Breeding Policy of the State for Cattle

According to breeding policy of the State inheritance of exotic blood i.e. Jersey/Holstein is to be kept at 50% and remaining 50% inheritance will be contributed by Pahari /Hilly cattle. This policy will ensure the benefit of higher milk production potential of exotic breeds and as well as disease resistance and hardiness traits of Hilly and Pahari Cattle to farmers of the State.

JERSEY                HOLSTEIN

Breeding Policy of the State for Buffalo

According to breeding policy of the State for buffalo, genetic makeup of the nondescript buffaloes of the State is to be improved by Grading up process using Murrah Breed of buffalo.

MURRAH

Indigenous Gaddi or Rampur Bushahari ewes are to be crossed with pure bred exotic rams of Rambouillet or Russian Merino breed so that in F-1 Generation Exotic and indigenous inheritance comes at 50:50 level. In F-2 generation, the progeny of F-1 generation (50% crossed bred ewe) is to be again crossed with purebred exotic ram of Rambouillet or Russian Merino breed so that the progeny thus produced has exotic and indigenous inheritance at 75:25 level. Thereafter in subsequent generation Rams with 75% exotic inheritance are to be used for cross breeding to maintain exotic and indigenous inheritance at 75:25 level .

RAMBOUILLET

BREED OF CATTLE SUITABLE FOR REARING IN HIMACHAL

Jersey
The breed originated on the island of Jersey (off the coast of the British Isles). The color is usually a shade of fawn or cream with black muzzles. Jerseys are the smallest in body size of all dairy breeds. They mature quickly. The ideal cow shows sharpness with strength indicating productive efficiency. Jerseys are noted for the highest milkfat of all dairy breeds. The approximate weight of a mature cow in milk should be I 000 lb.

Holstein-Friesian
This breed originated in the Netherlands (province of Friesland) and northern Germany. It is the second oldest of the pure dairy breeds. The color is black and white with markings clearly defined. The ideal cow is rugged with feminine qualities in an alert cow possessing Holstein size and vigor. The breed is noted for body size and high milk production. The approximate weight of a mature cow in milk should be 1500 lb The Red and White Holstein originated in the same area of Europe as the black and white breed. They are more prevalent in Europe than the U.S. because U.S. breeders tried to eradicate the red gene for many years. However, this breed is now represented by its own association in the U.S. Except for color, breed characteristics are identical to black and white Hoisteins.

Murrah breed of buffalo, the pride of Haryana, is a milk type animal. The home tract of Murrah buffalo is Rohtak, Jind and Hisar districts of Haryana (India). It is also found in Nabha and Patiala districts of Punjab (India) and around Delhi .

Physical characters of Murrah

1. Body : Sound built, heavy and wedge shaped.
2. Head : Comparatively small.
3. Face : Comparatively long.
4. Neck : Comparatively long.
5. Body colour : Jet-black.
6. White markings on face and leg extremities may be there (2, 3), but are not generally preferred.
7. Eyes : Should not be walled i.e. the cornea should not have whiteness.
8. Tail : Long reaching upto fetlock joint (2, 3, and 6) with black or white switch upto (maximum) 8.0 inches (4).
9. Horns : Different from other breeds of buffaloes; short, tight, turning backward and upward and finally spirally curving inward. The horns should be somewhat flattened. As the age advances the horns get loosened slightly but spiral curves increases.
10. Limbs : Comparatively short but strong built.
11. Skin : Soft, smooth with scanty hairs as compared to other buffaloes.
12. Udder : Fully developed, drooping.
13. Teats : Equally distributed over the udder but hind teats are longer than fore teats.
14. Loin : Broader and sliding forward.
15. Body weight : The average body weight of males, 550 Kg and the females, 450-Kg.
16. Height : The average height at withers; male: 1.42 meter; female: 1.32 meter.
17. Age at fist calving : 3 years but we have also the buffaloes, which calved at 3 years with good milk production.
18. Inter-calving period : 400 to 500 days.
19. Lactation period : 300 days. (with minimum of ~230 days recorded under top quality Murrah)
20. Daily lactation in peak period : 14 to 15 litter but upto 31.5 Kg milk production had also been recorded. The elite Murrah buffalo produces above 18-litter milk per day. A peak milk yield of 31.5 kg in a day has been recorded from a champion Murrah buffalo in the All India Milk Yield Competition conducted by the Government of India.
21. Dry period : About three months. But less than three may be there.
22. Gestation period : 310 days (average)