Breeds characteristics of different dairy animals reared in Bangladesh

Introduction:


The economy of Bangladesh is based primarily on agriculture, and livestock is an essential component of the rural economy and the livelihood of the subsistence farmers. Bangladesh has a population of 140 million people and 84.4% of its population is living in rural areas. The demand for milk and milk products is increasing because of the rapid increase in population, the spread of education and growing nutrition awareness. National milk production can only meet 13% (approx.) of the current milk consumption. In addition, Bangladesh has a suitable environment for cattle. Although, dairying is the most ancient occupation established in the rural setting of Bangladesh, its development is unsatisfactory due to several problems. The main problems concern breeding, feeding, management, diseases and marketing. In this report we mention “Breeds characteristics of different dairy animals reared in Bangladesh along with photographs”. Also the breeds are available, economically profitable for dairy farm in our country and suitable in our environment.






‘‘Breeds characteristics of different dairy animals reared in Bangladesh ’’




Dairy Cow Breed Reared In Bangladesh




1.Gir




The Gir is a famous milk cattle breed of India. The native tract of the breed is Gir hills and forests of Kathiawar including Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Amreli districts of Gujarat. The breeding tract lies between 20°5’ and 22°6’ north latitude and 70° and 72° east longitude. The total cattle population of Saurashtra region i.e., breeding tract of Gir cattle is 2.5 million and Gir breed accounts for 37 percent of total cattle population in the region. The body of Gir animals is well proportioned. Udder in cows is well developed and round. The body weight at one year of age was 138 kg in males and 136 kg in females. Adult body weight, height at withers, body length and heart girth in cows averaged 313 kg, 120 cm, 125 cm and 160 cm, respectively.


Age at first heat and calving averaged 1 149 and 1 534 day, respectively. Average dry period and inter-calving period were 123 and 423 days, respectively. Heifers received an average 1.07 inseminations for successful conception whereas cows received 1.64 inseminations per conception. Total lactation milk yield averaged 2063 liters in an average lactation period of 326 days. Average milk yield in 300 days was 1930 liters. Milk yield per day of calving interval was 4.98 liters. Average fat percentage in the milk ranged between 4.69±0.04 and 4.97±0.02. Gir animals are considered as hardy with low overall mortality (3.63 percent).



2. Red Sindhi






The Red Sindhi originated in the Pakistani state of Sind but due to its hardiness, heat resistance and high milk yields they have spread into many parts of India and at least 33 countries in Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Americas.


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.
The average height of a Red Sindhi cow is 116 cm with a body weight of 340 kg. Bulls average 134 cm in height and a body weight of 420 kg. They are normally a deep, rich red color but this can vary from a yellowish brown to dark brown. Males are darker than females and when mature may be almost black on the extremities, such as the head, feet and tail.


3. Sahiwal





The Sahiwal originated in the dry Punjab region which lies along the Indian-Pakistani border. They were once kept in large herd by professional herdsmen called "Junglies". However with the introduction of irrigation to the region they began to be kept in smaller numbers by the farmers of the region, who used them as draft and dairy animals.The Sahiwal is one of the best dairy breeds in India and Pakistan. It is tick-resistant, heat-tolerant and noted for its high resistance to parasites, both internal and external. Cows average 2270 kg of milk during a lactation while suckling a calf and much higher milk yields have been recorded. Due to their heat tolerance and high milk production they have been exported to other Asian countries as well as Africa and the Caribbean. As oxen they are generally docile and lethargic, making them more useful for slow work.Their color can range from reddish brown through to the more predominant red, with varying amounts of white on the neck, and the underline. In males the color darkens towards the extremities, such as the head, legs and tails.



4.Hariana





The Hariana a Bos indicus breed used for draft purposes in northern India where they are found. They are well suited to fast road work, being able to pull a one ton load at 2 miles per hour and cover 20 miles a day. While females are kept primarily for breeding of oxen, they are also milked. The breed averages 1400 kg of milk per lactation but high producing animals will produce over 2300 kg in a single lactation.

The breed belongs to the shorthorned type of zebu and is grey or white. The average cow weighs 310 kg and the average bull 430 kg.



5. Kankrej



The Kankrej breed of cattle gets its name from a territory of that name in North Gujarat of Bombay Province, India. The breed comes from southeast of the Desert of Cutch in western India, particularly along the banks of the rivers Banas and Saraswati which flow from east to west and drain into the desert of Cutch.


The Kankrej is on of the heaviest of the Indian breeds of cattle.
Color varies from silver to gray to iron gray or steel black. Newly born calves have rust red-colored polls, this color disappearing within 6 to 9 months. Forequarters, hump and hindquarters are darker than the barrel, especially in males. The switch of the tail is black in color. The forehead is broad and slightly dished in the center. The face is short, and the nose looks slightly upturned. The strong lyre-shaped horns are covered with skin to a higher point than in other breeds. The ears are very characteristic, being large, pendulous and open. The legs are particularly shapely and well-balanced and the feet small, round and durable. They are active and strong. The hump in the males is well-developed and not so firm as in some breeds. The dewlap is thin but pendulous and males have pendulous sheaths. Pigmentation of the skin is dark and the skin is slightly loose and of medium thickness. Hairs are soft and short. Kankrej is valued for fast, powerful, draught cattle. Useful in ploughing and carting.The cows are good milkers, yielding about 1400 kgs per lactation.




6. Red Chittagong Cattle (RCC)





Red Chittagong Cattle (RCC) is one of the most important breeds. RCC originated in the greater Chittagong district of southeastern Bangladesh. The history of the breed is unclear, but current evidence suggests little foreign gene flow into RCC. It is speculated that the breed evolved by intermating indigenous breeds, with posterior selection for coat colour. RCC are found throughout the district, especially in Anawara, Raozan, Hathazari, Chandanaish and Potiya upazillas. The average family holding is 1.6 animals. RCC differ from other indigenous breeds by their red coat colour, with light, brick-red colour around muzzle, horns, hooves and eyes.


They have a prominent dewlap and well-developed hump in males but not females. Their productive and reproductive performance is considered to be better than that of other indigenous breeds. Lactation length, lactation milk yield, daily milk yield, fat yield and milkfat composition of RCC are 242 days, 517 kg, 2.2 kg, 24 kg and 4.7 percent, respectively. Average weight at birth, weaning weight and age at weaning are 15 kg, 47.04 kg and 8 months, respectively. Typical mature body weights of bulls and cows are 250 and 175 kg, respectively. RCC is also known for its good reproductive performance (one calf per year). Chittagong farmers tend to prefer RCC, which fetches higher market prices than other breeds.



7. Jersey




The Jersey breed originated on the Island of Jersey, a small British island in the English Channel off the coast of France. The Jersey is one of the oldest dairy breeds, having been reported by authorities as being purebred for nearly six centuries.


The Jersey cow is quite small ranging from only 400–500 kilograms (880–1,100 lb).Bulls are also small, ranging from 540 to 820 kg (1200 to 1800 pounds), and are notoriously aggressive. The main factor contributing to the popularity of the breed has been their greater economy of production, due to the ability to carry a larger number of effective milking cows per unit area due to lower body weight, hence lower maintenance requirements, and superior grazing ability. The typical colour of Jersey cattle is reddish fawn.
Dished forehead; compact and angular body.
Economical producers of milk with 4.5% fat.
Average milk yield is 4500 kgs per lactation.
High fertility High butterfat conditions, 4.84% butterfat and 3.95% protein, and the ability to thrive on locally produced food.






8.Holstein Friesian



The Holstein cow originated in Europe. The major historical development of this breed occurred in what is now the Netherlands and more specifically in the two northern provices of North Holland and Friesland which lay on either side of the Zuider Zee.


Holsteins are large, stylish animals with color patterns of black and white or red and white.
A healthy Holstein calf weighs 90 pounds or more at birth. A mature Holstein cow weighs about 1500 pounds and stand 58 inches tall at the shoulder.
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. Holstein gestation is approximately nine months.
While some cows may live considerably longer, the normal productive life of a Holstein is six years.
Average production for all Holsteins enrolled in official U.S. production-testing programs in 1987 was 17,408 pounds of milk, 632 pounds of butterfat and 550 pounds of protein per year.


9. Jersey Cross




Jersey crosses are produced by upgrading/ cross breeding the non descript / Indigenous breeds of cows with Jersey breed semen.
Jersey crosses are suitable dairy animals for tropical plains of our country.
They are medium sized, have better heat tolerance than other exotic crosses and well adapted to our climate.Depending on the milk production potential of our indigenous cows, the Jersey crosses may show 2 to 3 fold increase in milk yield in the first generation.


10. Holstein Friesian Cross




The HF crosses are more suitable for temperature climatic regions like hilly areas as they are less tolerant to heat.
Less resistance to tropical diseases than Jersey crosses.
Although the milk yield is higher in HF crosses the fat per cent is less.




11. Indigenous cow or Desi Goru




In Bangladesh, most cows are non-descriptive indigenous Zebu (humped) type multipurpose animals.
About 90% of cattle of Bangladesh are of non-descript and indigenous in origin with low productivity compared to other existing exotic breeds and their crosses, but they are well adapted in the tropical harsh environment, have ability to maintain their body condition on poor quality feed stuffs and are well resistant to local diseases.
The colour may mixed red, black, gray ect.
The average milk yield being about 206 kg/lactation/cow.



Dairy Buffalo Breed Reared In Bangladesh


. 1.Murrah





Most important breed of buffaloes whose home is Rohtak, Hisar and Sind of Haryana, Nabha and Patiala districts of Punjab and southern parts of Delhi state.

Otherwise called as Delhi, Kundi and Kali.

The colour is usually jet black with white markings on tail and face and extremities sometimes found.

Tightly curved horn is an important character of this breed.

Most efficient milk and butter fat producers in India.

Butter fat content is 7.83%. Average lactation yield is varying from 1500 to 2500 kgs per lactation.

Also used for the grading up of inferior local buffaloes.


2.Surti








Also known as Deccani, Gujarati, Talabda, Charator and Nadiadi.

The breeding tract of this breed is Kaira and Baroda district of Gujarat.

Coat colour varies from rusty brown to silver-grey.

The horns are sickle shaped, moderately long and flat.

The peculiarity of the breed is two white collars, one round the jaw and the other at the brisket region

The milk yield ranges from 1000 to 1300 Kgs per lactation.

The peculiarity of this breed is very high fat percentage in milk (8-12per cent).





The breeding tract of this breed is Gir forests, Kutch and Jamnagar districts of Gujarat.

This is the heaviest Indian breed of buffalo.

The horns are heavy, inclined to droop at each side of the neck and then turning up at point (drooping horns).

The udder is well developed with funnel shaped teats.

The average milk yield is 1000 to 1200 kgs per lactation.

The bullocks are heavy and used for plugging and carting.

These animals are mostly maintained by traditional breeders called Maldharis, who are nomads.



4.Nili Ravi





Originated around the river Ravi.



This breed is found in Sutlej valley in Ferozpur district of Punjab and in the Sahiwal (Pakistan) of undivided India.

The peculiarity of the breed is the wall eyes.

Head is small, elongated, bulging at top and depressed between eyes.

Horns are very small and tightly coiled.

Bullocks are good for heavy trotting work.

The milk yield is 1500-1850 kgs per lactation.



5.Mehsana





Mehsana is a dairy breed of buffalo found in Mehsana, Sabarkanda and Banaskanta districts in Gujarat and adjoining Maharashtra state.



The breed is evolved out of crossbreeding between the Surti and the Murrah.

Body is longer than Murrah but limbs are lighter.

The horns are less curved than in Murrah and are irregular.

Bullocks are good for heavy work.

The milk yield is 1200-1500 kgs per lactation.



Dairy Goat Breed Reared In Bangladesh


1.Jamunapari





Jamunapari goat breed is the native goat breed of Etawa district of Uttar Pradesh. This breed is raised for the meat and milk production as well.



Jamunapari breed is also called as dairy goat breed.

The milk yielding ability is very good in this breed. Jamunapari.

The daily milk yield is about 1.2-2 kg which is approx 205kg in its lactation period of 192 days.





2. Black Bengal × Jamnapari







Carcass quality of Jamunapari x Black Bengal (JBB), Black Bengal selected for growth (SBB) and random-bred (RBB) wethers of 1 year of age was studied. There was no significant difference between JBB and SBB in pre-slaughter traits and carcass characteristics.


3.Black Bengal







The Black Bengal goat is a breed of goat found in throughout Bangladesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa regions of northeastern India.

An adult male goat weights about 25 to 30 kg and female 20 to 25 kg. It is poor in milk production. It is very popular in Bangladesh because of its very low demand of food and very high baby production rate.


Conclusion

This report aims to discuss the dairy animals breed reared in Bangladesh. The report provided an overview of the importance dairy breeds of our country. Bangladesh is rich with animal genetic resources. The cattle population in this part of the Indian subcontinent numbers about 24 million, 80 percent of which are non-descript animals of indigenous origin. Red Chittagong Cattle (RCC) is one of the most important breeds in Bangladesh. Black Bengal Goat is also the indigenous origin. Moreover, institutional support for expansion of milk supplies for rural areas, covering issues relating to the animal health, improvement in breeding, extension services, and feed and drugs supplies is essential for dairy development in Bangladesh.





Md. Shamim Reja

E-mail:rejaiubat@gmail.com

IUBAT—International University of Business Agriculture and Technology.(www.iubat.edu )

4 Embankment Drive Road, Sector-10, Uttara, 4 Abdullahpur Hwy, Dhaka 1230, Bangladesh.