Eighteen different biometric traits in 407 Kankrej cows from their breeding zone, i.e. Palanpur district of Gujarat, India, were recorded and analyzed by factor analysis to explain body conformation. The averages of body length, height at withers, height at shoulder, height at knee, heart girth, paunch girth, face length, face width, horn length, horn diameter, distance between horns,

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Konkan Kanyal goats are medium-sized animals reared for meat purpose. They are predominantly black in colour with white markings in a specific pattern and are found in the Kudal, Sawantwadi, Dodamarg, Malvan and Vengurle Talukas of Sindhudurg district of Konkan region of Maharashtra state. The mean body weight ranges from 30 kg in adult females to 35 kg in males. The age at first kidding, kidding interval and twinning of these goats is 546 days, 240 days and 35 percent respectively. The average daily milk yield and lactation yield were found to be 0.6 and 69 kg, respectively. Characterization of Konkan Kanyal goats was carried out using a panel of 25 microsatellite markers. The genomic DNA of 50 unrelated goats was isolated and PCR amplified under standardized PCR conditions. The amplified DNA was used for genotyping by the automated DNA Sequencer ABI 3730. The analysis of data revealed that the effective number of alleles ranged from 1.17 to 8.94 and the number of observed alleles ranged from 5 to 19. A total of 255 alleles were observed with a mean of 10.2 alleles/locus. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.13 to 0.95, while the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.14 to 0.89, indicating the heterogeneous nature of the population distributed in the breeding tract. The mean polymorphism content was 0.79. The qualitative graphical method based on the allele frequency spectra detected no shift in the frequency distribution of alleles and a normal L-shaped curve was observed where the alleles with the lowest frequencies were found to be most abundant. Based on the phenotypic and genetic variability, Konkan Kanyal goats appear to be distinct from other goats of Maharashtra state. RésuméLes chèvres Konkan Kanyal, de taille moyenne, sont élevées pour leur viande. Elles sont principalement de couleur noire avec des taches blanches ayant un motif caractéristique et vivent dans les unités administratives de Kudal, Sawantwadi, Dodamarg, Malvan et Vengurle du district de Sindhudurg sur la côte de Konkan dans l'État du Maharashtra. La moyenne de leur poids corporel varie entre 29,80 kg pour les femelles adultes et 35,26 kg pour les mâles. L'âge au premier agnelage et l'intervalle entre les agnelages sont respectivement de 546 jours et de 240 jours. Trente-cinq pour cent des naissances de ces chèvres sont gémellaires. On a constaté que le rendement moyen de lait par jour et la quantité de lait donnée au cours d'une lactation sont respectivement de 0,6 kg et de 69 kg. La caractérisation des chèvres Konkan Kanyal a été réalisée en utilisant un panel de vingt-cinq marqueurs microsatellites. L'ADN génomique de 50 chèvres sans liens de parenté a été isolé et amplifié selon des méthodes PCR standardisées. L'ADN amplifié a été utilisé pour le génotypage par le biais du séquenceur automatisé d'ADN ABI 3730. L'analyse des données a indiqué que le nombre réel d'allèles varie entre 1,17 et 8,94 et le nombre d'allèles observés entre 5 et 19. On a constaté au total 255allèles avec une moyenne de 10,2 allèles par locus. L'hétérozygo...

The Konkan cattle are reared in all the districts of Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa. In this study, phenotypic characterization of the Konkan cattle was carried out through systematic survey in its breeding tract and the breed descriptors were developed for its registration as a distinct breed. The population of Konkan cattle in the breeding tract is expected to be more than 6.0 lakhs. Konkan cattle are small to medium sized with compact body. The coat colours of Konkan cattle included Reddish dun, black, white, grey, brown or fawn or mixed, of which first two were in majority of animals. Biometry of 609 animals, which included 9 different body measurements in different age and sex groups, was recorded. When compared with Vechur and Malnad Gidda breeds of cattle of the coastal area of Kerala and Karnataka, the body weight and body measurements of Konkan cattle were found higher. The average horn length of Konkan cattle was 19.82 and 23.91 cm in cows and bullocks, respectively. The animals were kept in herd size varying from 2 to 20 with an average of 6.18 animals under extensive production system. The average age at first calving was 49.27 months with a calving interval of 17.21 months. It was observed that the average daily milk yield and peak milk yield of Konkan cattle were 2.23 and 3.28 kg. Animals of this breed are playing a significant role in the rural livelihood of farming community in terms of milk and bullocks power for agricultural operations in the hilly terrain of Konkan region. The unique physical features, biometry and their production system impart Konkan cattle population a distinct identity, therefore, it has been recently registered as a new cattle breed of India by Indian Council of Agricultural Research with accession number as INDIA_CATTLE_1135_KONKANKAPILA_03043 in the name of Konkan Kapila. Keeping in view the contribution of Konkan breed of cattle, State Animal Husbandry Department should come forward for further development and genetic improvement of the breed.

In the present study an attempt has been made to assess the phenotypic variability and know the management of indigenous cattle in the Meghalaya state. A total of 76 farmers from 17 villages of three districts (Ri-Bhoi, East-Khasi Hills and West-Garo Hills) were interviewed to record information on various management practices and 217 animals of different age and sex were recorded for morphometric and physical traits. It was observed that cattle were reared mainly for meat, milk, bullock power and manure. Animals were reared on extensive system of management i.e. grazing from morning to evening, free range during December to March. During April to December fields have crops so controlled grazing was there. Cattle were of small size, well built, hardy and in cylindrical shape. The body colour varies in different colours brown (53%), grey (38%) and black (9%). Bulls were darker in colour and have medium size hump. Horns were smaller in length (9-12 cm). The average body length, height at wither, heart girth, paunch girth, horn length, ear length, face length and tail length without switch in cows (95) were 97.64±1.08 cm, 100.90±0.95 cm, 128.90±1.53 cm, 128.60±1.77 cm, 9.94±0.63 cm, 18.91±0.22 cm, 38.08±0.47 cm and 68.61±0.97 cm, respectively. Males and females did not differ significantly at all stages of age for all the mophometric traits. The average daily milk yield and lactation length were 2.38+0.18 kg (1.50 to 4.0kg) and 138 days (120-180 days), respectively. It may be concluded that indigenous cattle of Meghalaya showed uniformity in physical and morphometric traits and differ in their proportion (type traits) with others cattle of the region.