On-farm characterization and present status of North Bengal Grey (NBG) cattle in Bangladesh

Abstract

SummaryNorth Bengal Grey (NBG) cattle are an important indigenous cattle genetic resource found mainly in the northern part of Bangladesh. The study was undertaken at Bogra Sadar, Shibgonj and Kahalu Upazila (sub-district) in the Bogra district. The physical and morphological characteristics, and the productive and reproductive performances of NBG cattle were studied. The coat colour of these animals is deep grey to white. The coat colour of the neck region in adult bulls was found to be generally ashy with a range of shades.The body is small, compact and less fleshy. Ear length and ear width were 18.0±0.17 and 11.0±0.21 cm, respectively. The head length average was 38.0±0.56 cm, the head width 16.0±0.17 cm, the foreleg length average 65.0±0.64 cm, the hind leg length 71.0±0.64 cm, the tail length average 71.0±0.67 cm, the horn length average 9.0±0.39 cm, the horn diameter 10.0±0.37 cm, the average teat length 5.0±0.18 cm, the teat diameter 6.0±0.22 cm, the distance betweenthe front teats 7.0±0.13 cm and the distance between the rear teats 7.0±0.13 cm. Body length, height at wither and heart girth in adult cows were 105.0il.20, 94.0+1.12 and 127.0±1.52 cm, respectively.The recorded highest peak milk production per day was 3.5±0.18 kg, lactation length was 219±6.1 days, and the dry period was 180±6.8 days. The average birth weight of calves was 18.4±0.52 kg and mature live weight of cows 241.0±4.0 kg. The age at first heat was 869±29.6 days, age at first calving 1191±19.7 days, gestation length 281±1.3 days, calving interval 442±7.4 days, postpartum heat period 110±4.2 days and the number of services per conception 1.4±0.6. About 54% of total cattle population was NBG cattle in the surveyed area of Bangladesh. The results indicated that the productive and reproductive performance of NBG cattle was better than other non-descript indigenous cattle of Bangladesh. The study further revealed an obvious need for more in-depth and objective information on wider samples of this type of indigenous cattle in order to assess the future need for conservation and improvement programs to be undertaken.

Prediction of Live Weight for Brahman Crossbred Cattle Using Linear Body Measurements in Rural Area

“…The mean values of live weight, heart girth, wither height and hip height measurements of >30-33 month age group in the present work were similar to those found by Abdelhadi and Babiker (2009) Al-Amin, 2004). Hadiuzzaman et al (2010) reported that heart girth, body length, hip height and wither height measurements of Red Chitagong Cattle at different age groups were much lower compared to those for similar age groups of this study.…”

Reproductive Efficiency of BLRI Cattle Breed-1 at Farm Condition

“…Gestation length of BCB-1 cows varied from 221 to 327d with a mean of 283.31 ± 11.50 d. The findings of the present study were within the published average gestation length of RCC (276.53 to 287.00 ± 1.43, Mondal, 1998;Khan et al, 1999), North Bengal Gray (280.80 ± 1.32, Al-Amin, 2004), and Non-descript (273.48 ± 2.30 to 283.44 ± 8.13 d, Majid et al, 1995;Sultana and Bhuiyan, 1997;Rahman et al, 2001). Cows carried male calves in their wombs continued gestation for longer period (p<0.05) than female calves (284.31 ± 12.08 vs. 282.25 ± 10.76 d).…”

EFFECT OF BREEDING Bos indicus WITH Bos taurus ON AGE AT FIRST CALVING IN PAKISTANI ADMINISTRATIVE KASHMIR

“…Similar to F1 crossbred cows age at first calving was not affected by sire within F1 × Friesian crossbred cows t (15) = 0.3025; P > 0.05). Present study revealed that the mean AFC of indigenous cows (1861 ± 42.45 days) was higher than the mean AFC of local cows from some Asian countries such as in Deshi cattle (47 ± 7 months) of India (Moulick et al, 1972); Deshi cattle (1365 ± 6.20) of West Bengal (Sarkar et al, 2007); Gray cattle (1191 ± 19.7 days) of North Bengal (Al-Amin et al, 2007) and indigenous cow of (40.48 ± 4.54 months) Bangladesh (Rokonuzzaman et al, 2009). Mean AFC of indigenous cow in this study was also higher than the mean AFC of cows from African countries such as local cattle of Northern Ethiopia has an AFC of 3.41 ± 0.70 years (Weldeslasse et al, 2012).…”