On-farm characterization of Vrindavani cattle in India

Abstract

Vrindavani cattle are recently developed synthetic crossbred cattle strain of India. It has the exotic inheritance of Holstein-Friesian, Brown Swiss, Jersey and indigenous inheritance of Hariana cattle. The present study was undertaken to characterize the Vrindavani cattle maintained at cattle and buffalo farm, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, India. The physical, morphological characteristics and production performances of Vrindavani cattle were studied. The coat colour of Vrindavani was predominantly brown though some animals had black, white and beige coat colour. Head was clean cut well proportionate with prominent poll and concave forehead. The ears were medium sized, laterally orientated with round edge. Hip bone was broad and prominent with wide, smooth and level pin bone. Udder was generally trough type. These animals were docile to moderate in temperament. Morphometric measurements of males were higher than females. The mean birth weight of Vrindavani calves were 22.13±0.12 kg. The mean lactation milk yield, 305 day milk yield and peak yield was 3219.75±41.09, 3047.42±33.8 and 16.58±0.16 kg, respectively. The average age at first successful service, age at first calving, service period and dry period was 746.28±8.94, 1 012.14±9.32, and 149.54±4.55 and 99.65±5.75 days respectively.