Dual-purpose Breeds

Dual-purpose Breeds There are a number of cattle breeds in India which are dual purpose-females yield more than an average quantity of milk and the males are good working bullocks. In this group, there are two types of cattle: (i) short-horned, white or light grey cattle with long coffin-shaped skull and face slightly convex in profile; viz., Hariana, Ongole, Gaolo, Rathi, Krishna Valley, etc.; and (ii) lyre-horned, grey cattle, deep bodied with wide fore­head, flat or dished in profile, and good draft capacity, viz., Tharparkar and Kankraj.

Hariana The main tract of this breed is the Haryana state. The centre of origin is around Rohtak, Hisar and Gurgaon districts. This is the most popular dual-purpose breed of the Indo-Gangetic plains, and is widely spread in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and also in parts of Madhya Pradesh. They are powerful work animals. Good specimens of cows yield up to 1,500 kg of milk per lactation.

Ongole The native tract of this breed is the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. This is essentially a large muscular breed suitable for heavy draft work. An average yield of 1,000 kg is common. Good specimens have given up to 1,500 kg of milk per lactation. Ongole breeds are known as Nellore breed in Brazil.

Gaolo This breed closely resembles Ongole breed. These breeds are found in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The animals are basically draft animals. Milk yield in cows is moderate, good specimens yielding up to 1,000 kg per lactation.

Krishna Valley The home tract bf this breed is the black cotton soil along the River Krishna and the adjoining areas of Ghatprabha and Malaprabha in Karnataka. They are also found in certain parts of Andhra Pradesh. The bullocks are massive and powerful, and good for draft in heavy soils. Cows are fairly good milkers.

Rathi This is also known as Rath. Rathi breeds are mostly located in Alwar district of Rajasthan. They are also found in and around Bikaner district. They are medium­,sized dual-purpose animals, good cows yielding up to 1,200 kg of milk per lactation. The bullocks are adopted mod­erately for heavy ploughing and road work.
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Tharparkar The origin of this breed is Tharparker district in the Sind Province of Pakistan, The animals are also known as Thari. This breed is also found in the adjoining
tracts of Rajasthan state, especially around Jodhpur anc Jaisalmer. The males are good draft animals. The milk yielc in cows ranges from 1,800 to 2,600 kg per lactation.

Kankrej The home tract of this breed is south-east oj Rann of Kutch in Gujarat-from the south-west corner 01 Tharparkar district (now in Pakistan) to Ahmedabad and from DeSsa in the east to Radhanpur in the west. They are fast and powerful draft cattle. Cows are average milkers. yielding about 1,400 kg per lactation in terms and less in villages.