Relationship between Morphometric and Milk Production Characters in Ongole Cattle

Abstract

Background: Selecting dairy type Ongole cows based on their phenotypic characters like coat colour, stature, external appearance which are being poorly correlated to milk production and reproduction is a common practice in Andhra Pradesh. In absence of the production records, predicting the association between milk yield and morphometry forms a potential tool for selection of dairy type Ongole cattle. Methods: The data on morphometric characters and milk production was recorded on 211 elite lactating Ongole cows in the breeding tract of Andhra Pradesh and correlation and regression coefficients were estimated. Result: The lactation milk yield and lactation length were positively (P less than 0.01) correlated with udder area, udder length, face length and cephalic index and negatively correlated with skin fold thickness and tail length. The regression coefficients of udder area, skin fold thickness, face length and tail length for lactation milk yield and lactation length were found to be significant (P less than0.01). The present study concluded that the udder area, skin fold thickness, face length and tail length may be given more weightage in selection of dairy type Ongole cows.

The effect of exterior traits on milk production and calving ease in Czech Fleckvieh cows in first parity

“…For the evaluated udder parameters, the traits associated with udder size showed the strongest correlation with milk yield. This is consistent with research done on the Ongole cattle breed, for which it was found that udder size had a positive impact on milk production (Rao et al, 2021). The importance of udder traits has also been described in other livestock species; for example, udder traits have been reported to be the best predictors of milk yield in goats (Merkhan, 2019).…”

Livestock Holding and Time Spent by Farm Women in Dairying Activities in Andhra Pradesh

“…They are also maintaining more graded Murrah buffaloes compared to local animals indicating they are aware of the production potential of superior germplasm. Ongole cattle breed is native of Andhra Pradesh [4,5]. The major breeding tract and patronage of Ongole cattle includes Ongole, Krishna, Nellore, Godavari and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh state [6].…”