Page 2 - LN
P. 2

(A)  Cattle Farming / Husbandry
                     Cattle farming / Husbandry is done for two purposes:

                   1.  Dairy: for getting milk.
                   2.  Draught: animals are used for agricultural tasks like tilling, irrigation and carting.

                     On the above basis, the cattle are divided into two categories:
                         Milch breeds (dairy animals): These include the animals which are kept for

                         obtaining milk. Indian milch cattle belong to two different species- Cows (Bos

                         indicus) and Buffaloes (Bos bubalis).
                         Draught animals: These animals are used in agriculture and transportation.




                     Breeds of cow                                                 Breeds of

                                                                                   buffaloes
                     Indigenous/Local  Exotic breeds          Cross-breeds         Murrah, Meshsana

                     breeds (resistant     (long lactation    (having desired      and Surti

                     to diseases)          period)            qualities)
                     Sahiwal, Gir, Red     Jersey, Brown      Karan Swiss,

                     Sindhi,               Swiss, Holstein-   karan Fries,
                     Tharparkar            friesian           Frieswal

               Breeding for the desired quality:

                     Milk production depends, to some extent, on the duration of the lactation period,
                       meaning the period of milk production after the birth of a calf. So, milk production

                       can be increased by increasing the lactation period.
                     The exotic breeds are selected for long lactation periods, while local breeds show

                       excellent resistance to diseases. The two can be crossbreed to get animals with

                       both the desired qualities.
                     The  breeding  may  be  done  by  natural  method  or  artificial  insemination,  i.e.,

                       injecting the semen obtained from the desired bull into the reproductive tract of
                       the desired cow.

                     Some successful crossbreeds on these lines are:
                       (1) Karan Swiss: Crossbreed of Brown Swiss and Sahiwal.

                       (2) Karan Fries: Crossbreed of Holstein-Friesian and Sahiwal.

               Farm Management Practices:
                     Grooming and Shelter for cattle.
   1   2   3   4   5   6