by civilians, police and army. Because the horses run
fast and have great stamina, they are reared for racing and polo.
There are six important Indian breeds of horses are given below:
In comparison to other animals, horses have a low reproductive rate. They are more
difficult to breed and have a long gestation period. Horsebreeding by controlled
natural mating has been in practice for long time in our country. Rearing, training and
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medical care of race and polohorses needs high professional skills.
6. Donkeys (Equus Asinus):
Donkeys are very similar to horses but have smaller and stouter body. They are the
most simple and unselfish animal. They can withstand adverse weather conditions and
can work continuously without rest. There are two types of donkeys in India—small
grey and large white. The large white is also called wild ass and occurs in Rann of
Kutch.
Mules:
A mule is a hybrid of male donkey (called jack) and a female horse (called mare). The
hybrid from a female donkey and a male horse is called hinny. Mules are sterile i.e. they
are unable to produce young ones. Mules show hybrid vigour (they are larger than a
donkey and sturdier than a horse).
7. Camels (Camelus):
Camels are large and strong animals found in arid (= dry) condition. They can travel
long distances in extreme hot, dry deserts with little food and water. For this reason,
they are rightly called as the ship of the desert. Camels walk easily on sand and can
carry heavy loads to places where there are no roads.
They have adapted very well to desert life in following manner:
1. They can walk in the desert without food and water continuously for 10 to 12 days.
2. Long neck and thick foot pads help them to walk easily on loose hot sand.
3. They can live on thorny shrubs.
4. Thick skin over their body prevents water loss.
5. Their eyes and nostrils have special structures which prevent the entry of sand
particles into their structures.
6. The hump present on camel’s back is filled with adipose tissue (= fat). It supplies
energy to the animal under starvation.
7. Their breathing rate is very slow. Hence, less water evaporation occurs through
expiration. They pass out less than half a litre of urine in a day (water conservation
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measures).
There are two species of camels. The Bacterian Camel (Camelus bactrianus) and
Arabian or Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromidarus) (Fig. 7.5). The Bactrian camel has
two humps whereas the Arabian camel has only one hump. In India only Arabian
camels are found. Some Indian breeds of camels are Jaisalmeri, Sindhi and Bikaneri
found in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The breeding season lasts for 5 months from
November to March.
8. Elephants (Elephas):
Elephants are the largest land animal. They are found in forests with tall trees where
bamboos grow in large number. The elephants are herbivorous and voracious feeder.
The Indian elephant is Elephas maximus. Elephant gets sexual maturity between the
age of 8 to 12 years. Their gestation period is longest (22 months). They live up to 90
years of age. The African elephant Loxodonta africana is more strongly built than the
Indian elephant with large ears and tusks.
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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.
Cart Pulling Bull & Ploughing Bull
Exotic breed – Milch – Jersey, Holstein Friesian
Milch Breed
Red Sindhi
Hailing from the Kohistan, Sindh province in present Pakistan, this breed is one of the most distinctive cattle breeds of india.
Mainly available in Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Orissa.
Under good management conditions the Red Sindhi averages over 1700 kg of milk after suckling their calves but under optimum conditions there have
been milk yields of over 3400 kg per lactation.
Red Sindhi
Sahiwal
Originally Belonging to the Montgomery district of Present Pakistan
Mainly found in Punjab, Haryana, U.P, Delhi, Bihar and M.P.
Milk yield – Under village condition :1350 kg
Milk yield – Under commercial farms: 2100 kg
Age at first calving 3236 months
Calving interval – 15 month
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Sahiwal
Gir
Mainly found in Gir forest areas of South Kathiawar
Gir Cows are good Milk – yielder
Milk yield – Under village condition : 900 kg
Milk yield – Under commercial farms: 1600 kg
Gir
Deoni
Mainly found in North western and western parts of A.P.
Cows are good milk producers and bullocks are good for work
Milch and Draught breeds
Hariana
Mainly found in Karnal, Hisar and Gurgaon district of Haryana, Delhi and Western M.P Milk yield –1140 4500 kgs
Bullocks are powerful for road transport and rapid ploughing
Hariana
Tharparkar
Mainly found in Jodhpur, Kutch and Jaisalmer
Milk yield – Under village condition :1660 kg
Milk yield – Under commercial farms: 2500 kg
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Tharparkar
Kankrej
Mainly found in Gujarat
Milk yield – Under village condition :1300 kg
Milk yield– Under commercial farms : 3600 kg
Age at first calving 36 to 42 months
Calving interval – 15 to 16 months
Bullocks are fast, active and strong. Good for plough and cart purpose
Kankrej
Draught Breeds
Kangayam
This breed, in its native area, is also known by other names of Kanganad and Kongu though the name Kangayam is wellknown. These cattle are bred in
the southern and southeastern area of the Erode district of Tamilnadu in India.
Mainly found in Coimbatore, Erode, Namakkal, Karur and Dindigul districts of Tamil Nadu.
Best suited for ploughing and transport. Withstands hardy conditions.
Kangayam
Amritmahal
Mainly found in Karnataka.
Best suitable for ploughing and transport.
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Amritmahal
Hallikar
Mainly found in Tumkur, Hassan and Mysore districts of Karnataka
Bullocks are strong, well spirited, quick and steady in the field as well as on road.
Hallikar
Umblacherry
Origin: Tanjore district in Tamilnadu.
Distinguishing characters:
This breed has similar characters as kangayam.
Bulls are fearly temperament. They are used for ploughing in Thanjore delta area.
Calves are red in colour when born and become grey in colour after 6 months of age.
Cows are poor milker with average milk yield of 300 kg/lactation.
Male animals are good for hard work.
Umblacherry
Photo Source: http://eng.gougram.org/photogallery/?album=IndianCowBreeds
EXOTIC BREEDS
Jersey
Origin: This breed was developed from the island of jersey in the English channel off the coast of France.
Distinguishing Characters:
The Jersey is one of the oldest dairy breeds, having been reported by authorities as being purebred for nearly six centuries
The color in Jerseys may vary from a very light gray or mouse color to a very dark fawn or a shade that is almost black. Both the bulls and females are
commonly darker about the hips and about the head and shoulders than on the body.
Age at first calving : 2630 months
Intercalving – 1314 months
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Milk yield – 50008000 kg
Dairy milk yield is found to be 20 liter whereas cross bred jersey, cow gives 810 liter per day.
In India this breed has acclimatized well especially in the hot and humid areas
Jersey
Holstein Friesian
Origin: This breed is originated in Holland.
Distinguishing Characters:
Holsteins are large, stylish animals with color patterns of black and white or red and white.
Holstein heifers can be bred at 15 months of age, when they weigh about 800 pounds. It is desirable to have Holstein females calve for the first time
between 24 and 27 months of age.
Milk yield 72009000 kg.
This is by far the best diary breed among exotic cattle regarding milk yield. On an average it gives 25 liter of milk per day, whereas a cross breed H.F. cow
gives 10 15 liter per day.
It can perform well in coastal and delta areas.
Holstein Friesian
CROSS BREEDING:
It is mating of animals of different breeds. Cross breeding is followed for breeding animals for milk production and meat production. In India zebu breeds of cows
and nondescript cows are crossed with exotic breeds like Holstein Friesian, Brown Swiss and Jersey bulls or their semen, to enhance the milk production
potential of the progeny.
a. As selection is a slow process of genetic improvement cross breeding has been taken up as the national breeding for improving milk production in India .
Cross breeding word was initiated at NDRI Bangalore, Live Stock farm and Allahabad Agricultural Institute. At present cross breeding work is going on at
Military dairy farms, NDRI Karnal, All India coordinated Research project son Cattle, Collaboration projects like IndoSwiss, Indo Australian, IndoDanish,
projects and also in the field in farmer’s he. The feeding and management of the crosses would be better, to enable them to express their production
potential.
b. In general the cross breeds were found to have higher birth weight, faster growth rate, earlier age at first calving, higher weight ; at first calving, higher
lactation yield, longer lactation period) shorter service period, dry period and milk production and breeding efficiency.
c. There are several exotic breeds being used in cross breeding programme, namely Holstein Friesian, Jersey, Brown Swiss and Reddane Holstein
Friesian is found to be best suited for fluid milk supply in cities, and where higher feed inputs can be provided and where the temperature is temperate or
subtropical. In contrast Jersey crosses are ideal when the milk is meant for product manufacture and where feed inputs are limited and the climate is trop.
Advantage:
1. The desirable characters of the exotic parent are transmitted to the progeny which the indigenous parent does not have.
2. In India Crossbreeding and cows is done by using the exotic bulls and the progeny inherit the desirable characters of the parent like high milk yield early
maturity, higher birth weigh of calves, better growth rates, better reproductive efficiency and indigenous parents characters like, heat tolerance, disease
resistance ability to thrive on scanty feeding and coarse fodder etc.
3. In pairs the way to evolve new breeds with desirable characters. Hybrid vigour is made use of in the progency.
4. Results are seen more quickly in characters like milk yield in the crossbred progeny.
Disadvantages:
1. The breeding merit of cross breed animals may be slightly reduced.
2. Cross breeding requires maintenance of two or more pure breeds inorder to product the cross breeds.
(Source: http://bieap.gov.in/DairyAnimalManagementTheory.pdf)
Crossbreed cattle
The crossbreeds are having exotic inheritance from Jersey, Brown Swiss or Holstein Friesian or a combination of these different breeds. Jersey breed is known
for the milk fat percent and Holstein for the high quantity of milk.
Crossbreed cattle in India
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S. Name of the Native
Specific region Assembling centre Remarks
No Breed breed
India, Pakistan & other
1 Brown Swiss Switzerland Asian Dairy breed
countries
Holstein Province of North Holland Throughout the country
2 Holland Dairy breed
Friesian and West Friesland (crossbreds)
British Crossbreds available in
3 Jersey Island of Jersey Dairy breed
Isles all states.
(Source: National Dairy Development Board )
Indigenous cattle of India
Breeding
S. Habitat/Main Assembling Areas of
Breed Tract Remarks
No. State Center demand
Districts
Dodbalapur,
Chickballapur,
Harikar,
Dharwar, North
Devargudda,
Kanara, Bellary (KT)
Tumkur, Chikkuvalli,
Anantur & Chittur Draught
1 Hallikar Karnataka Hassan & Karuvalli,
(A.P.), Coimbatore breed
Mysore Chittavadgi (T.N.)
North Arcot, Salem
North Arcot (T.N.)
(T.N.)
Hindupur,
Somaghatta,
Anantpur (A.P.)
Avanashi, Tirppur,
Southern Districts of Draught
2 Kangayam Tamil Nadu Erode Kannauram,
Tamil Nadu breed
Madurai Athicombu
Pakistan All
3 Red Sindhi Dairy breed
parts of India
Umarkot, Balotra (Jodhpur),
4 Tharparkar Pakistan(sind) Naukot, Dhoro Puskar (Ajmer), Dairy breed
Naro Chor Gujarat State
Vaikom, Mannuthy
5 Vechur Kerala
(Kerala State)
(Source: National Dairy Development Board)
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COMMON FEED AND FODDER
CEREAL GRAINS
(Maize, Barley, Oats, Wheat, Rice, Rye, Millets, Sorghum and Bajra)
Millets :
Rich in Tannin
MILLING BYPRODUCTS
Bran:
Rice bran:
Wheat bran:
Flour:
Flour is soft, finely ground meal of the grains with 16% CP: 16%;CF:1.5%
protein and 1-1.5% crude fibre consisting primarily of
gluten and starch from endosperm. E.g. corn flour.
Gluten:
Middling:
Grain screening:
Polishing:
Molasses:
Mixed Farming:
Mixed farming is defined as a system of farming on a particular farm which includes crop
production, raising live stock, poultry, fisheries, bee keeping etc. to sustain and satisfy
as many needs of the farmer as possible. Subsistence is important objective of mixed
farming. While higher profitability without altering ecological balance is important in
farming system.
Organic Farming:
Cropping System:
Cropping Pattern:
Cropping pattern means the proportion of area under various at a point of time in a unit
area. Or it indicates the yearly sequences and spatial arrangement of crops and fallow in
an area.
Crop Rotation:
Crop rotation refers to recurrent succession of crops are so chosen that soil health is not
impaired.
Cropping Scheme:
Cropping scheme is the plan according to which crops are grown on individual plots of a
farm with an object of getting maximum return form each crop without impairing the
fertility of soil is known as cropping scheme.
Mixed farming:
Mixed farming is one which crop production is combined with the rearing of livestock.
The live stock enterprises are complementary to crop production; so as to provide a
balance and productive system of farming. In mixed farming at least 10% of its gross
income must be contributed by livestock activity. The upper limit being 45% under
Indian condition. So the farm on which at least 10 to 49% income is found from livestock
is called mixed farm. In mixed farming cow and buffaloes are included with crop
production. If farmers are rearing cows, buffaloes, sheep goat, and fisheries with crop
cultivation this type of farming is called diversified farming.
The scope of mixed farming to combination of crops and their complementary livestock
enterprises of mixed farming would certainly include a vast majority of our farms,
establishing a complementary relationship between crop and livestock enterprises.
Advantages:
1. It offers highest return on farm business, as the by products of farm are properly
utilized.
2. It provides work throughout year.
3. Efficient utilization of land, labour, equipment and other resources.
4. The crop by products such as straw, bus, fodder etc. is used for feeding of livestock
and in return they provide milk.
5. Manures available from livestock maintain soil fertility.
6. It helps in supplying all the food needs of the family members.
7. Intensive cultivation is possible.
8. If one source of income is lost he can maintain his family from other source of
income.
9. Milk cattle’s provide draft animals for crop production and rural transport.
10. Mixed farming increases social status of the farmer.
In India the livestock is much closed connected with agriculture because animal power is
the main source of power in agriculture. FYM is the main source for maintaining soil
fertility and animals make good use of subsidiary and by-products on farms and in turn
they provide milk under such circumstances mixed farming will most suit in Indian
conditions.
Disadvantages: