Breeds of livestock and poultry

Important breeds and where they come from

Indian cattle (Bos indicus, humped):

• Milch: Sahiwal (Punjab region; among the best Indian dairy breeds), Gir (Gujarat; convex forehead, long pendulous ears), Red Sindhi, Rathi.
• Draught: Nagori, Hallikar, Amritmahal, Kangayam, Khillari.
• Dual purpose: Hariana, Ongole, Kankrej, Tharparkar, Deoni.

Exotic cattle (Bos taurus, humpless): Holstein Friesian (Netherlands; highest milk yield, black-and-white), Jersey (island of Jersey, Channel Islands; smallest dairy breed, highest fat %), Brown Swiss (Switzerland).

Buffalo: Murrah (Haryana; tightly curled horns, best milch buffalo), Nili-Ravi (Punjab; wall eyes, white markings), Jaffarabadi (Gujarat; heaviest), Surti, Mehsana, Bhadawari (very high fat in milk).

Goat: Jamunapari (Etawah, Uttar Pradesh; tall, Roman nose, long ears; milk and meat), Beetal (Punjab), Barbari, Black Bengal (meat and fine skin), Sirohi. Exotic: Saanen (Switzerland; very high milk), Angora (mohair fibre).

Sheep: Indian Chokla (fine carpet wool, Rajasthan), Marwari, Nellore (meat); exotic Merino (Spain; finest wool), Rambouillet, Corriedale.

Poultry (chicken):

• American class: Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, New Hampshire.
• Mediterranean class: White Leghorn, the leading egg-laying breed.
• English class: Cornish, Australorp, Sussex.
• Asiatic class: Brahma, Cochin, Langshan (heavy).
• Indian (desi): Aseel (game/fighting, hardy), Kadaknath (black meat; Madhya Pradesh), Chittagong, Busra.

Key points

• Highest milk: Holstein Friesian; highest fat: Jersey.
• Best Indian milch: Sahiwal, Gir, Red Sindhi.
• Murrah: best buffalo; Jaffarabadi: heaviest.
• White Leghorn: egg breed; Kadaknath: black meat; Aseel: game.

Exam tips

Breed–purpose and breed–origin matches dominate. Learn two features for each famous breed.

Common mistakes

• Calling Hariana a pure milch breed; it is dual purpose.
• Placing Jamunapari among sheep; it is a goat.