Indian Indigenous Cattle

http://www.dahd.nic.in/dahd/WriteReadData/large%20ruminants%20guidelines/Conservation_indigenous_breeds_Cattle%20and%20Buffalo.pdf

Dairy farm stresses on protecting them If knowledge is divine, is it not desirable for the devout to celebrate a religious festival by disseminating information on it? Sri Venkateswara Gosamrakshanasala, the mammoth dairy farm belonging to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) management, decided to celebrate ‘Sri Krishna Janmashtami’ in a big way by creating awareness on indigenous breeds and the importance of preserving and propagating them for the benefit of posterity. Apart from the traditional religious rituals, a first-of-its-kind event is the plan to display the native breeds of cows and bulls that are a prized possession of the dairy farm. The ‘Go Samrakshanasala’ is a home to 1,600 heads of cattle, which includes animals from 12 prestigious native Indian breeds such as Kankrej and Gir (Gujarat), Tharparker, Rathi (Rajasthan), Sahiwal (Punjab), Deoni (Maharashtra and Karnataka), Umblachery and Kangeyam (Tamil Nadu), Punganur and Ongole (Andhra Pra...

Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sanshtan participated in a 2 day workshop heading "Sustainable genetic improvement, utilization and conservation of Indigenous live-stock breeds: Conventional & Biotechnological approach" 6th and 7th Sept. at SGVP Gurukul, Chharodi, Ahmedabad (Gujarat) for co-formulating strategies for the encouragement, propagation and better care using cutting-edge modern scientific technologies in the field of Indigenous cattle breeding in India. Scientists, Policy-makers, bio-technologies discussed and argued on sustainable genetic improvement and conventional bio-technological approaches for developing indigenous live-stock in India. Swami Chinmayanand, Swami Indreshanand, Swami Amaranand ji addressed the convention and the views and experiences of the Sansthan's work in this field was applauded. The spate of cross-breeding since the last 40 years has brought to extinction some excellent breeds of our Indian indigenous cattle and some are ...

For a country that prides itself on being the third largest biodiversity region in the world, the complete lack of respect for traditional animal breeds is unpardonable. We've lost half of the 27 breeds that once existed. Forty years after we began importing livestock, we are realising the folly of it Whether it's our biodiversity or our economic wealth, we are always unhappy with what we've got and believe the best way to grow and improve is by looking to America and the European Union. India has one of the largest cattle populations in the world -- around 300 million. But of the 27 breeds that once existed, we have lost half. Over 80% of our cows are nondescript because of indiscriminate crossbreeding; we simply don't know what breed they belong to. We are the top milk-producing nation in the world, yielding around 81 million tonnes of milk every year. America is Number 2. The official explanation for our success in this field is that we brought in...

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday announced a nationwide scheme - 'Rashtriya Gokul Mission' - to protect the "indigenous breed" of cows and set aside Rs 150 crore for it during the current financial year. A number of Integrated Indigenous Cattle Centres (Gokul Grams) will be set up under the mission that will also work for improving milk productivity. Since the scheme will be implemented by states, the agriculture ministry has called a meeting of state animal husbandry ministers here on September 16 to work out the modalities. Announcing the scheme, agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh said, "The Rashtriya Gokul Mission aims to conserve and develop indigenous breeds in a focused and scientific manner." He said the mission is a focussed project under National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development, with an outlay of Rs 500 crore during the 12th Five Year Plan. "During 2014-15, Rs 150 crore will be allocated for developmen...

Swaying rides on the carts pulled by sturdy Kangayam bulls and the pristine flora and fauna of villages under the Kangayam cattle tract, provided an enthralling experience to the 25-member German group of lecturers and students who spent the Sunday in the district. The group members, who pursue their specialised studies in the spheres of sociology and management in the State of Bavaria in the south-east of Germany, came here to learn more about the Kangayam cattle breed and understand how the ‘in situ breeding and conservation’ takes place. “Family-involved cattle farming activities here are fascinating than the factory-based farming as seen in Germany,” observed some of the team members. Another notable aspect that impressed the Germans was the ecological impact of livestock keeping from what they observed at Korangadu, a unique silviculture pasture grazing system comprising around 30 types of shrubs and trees. “Though Korangadu is a species specific grazing ex...

M. Vajaya Ram with his Sahiwal cow at Goshala near Tarakaturu village in Krishna district. Photo: T. Appala Naidu  In 2012, Mr. Ram had brought two Sahiwal cows from Haryana to Tarakaturu on the Vijayawada-Machilipatnam national highway. Despite the Sahiwal cow is a dairy farmer’s friend by yielding eight litres of milk per day, the humble conservator of the cow never runs for the yield. At a time when the National Dairy Development Board aims at increasing the number of pure breed Sahiwal cow population in the country, M. Vijaya Ram, a farmer who owns four Sahiwal cows, began developing pure breed Sahiwal cattle in Krishna district. It is being widely discussed in India that the number of the pure breed Sahiwal cow and bull, a risk-resistant and heat tolerant, has been dwindling in the country over the years. The Sahiwal, a breed of Zebu cattle, known for its high resistance to parasites both internal and external, was originated in the dry Punjab region t...

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Success Story Conservation of Beetal goat -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The project was implemented with objectives of maintenance of Beetal goats in its home tract in pure form, checking further decrease in Beetal population, production of quality and elite breeding stock and improvement of production potential for sustainable utilization at the farmers’ door. Achievements of the Project: The project was implemented in 41 villages in 92 farmers flocks. In the first phase 176 does were selected and registered for recording growth and production parameters. Out of these 100 elite does were finally selected based on growth, milk production and prolificacy. Male kids from these elite goats were registered and 50 bucks were reared at farmers’ door to maturity. Selection criterion for these males was ...

Kept off NBAGR register owing to dwindling population Kachaikatty sheep, the native breed of Madurai district, seen in herds at Kachaikatty villagenear Vadipatti.Photo: S. James The prospects of Katchakatti sheep of Madurai being recognised as an indigenous breed at the national level looks bleak. Owing to its shrinking population, this famous black sheep remains out of the register of indigenous breeds of the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR). Senior NBAGR officials said the chances of the Katchakatti sheep joining the list of registered indigenous breeds in the immediate future were dim because of multiple factors, and this was communicated to those who had applied for recognition. “We are unable to process the application for want of data and documentation. Unless stringent norms prescribed by us are followed, this breed cannot be registered. The dwindling population is one of the reasons for the delay in recognising the sheep,” Arjava ...

Bid to reclaim land for Umbalacherry breed The Hindu Umbalacherry cattle in its home tract at Thalainayar in Nagapattinam. Photo: B. Velankanni Raj TOPICS India Tamil Nadu agriculture livestock farming “When my cows die, I bury them like I would a family member. I can never sell them,” says Balashanmugam, distantly looking at his fenced cattle. For him, the possibility of sold cows changing hands to slaughter houses in Kerala is the biggest fear. Balashanmugam literally waits till the cows come home. The 68-year-old farmer, with a family strength of three, owns over 50 Umbalacherry cattle. And he waits for the cows to return from grazing. Like him, an entire panchayat waits for the cows to come home. Welcome to Umbalacherry panchayat — the home tract of Umbalacherry breed of cattle, here in Thalainayar. Often seen as the pride of Tamil Nadu, the draught cattle is a boon to marshy soils due to its sturdiness and ability to labou...

Breed is a boon in times of drought Umbalacherry cattle, on its home tract, at Umbalacherry, in Thalainayar, in Nagapattinam.FILE PHOTO: B. VELANKANNI RAJ A special cattle exhibition to promote Umbalacherry cattle breed, seen as the pride of Tamil Nadu, was organised here on its home turf in Umbalacherry in Thalainayar on Saturday. The draught cattle, known for its sturdiness, agility in marshy soil, and ability for long hours of labour, were widely seen as disease-resistant and farm-friendly in clayey areas of the delta. Here at Umbalacherry, each household owns not less than two cows. The exhibition was held with the objective of protecting the draught cattle from turning extinct and to urge farmers to take to Umbalacerry cattle breeding. The cattle with morphological features of white stockings; white diamond mark on the forehead and tufted tail end, mark it distinctly from the ordinary cattle. For the people of Umbalacherry, the breed is a boon in ti...

Exhibition of Umbalacherry bulls An exhibition of Umbalacherry bulls is proposed to be organised in the district in August. A special consultative meeting in this regard between officials of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Umbalacherry cattle breeders was organised by the district administration here on Wednesday. Underlining the need to protect the breed from slow extinction, the farmers wanted the Umbalacherry variety to be declared a national breed. Collector T. Munusamy said the exhibition was mooted by the Chief Minister to encourage cattle breeders to protect the special breed. The exhibition envisages awareness rallies and prizes for well-kept cattle. One first prize of Rs.10,000 for the best bred bull, followed by two second prizes of Rs. 3,000 each, and four third prizes of Rs. 2,000 each. The contest will also include six consolation prizes of Rs.1,000 each. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/exhibition-of-umbalacherry...

GENETIC DIVERSITY AND BOTTLENECK ANALYSIS OF UMBLACHERY CATTLE BY MICROSATELLITE MARKERS   http://www.cibtech.org/J%20Biotechnology/PUBLICATIONS/2013/Vol-2-No-1/6-010...Thiagarajan...Genetic...Markers...28-33.doc.pdf

Biochemical and Fatty Acid Analysis of Faeces in Um blachery Cattle ( Bos Indicus ) During Different Phases of Estrous Cycle  http://www.isca.in/AVFS/Archive/v2/i1/1.ISCA-RJAVFS-2014-03.pdf

Saving the Cheruvally cattle breed The Cheruvally cow.   A major project for conservation of Cheruvally cattle has been started by the Vechur Conservation Trust (VCT) with the financial support of the Kerala State Biodiversity Board. The objective is to get the Cheruvally cattle, indigenous to Cheruvally, Mundakkayam and Kanjirappally regions of Kottayam district, registered as a native breed with the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, the same way it was done for Vechur cow. Sosamma Iype, managing trustee of the VCT and former Professor of Animal Breeding and Genetics with the Kerala Agricultural University, is supervising the project. The Vechur cow was reportedly saved from extinction by the conservation efforts at the KAU under her leadership in the 1980s. Cheruvally cattle have been named so by her. In the past three years, the breed has been referred to by scientists by this name. A flawed breeding policy has brought down the...

http://www.zoosprint.org/ZooPrintMagazine/2011/June/6-7.pdf

UNDP project to protect Vechur cow Community plan for sustainable conservation Native breed:Vechur cow. A project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been launched for community partnership in sustainable conservation of Vechur and other native cattle of Kerala. The launch of the project, being implemented by the Vechur Conservation Trust (VCT), coincides with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of a unit for conservation of Vechur cow at the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). The unit is now a part of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. The Vechur cow, a rare breed of Bos indicus cattle, has an average length of 124 cm and height of 87 cm. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is the smallest cattle breed in the world. It is a low-maintenance breed. In 2000, the Vechur cow was listed on the FAO’s World Watch List of Domestic Animal Diversity, in its ‘Critical-Maintained Breeds List’. Only about 200 Vec...

ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/012/v9939t/v9939t00.pdf