INDIAN BREEDS OF VARIOUS FARM ANIMALS

Breed Home tract/ Characteristics

origination

Gir Gir forests/ Well proportioned body, prominent

Saurashtra/ and broad forehead, curved horns
Gujarat turning back at the tip, long and
pendulous ears, long and whip like
tail, hop bones prominent colour
varies from shades of red and white to
almost black and white or entire red.
Average milk yield pre lactation
1900kg weight of male and female 544
& 385 respectively.

Sahiwal Montgomery in Long, deep, fleshy symmetrical body

Pakistan with short legs, loose skin, broad
Punjab forehead, horns stumpy, medium
sized ears, dewlap heavy and large
hump, straight hip bones high and
wide apart, tail long whip like and
udder capacious. Usually radish
brown with or without white splashes.
Average milk yield 2900 kg per
lactation male 545 kg and female 408
kg.

Sindhi Sindh in Medium sized, well proportioned

Pakistan compact animal, heavy hump, dewlap
Kohistan and sheath, horns thick at the base,
 Haryana Tamil emerge laterally and curved upwards,
Nadu ears medium sized and dropping,
udder capacious. Deep red in colour.
Average milk yield 1700 kg per
lactation of 300 days male 455 kg and
female 317 kg.

Deoni N-W & W parts Medium sized, forehead less

of Andhra pronounced, well developed dewlap
Pradesh and sheath, horns outward and
backward curve, ears pendulous but
short. Black or red with white
patches. Average milk yield 1150 kg
per lactation male 590 kg and female
385 kg.

Amritmahal Mysore Body compact, forehead prominent

Karnatka with a furrow in the middle, horns
emerge from the top of the poll and
extends backwards on each side of the
neck turning upwards and ending in
sharp points, ears small and fine,
dewlap and hump well developed skin
fine with glossy fine hair. Grey in
colour varying from white to nearly
black sometime white or grey
markings of a definite pattern present
on the face and dewlap male 499 kg
and female 345 kg. poor milk yielder.

Nagori Rajasthan Body long deep powerful with straight

back and well developed forehead,
 hind quarters, ears large and
pendulous, hump mordately
developed dewlap small and fine.
Generally white or grey in colour male
499 kg and female 344 kg. pore milk
yielder 3.65 kg of mild per day.
Bullocks very large sized and are good
trotters.

Hallikar Karnataka Medium sized compact and muscular

in appearance, forehead prominent,
usually furrowed in the middle, ears
short and sharp, horns long and
pointed curving backwards, hump
short, dewlap moderately developed,
back straight and strong, skin fine
with a coat of glossy hair, tail fine.
Grey to dark grey with deep shadings
on fore and hind quarters. Bullocks
are quick and steady in field as well as
on the road. Male 454 kg and female
317 kg. Poor milk yielder.

Ponwar Kheri disn Small narrow face, small ears big and
Uttar Pradesh bright eyes, humps well developed
horns long and upstanding, tail long
and tapering. Black and white in
colour male 318 kg and female 295
kg. poor milk yielder.

Siri Darjeeling, Thick coat on their body as a

Sikkim, protection against cold and rain.
 Bhutan Small sized, narrow face, bright eyes.
Poor milk yielder i.e. 1.3-1.8 kg per
day.

Hariana Haryana, Body proportionate, moderately long

Punjab, compact in appearance, head carried
Rajasthan high, horns short curving upwards
and inwards, eyes large and bright,
ears small slightly pendulous, dewlap
small, large hump in males, short thin
and tapering tail, well developed
udder in cows whiter light grey in
colour male 499 kg and female 353
kg. Average 1600 kg milk yield per
lactation.

Tharparkar S-W Sind, Deep strongly built, medium sized,

West Pakistan, well proportioned body limbs, short
Gujarat, straight and strong joints firm, face
Rajasthan moderately long with comparatively
broad poll, head of medium size,
forehead broad and flat or slightly
converse above eyes bright, ears
somewhat long broad and semi-
pendulous, medium sized horns, fore
and hind quarters dropping, tail fine
with black switch reaching to fetlocks
good and capacious udder white/grey
in colour yielding on average 1600 kg
per lactation male 545 kg and female
 340 kg.

Dangi Maharashtra, Medium sized body, small head

Gujarat projecting forehead, horns short and
thick, ears small, extremely hardy and
thrive well in hilly tracts and in areas
of heavy rainfall. Poor milk yielder
yield 1.35 to 1.5 kg per cow per day.
Red and white or black and white in
colour male 363 kg and female 260
kg.

Gabloa Madhya Body medium sized, light head

Pradesh, usually long and narrow, somewhat
Maharashtra broader at the lease of horns, forehead
usually flat, eyes almond shaped, ears
of medium size, horn stumpy and
short dewlap voluminous, tail
comparatively short. White or light
grey in colour. Fairly good milers male
430 kg and female 340 kg.

Kangayam Tamil Nadu Moderately long body, straight back,

short neck and strong, dewlap small,
moderately sized head, slightly
prominent forehead, wide muzzle,
horns strong curving upwards and
outwards and slightly inwards, ears
small and pointed tail of moderate
length. Usually grey or white. Poor
milk yielder on an average 820 kg per
 lactation male 318 kg.

Kankrej Gujarat Heaviest of Indian breeds, powerful

body, broad chest straight back,
hump well developed, forehead broad
slightly dished in the centre, face
short tail of moderate length with
black switch. Silver grey to iran grey
or steel black colour. Male 510 kg and
female 430 kg. Fair good milker 1350
kg per lactation in an average.

Mewati (Kosi) Rajasthan, Long deep and powerful form, face

U.P. long and narrow forehead bulging
horns emerge from onward angles,
eyes prominent, ears pendulous,
hump well developed, tail long. White
in colour. Fair milk producers male
325 kg and female 285 kg

Rathi Rajasthan Medium sized powerful well built,

deep chest, face straight, forehead
flat, eyes wide and large, ears short
and pendulous, horns small and
emerge laterally, hump moderately
developed, dewlap light fore and hind
quarters well developed, short tail
with black switch. White in colour
with dark grey markings on head. Fair
good milkers 4.5 kg per day male 385
and female 326 kg.
Murrah Haryana, Body massive, head, comparatively
Delhi, U.P., light, horns short and tightly curved,
Punjab well developed udder, hips broad, fore
and hind quarters dropping, tail long
reaching fetlocks. Jet black with white
marking on tail face and extremities.
Average lactation yield in 1800 kg.
Average milk yield 6.8 kg per day with
7% fat. Male 565 kg and female 430
kg.

Bhadawari M.P., U.P. Medium sized, body small, wedge

shaped head, short and stout legs,
hoops black, hind quarters heavier
and higher than forequarters, scanty
hair on the body, long and thin tail
with black and white or white switch
reaching to hocks. Copper in colour.
Males of this breed are used for
draught purpose. Average milk yield
3.5 kg per day per head with high fat
content. Male 475 kg and female 385
kg.

Jaffarabadi Gujarat Long body but not compact, dewlap in

female somewhat loose, head and
neck massive, forehead very
prominent horns heavy incline to
droop on each side of neck less tightly
curved than murrah udder well
developed. Black in colour.
 Appreciable milk producer. Males are
used for heavy draught work. Male
590 kg and female 455 kg.

Mehsana Gujarat Body longer than murrah ligher limbs,

longer and heavier head, horns
usually less curved at the end, longer
well shaped udder. Black or fawn grey
with white markings on face, legs or
tail. 1300kg milk yield per lactation on
average leases. Valued for ghee
production. Male 570 kg and female
430 kg.

Surti Gujarat Medium sized, well shaped body with

wedge shaped barrel, long and broad
head rounded between horns, back
straight, eyes prominent, horns sickle
shaped moderately long and flat, tail
fairly long ending in a white tuft.
Black or brown two white collars are
around the jaw and the other at
brisket present. Average 1655 kg milk
yield per lactation. 7.5% fat, male 570
kg and female 430 kg.

Nili Ravi Pakistan, Head elongated budging at the top

Punjab depressed between eyes, muzzle fine
framed, medium sized horns, small
coiled lightly, neck long thin and fine,
udder well developed, tail long almost
touching the ground. Usually black
 with white markings on forehead,
face, muzzle and legs. Average per
lactation yield 1600 kg in 250 days.
Male 565 kg and female 450 kg.

Nagpuri or M.P., Small sized buffalo with long flat

Ellichpuri Maharastra, curved horns, lighter build up good
A.P. milk yielders average 5.5-7.25kg of
milk per day. Males are used mostly
for heavy draught work but are slow
in movement.

SHEEP

Gaddi J&K, H.P. Small in size but very sturdy and very
good climbers, short tail and ears,
horned in the rams but polled in ewes,
mostly white in colour with coloured
faces. The fleece relatively fine and
lustrous and can grow to 5” length.
Clipped thrice in a year February,
June and October, produce only 1-1.5
kg fine lustrous wool. Under coat is
used for manufacture of high quality
kulu shawls and blankets.

Bhakarwal Lower hills of Rams are horned, ewes hornless with

Himalayas, long, broad and drooping ears, logn
J&K sized body, sturdy and straight
backed. Bulky but excellent climbers.
Clipped thrice in a year, March, June,
and September yielding about 1.5-2.0
 kg long coarse wool.

Gurez J&K Biggest among the Kashmir breeds,

majority are horn and have short ears,
rams are virile and active and ewes
are good milkers. Tail short but board,
varieties of colour but white
predominates in this breed. Wool good
quality 6” long, lacking kemps, yield
1.5kg. Mutton is of superior quality.

Rampur H.P., U.P. Medium sized animal with white

Bushair colour having brown, tan and black
marking on the fleece or of these
coloured sheep. Ears long and
drooping, nose is roman type, males
horned while female polled. The fleece
medium quality, legs, belly and face
devoid of wool male 28 kg and female
25 kg. Apart from meat about 1.0 kg
greasy wool of low quality.

Hisar Dale Hisar Strong bony appearance having

roman nose specially in rams. Mostly
hornless. Except thigh region, it has
fine marino type wool whichi is crimpy
white. This the cross of Bikaneri ewes
and Marino rams. Long fine wool
resistance to adverse climatic
conditions. Good quality mutton.

Chokla Rajasthan, Head comparatively small with brown

 Churu, colour. Face free of wool with broad
Thunjhunu, forehead having prominent roman
Sikar, Nagpur nose. Body medium size, square and
compact. Legs short with small hard
black hooves with rare white
exceptions of white hooves, slow
maturing and lean mutton. Produce
finest wool among all Rajasthan
breeds yield 1.5-2.5 kg per annum.

Magra Rajasthan, Well build body with light pink skin

Bikaner, covering. Head without any wool but
Churu and covered with white hair, with light
Nagpur brown patches round about the eyes,
medium in size, flat forehead and
hornless. 2.0-2.5 soft wool per year.
Male 33 kg and female 25-30 kg.

Nail Rajasthan, Large size, compact head, large and

Ganganagar, leafy ears, short legs with amber
Churu hooves. Forehead with wool and face
full of light brown hair. Clipped twice
a year, March and September. Weighs
2.5-3.5 kg per year. Male 35-40 kg
and female 25-30 kg.

Marwar Rajasthan, Black faced, head covered with black

Jodhpur, Pali, hair with twisted small ears, legs long
Barmer and and thin body sturdy and medium
Nagpur sized. Clipped twice a year and the
yield 1.5-2.5 kg per year having coarse
white wool containing hetero type
 hairy fibers used for rough carpets
and blankets. Male 30-40kg and
female 25-30 kg.

Sonadi Rajasthan, Well build bodies with light brown

Gujarat faces. Prominent nose and large
dropping ears. Long body and long
tail. Belly, legs and head free from
wool. Quality of wool coarse having
loarge percentage of kemp. Yield 0.6-
1.2 kg of white per year. 1.5-2.0 k
milk yield per day. Male 30-40 kg and
female 25-30 kg.

Kathiwari S-Rajasthan, Medium sized, well built, white

N-Gujarat coloured with tan and black hair on
the face and legs, good quality carpet
wool. Clipped twice January (0.5 kg)
and September (1 kg)

Deccani S-E Small body size, hardy neck thin,

Maharashtra, narrow chest, prominent spinal,
A.P. raised withers flat ribs, dropping
croup and poor leg of mutton. Two
long fleshy tussles under neck. Rams
horned, ewes polled. Roman nose loaf
ears and short tail. Colour black grey
and roan. Yield 700 grams of mixed
wool fibers and hairs used for making
rough blankets.

Nellore A.P. Tallest bred in India, short thin tail.

 Rams with spiral horns. Breed has
long face, ears, two appendages of
skin hanging from throat. Male 40 kg
and female 30 kg. Three sub classes
red horned, red polled and horned
with white or brownish body colour.
Breed is for mutton, ewes late
maturing and not very prolific.

Madya Maysore Large breed, two short wattles

Baunur hanging near the neck, long leafy and
drooping ears, short tail, leg and
roman nose. The brown patches of the
neck extends upto the shoulder.
Breed is for milk and meat.

Vembur T.N. Tall animals, ears are medium sized

and drooping with short and thin tail.
Males with twisted horns while female
are polled. White colour with irregular
red and fawn patches all over the
body. Male 34 kg and female 27 kg.
Lambing percentage 80%. Litter size:
Single

Chottnagpuri Bihar, West Small body size, ears small and

Bengal parallel to head. Both sexes polled.
Fleece coarse and hairy. Grey and
brown coloured yielding 540-600
grams of hairy wool.

Ganjam Orissa Medium sized body, slightly converse

 nose medium long tail. Fleece is hairy.
Brown to dark tan coloured. Some
with white spots on the face and body.
Meat breed.

Tibetan Arunachal Medium sized, roman nose and small

Pradesh drooping ears. Belly, legs and face
devoid of wool. White colour with
black or brown face. Produce excellent
lustrous carpet-quality wool. Two
clipping with an average 500gm per
clip.

Bhachbadi Bihar, West Long legs, roman nose, long tail and
Bengal generally strudy. Male 30 kg and
female 25 kg. White coloured with
coloured faces. Fleece mixture of
coarse wool, hair and kemp. 500gms
to 1000gms in three shearing.

GOAT

Jamunapari U.P., M.P. Highly converse nose line with a tuft

of hair known as roman nose or parrot
mouth appearance. Ears very long,
flat and drooping. Horned with short
and thin tail. Thick growth of hair on
buttocks, well developed round udder
with large conical teats. Generally
white or light yellowish tan coat
coloured with brown spots on the
neck and face. Yield 1.5-2.0 kg milk
 per day, kidding once a year. Dressing
percentage on pre slaughter live
weight basis is 45% at 6 months and
48% at 9 months with a bone and
meat ratio 1:3.9.

Barbari U.P., Small animal with compact body. Ears

Rajasthan short tubular and erect, twisted
horns, medium in length directed
upward and backward. Bucks with
large thick beard. White coloured with
light brown patches. 750-100 ml milk
yield per day with 5% fat. Kidding
twice in 12-15 months litter size
single 25%, twins 65% and triplets
10%.

Bittal Punjab, Dairy type, 2nd to Jamunapari is size

Haryana but superior to it in respect to
proliferation. Large breed, ears long
and flat, curled and drooping. Both
sexes have thick, medium sized horns,
carried horizontally with slight twist
directed backward and upward.
Roman nose. Tail small and thin.
Udder large and developed having big
conical teats. Black in colour or brown
having spots of different sizes. Yield 2
kg per day. Litter size single 41%
twins, 53%, triplets 6%.

Marwari Rajasthan, Popular for meat, hardy and disease

 Gujarat resistant. Black with long coarse hair
with white patches. Both sexes
bearded. Animal medium sized, ears
flat, medium in length and drooping.
Short pointed horns directed upward
and backward. Tail small and thin.
Poor milk yielder, also produce about
300 gms of hair per year.

Osmanabadi Maharashtra Large in size, black coloured (73%),

rest white or brown or spotted. Male
horned and female horned or polled.
Useful for meat and milk production,
0.5-1.5kg milk yield for 4 months
lactation, dressing percentage 45-50
twice a year kidding, twinning
common.

Malbari Kerala Medium sized, no uniform, colour

which varies from completely white to
full back. Bearded male small number
of females bearded. Head with flat and
occasional roman nose, medium sized
ears directed outward and downward.
Meat purpose. Milk yield 100-150 kg
per lactation of 180-210 days.

Bengal Throughout Breed short legged, compact body,

eastern regions predominant black coloured, brown,
grey and white also found shoulder
and hips of equal height, chest wide,
ear upright and pointed. Soft short
 hair. Excellent for mutton and skin
quality. Small and medium sized
horns directed upward and sometime,
backward. Bearded breed. Poor milk
yielder, dressing 46%. Multiple litter
size.

Ganjam Orissa Tall breed, coat colour black, white or

brown hair short lustrous. Long
straight horns directed upward and
slightly backward. Poor milk yielder
250-300 gms per day.

Changthangi J&K, H.P. Medium sized, white black or grey or

or Pashmina brown, large horns turning outward,
upward and inward to form a semi-
circle. Fast moving used for transport
in hilly region. Body covered with long
coarse hair including the facial areas.
For meat and also produce highly
prized for pashmina. Clipping once a
year with 215 grams production.

Gaddi H.P., Hills of Well built, sturdy and easily move for
U.P. long distances. Medium sized, mostly
white coloured large horns directed
upward and backward and
occasionally twisted. Ears medium,
long and drooping skin tough covered
with coarse hair. Udder small and
rounded with pointed teats. Average
 fleece yield per clip 300 grams.

PIG

Large white England Entirely white in colour. Black

Yorkshire pigmented spots called freckles.
Moderately long head, face slightly
dished, snount broad and wide
between the ears. Neck long fine with
wide and deep chest. Long back wide
from neck to rump. Legs straight and
well set, level with the outside of the
body with flat bone. Skin fine free
from wrinkles. Male 300-450 kg
female 250-350 kg. Good quality
bacon and ham.

Middle white N-England White coloured, moderately short

Yorkshire head, straight jaw, short snount.
Fairly light neck of medium length
proportionality and evenly set on
shoulders. Long back, legs straight
short, well set apart, wrinkles. Mature
boars weigh 270-360 kg.

Landrace Denmark White coloured, freckles are rather

common, long deep side square ham,
short legs, trim jowl, heavy lop ears.
Carcass more lean than meat. High
prolification and efficient feed utilizer.