Cattle Breeds -Sahiwal
Sahiwal
History
The Sahiwal
originated in the dry Punjab region which lies along the
Indian-Pakistani border. They were once kept in large herds by
professional herdsmen called "Junglies".
With the introduction of irrigation systems 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.
Today the Sahiwal is one of the best dairy breeds in India and Pakistan.
Due to their heat tolerance and high milk production they have been
exported to other Asian countries as well as Africa and the Caribbean.
The Sahiwal was exported to Australia via New Guinea in the early
1950’s. In Australia, the Sahiwal was initially selected as a
dual-purpose breed. It played a valuable role in the development of the
two Australian tropical dairy breeds, the Australian Milking Zebu and
the Australian Fresian Sahiwal. Sahiwals are now predominately used in
Australia for beef production, as crossing high grade Sahiwal sires with
Bos taurus animals produced a carcass of lean quality with desirable fat cover.
Characteristics
Their
colour 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 colour darkens towards the extremities, such as the head, legs
and tail.
It is tick-resistant, heat-tolerant and noted for its high resistance to
parasites, both internal and external. Cows average 2270kg of milk
during a lactation while suckling a calf and much higher milk yields
have been recorded. They are generally docile and lethargic, making them
more useful for slow work.
The Sahiwal is the heaviest milker of all Zebu breeds and display a well
developed udder. Sahiwals demonstrate the ability to sire small,
fast-growing calves and are noted for their hardiness under unfavorable
climatic conditions.
No comments:
Post a Comment