Breeds

India has been blessed with a large repository of indigenous bovine population with rich bio-diversity. There are 50 well-defined breeds of cattle and 17 breeds of buffaloes. These breeds have evolved over generations, surviving due to their adaptability to harsh climatic conditions, ability to perform on poor quality feed and fodder, resistance to diseases etc. Adult males of some native breeds are also known for their draft qualities. Thus these Indigenous breeds are well adapted to our existing agro-climatic conditions and are resistant to many tropical diseases and can survive and produce on marginal and poor feed and fodder resources. Some of these breeds are well known for their high milk and fat production. However, the production potential of these animals has deteriorated over a period of time due to lack of selection.

The population of some of the breeds have declined over years and the primary reason for such decline in numbers of such breeds is reduced productivity - an uneconomical proposition for farmers. The solution therefore lies in the genetic improvement of these breeds for milk production. Systematic efforts in this direction will not only ensure that these breeds become more productive, it will also arrest their further decline.

With the twin objectives of development and conservation, NDDB through various agencies is implementing programmes for genetic improvement of select indigenous dairy breeds. The future holds a promise for improvement in the productivity of our indigenous breeds of cattle and buffaloes.

Bovine Breeds

Cattle breeds: 

Sl. No.

Breed

Breeding Tract

Main Uses

1

Amritmahal

Karnataka

Transport and Draught

2

Bachaur

Bihar

Draught

3

Badri

Uttarakhand

Milk and Draught

4

Bargur

Tamil Nadu

Draught

5

Belahi

Haryana and Chandigarh

Milk and Draught

6

Binjharpuri

Odisha

Milk and Draught

7

Dagri

Gujarat

Draught

8

Dangi

Maharashtra and Gujarat

Draught

9

Deoni

Maharashtra and Karnataka

Milk and Draught

10

Gangatiri

Bihar and

Uttar Pradesh

Milk and Draught

11

Gaolao

Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh

Milk and Draught

12

Ghumusari

Odisha

Draught

13

Gir

Gujarat

Milk

14

Hallikar

Karnataka

Draught

15

Hariana

Haryana,

Milk and Draught

16

Himachali Pahari

Himachal Pradesh

Milk and Draught

17

Kangayam

Tamil Nadu

Draught

18

Kankrej

Gujarat and Rajasthan

Milk and Draught

19

Kenkatha

Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh

Draught

20

Khariar

Odisha

Draught

21

Kherigarh

Uttar Pradesh

Draught

22

Khillar

Maharashtra and Karnataka

Draught

23

Kokan Kapila

Maharashtra

Draught

24

Kosali

Chattisgarh

Draught

25

Krishna Valley

Karnataka and Maharashtra

Draught

26

Ladakhi

J &K

Draught

27

Lakhimi

Asam

Milk and Draught

28

Malnad Gidda

Karnataka

Draught

29

Malvi

Madhya Pradesh

Draught

30

Mewati

Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh

Draught

31

Motu

Odisha

Draught

32

Nagori

Rajasthan

Draught

33

Nari

Gujarat and Rajasthan

Milk and Draught

34

Nimari

Madhya Pradesh

Draught

35

Ongole

Andhra Pradesh

Milk and Draught

36

Ponwar

Uttar Pradesh

Draught

37

Poda Thirupu

Telangana

Milk and Draught

38

Pulikulam

Tamilnadu

Draught and Game (Jallikattu)

39

Punganur

Andhra Pradesh

Milk and Draught

40

Purnea

Bihar

Milk and Draught

41

Rathi

Rajasthan

Milk

42

Red Kandhari

Maharashtra

Draught

43

Red Sindhi

Orissa, Tamil nadu, Bihar, Kerala and Assam

Milk

44

Sahiwal

Punjab and Rajasthan

 Milk

45

Shweta Kapila

North and South Goa

Milk

46

Siri

Sikkim and West Bengal

Draught

47

Tharparkar

Gujarat and Rajasthan

Milk and Draught

48

Thutho

Nagaland

Draught and Meat

49

Umblachery

Tamil Nadu

Draught

50

Vechur

Kerala

Milk and Manure

(Source: NBAGR; http://14.139.252.116/agris/breed.aspx)

Buffalo breeds:

Sl. No.

Breed

Breeding Tract

Main Uses

1

Banni

Gujarat

Milk

2

Bargur

Tamilnadu

Milk and Manure

3

Bhadawari

Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh

Milk and Draught

4

Chhattisgarhi

Chattisgarh.

Draught, Milk and Meat

5

Chilika

Odisha

Draught and Milk

6

Gojri

Himachal Pradesh and Punjab

Milk and Draught

7

Jaffarabadi

Gujarat

Milk and Draught

8

Kalahandi

Odisha

Milk and Draught

9

Luit (Swamp)

Assam

Milk and Draught

10

Marathwadi

Maharashtra

Milk and Draught

11

Mehsana

Gujarat

Milk

12

Murrah

Haryana and Delhi

Milk

13

Nagpuri

Maharashtra

Milk and Draught

14

Nili Ravi

Punjab

Milk

15

Pandharpuri

Maharashtra

Milk

16

Surti

Gujarat

Milk and Draught

17

Toda

Tamil Nadu

Draught

(Source: NBAGR; http://14.139.252.116/agris/breed.aspx)