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.