Hill Cattle Research Articles

Inter relationship between some routine semen evaluation parameters in Jersey X local hill cattle crossbred bulls

The present study was conducted with an objective of establishing a relationship between various routine semen evaluation parameters. Work was conducted at Sperm Station Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, on the semen from five Jersey X local hill cattle crossbred breeding bulls. A total of 40 ejaculates (8 from each bull), were analysed at five different stages of processing namely post dilution, post equilibration, post thaw and after 1 and 2 hours incubation post thaw at 37°C for progressive motility, live dead count, reaction to hypo-osmotic solution, acrosomal integrity and gross morphological abnormalities. The results of the study revealed a highly significant (P<0.01) correlation between the various semen evaluation parameters except for the gross morphological abnormalities where there was a significant (P<0.05) negative correlation between the acrosomal integrity and gross morphological abnormalities.

Genetic Diversity of Indigenous Cattle Populations in Bhutan: Implications for Conservation

The Genetic diversity and relationship of native Siri (Bos indicus) cattle populations of Bhutan were evaluated using 20 microsatellite markers. A total of 120 Siri cattle were sampled and were grouped into four populations according to their geographical locations which were named Siri West, Siri South, Siri Central and Siri East cattle. For each, 30 individuals were sampled. In addition, 30 samples each of Indian Jaba (B. indicus), Tibetan Goleng (B. taurus), Nepal Hill cattle (B. indicus), Holstein Friesian (B.taurus) and Mithun (B. frontalis) were typed. The mean number of alleles per loci (MNA) and observed heterozygosity (Ho) were high in the Siri populations (MNA=7.2±0.3 to 8.9±0.5 and Ho=0.67±0.04 to 0.73±0.03). The smallest coefficient of genetic differentiation and genetic distance (FST=0.015 and DA=0.073) were obtained between Siri West and Siri Central populations. Siri East population is genetically distinct from the other Siri populations being close to the Indian Jaba (FST=0.024 and DA=0.084). A high bootstrap value of 96% supported the close relationship of Siri South, Siri Central and Siri West, while the relationship between Siri East and Jaba was also supported by a high bootstrap value (82%). Data from principal component analysis and individual assignment test were in concordance with the inference from genetic distance and differentiation. In conclusion we identified two separate Siri cattle populations in Bhutan at the genetic level. One population included Siri cattle sampled from the West, Central and South of the country and the other Siri cattle was sampled from the East of the country. We suggest that Siri cattle conservation program in Bhutan should focus on the former population as it has received less genetic influence from other cattle breeds. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2003. Vol 16, No. 7 : 946-951)

Adaptation of cattle to tannins: rôle of proline-rich proteins in oak-fed cattle

AbstractSaliva and faecal samples were collected from hill cattle (no. = 10) given tannin-rich oak (Quercus incana) leaves in the north-west Himalayan region of India. Amino acid composition of the saliva samples after thawing to remove precipitated proteins by centrifugation, and dialysis (molecular weight cut off: 3500) to remove small moieties revealed 6·4 (s.d. 0·6) % proline, 15·6 (s.d. 0·6) % glutamine plus glutamate and 9·2 (s.d. 1·0) % glycine on molar basis. For Holstein Friesian cattle (no. = 4) which had no history of consumption of tannin-containing foods, these values were 6·5 (s.d. 0·4) %, 15·2 (s.d. 0·5) % and 9·8 (s.d. 0·7) % respectively. Proline concentration in the proteins present either as free or as tannin-protein complexes in the lyophilized faecal samples from hill cattle was 4·7 (s.d. 0·2) % (on molar basis) of the total amino acids and 5·3 (s.d. 0·2) % in Holstein Friesian cattle. In the faeces of oak-fed cattle, the tannin and condensed tannin levels on dry-weight basis were 0·81 (s.d. 0·20) % as tannin acid equivalent and 0·06 (s.d. 0·04) % as leucocyanidin equivalent respectively. For tannic acid, the relative affinity of salivary proteins, using the competitive binding assay, was about six-times higher than that of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and was of the same order as that of gelatin. Turbidity of complexes formed between salivary proteins or BSA and tannic acid showed proportionately about 0·50 lower turbidity for salivary proteins in 0-2 mol/I acetate buffer (pH 4·9 containing 0·17 mol/l NaCl) and proportionately about 0·84 lower turbidity in distilled water. The results suggest that unlike rats or mice, the proline-rich proteins do not appear to be of any physiological significance in the adaptation of cattle to tannins. However, the salivary proteins of cattle though not rich in proline, have a high affinity for tannins and these proteins have a high tendency to form soluble tannin-protein complexes.

Isolation of a tannin-protein complex-degrading fungus from faeces of hill cattle.

Faecal samples of 52 hill cattle fed largely on oak leaves were screened for tannin-protein complex-degrading micro-organisms under different culture conditions using tannin-treated brain heart infusion agar medium. None of the animals were found to harbour tannin-protein complex-degrading enterobacteria. However, a fungus identified as Aspergillus niger van Tieghem having tannin-protein complex-degrading activity, was consistently isolated from the faeces of such animals. Optimum growth and sporulation was noticed under aerobic conditions at 30 degrees C on Czapek Yeast Agar medium.

LIVESTOCK WEALTH OF THE LADAKH: A COLD ARID REGION IN INDIA

SUMMARYThe Ladakh plateau is an arctic desert in the Western Himalaya having an annual rainfall of 8 to 9 cm. Extreme environmental conditions and persistent hypoxia affect the human and livestock populations. Limited grazing resources are the other limiting factor. Despite these hardships, a great variety of livestock species are available in Ladakh. The yak is the most important species for highlanders providing them subsistence in terms of milk, meat, fibres, skin and hides. It is an excellent pack and transport animal in snow bound passes. Male Yak hybrids with local cattle are excellent bullocks under the hypoxic environment. The small population of local hill cattle is endangered due to large scale crossbreeding with yaks and exotic cattle. The majority of goatsoin Ladakh are Pashmmina type. The Changthangi is an important goat breed. Local small sized sheep yield fine carpet type wool and resemble the Tibetan sheep. Zaniskari horses are in danger of extinction. Other horses and ponies available in Ladakh appeared similar to the Tibetan ponies. The local donkeys have a large bulging head with long hair. Only 54 Bacterin camels are left in the region. Poultry and pigs are not popular in Ladakh. Almost all livestock species have long body hair to survive in extreme climatic conditions.

Breeds of hill cattle in Scotland

Abstract Many publications have appeared dealing in whole or part with breeds of hij 1 cattle in Scotland, but none approach this subject from a geographical standpoint. This is perhaps surprising in view of the fact that the various breeds have long been an important element in the cultural landscape. Moreover, during the past thirty years their numbers have increased fivefold to some 380,000 and profound changes have taken place in the traditional breed structure. It is the purpose of this paper to fill in part this gap by describing and explaining, in a general way, the distribution of the main breeds and crosses.

Minerals in the nutrition of hill cattle and sheep.

Minerals in the nutrition of hill cattle and sheep.

Evolution of Farming Patterns in Lochaber

LOCHABER as defined here consists of a large tract of hill and mountain country at the southern end of the Great Glen with Fort William as a focal point. From an administrative point of view the region covers eight parishes: Arisaig and Moidart, Glenelg, Kilmallie and Kilmonivaig in the Lochaber district of Inverness-shire; Ardnamurchan and Sunart, Ardgour, and Morvern in the Ardnamurchan district of Argyll; and Lismore and Appin in the North Lorn district of Argyll (Fig. 3). Although the area selected is delimited largely on grounds of convenience it does include a wide variety of farming conditions ranging from the rugged, exposed mountainous areas of Ben Nevis-Glencoe and Loch Quoich to the lower but heavily dissected country of north Argyll, and the wide, gently sloping glens of Glen Garry and Glen Spean. Also included is the fertile island of Lismore and the good soils of the coast of Morvern where Dalradian limestone and basalt respectively diversify the monotony imposed by the dominance of metamorphic rocks and the heavy hand of glaciation. The general characteristics of commercial farming in the Highlands and Islands are well known. Arable land is very limited in extent and in Lochaber the acreage of crops and grass varies in extent from 2.63 per cent of the total agricultural land in Lismore and Appin and 2.27 per cent in Ardnamurchan and Sunart to o.86 per cent in Ardgour and 0.72 per cent in Glenelg. Moreover, the high rainfall leads to a heavy loss of soil nutrients so that the fertilizing of the hungry land can only take place on a short-term basis. The acreage of grass is over four times as great as the acreage of crops in most parishes and the swing to silage as a form of winter feed is tending to widen the disparity. Rough grazings thus make up almost the whole of the agricultural land (96.3I per cent in Lismore and Appin to 99.o5 per cent in Ardgour) and hence livestock enterprises dominate. But many of the grazings are poor, consisting of steep, rocky ground; and there are often problems of waterlogging and exposure. This, together with the limited amount of low ground, places the emphasis under present conditions firmly on sheep, since cattle require better grazings and, to be an economic proposition, must be supported by arable land as a source of winter feed. The arable must be tied in with the hill enterprises and hence there is very little specialization in Lochaber: for although some farms have land which would be suitable, for example, for market gardening there is generally insufficient to justify taking the emphasis off hill farming.1 But the farming pattern is very liable to change. It is particularly susceptible to changes in government policy; and levels of subsidy paid for hill sheep and cattle have an important bearing on the density and ratio of stocking. Also it must be remembered that farming land is under pressure not only from housing, industrial and recreational requirements but also from other primary users, so that any study of farming must take account of the changing relationships between farming on the one hand and crofting, deer forests and woodlands on the other. As the many recent studies of crofting show, these relationships are often a legacy of past conditions and hence require some discussion of changing economic conditions over the last

Some Observations on the Helminth Parasites of Scottish Hill Cattle

Some Observations on the Helminth Parasites of Scottish Hill Cattle

A Note on the Cattle and Pastures of the Anamalais

The work was undertaken at the instance of the District Veterinary Officer, Coimbatore with a view to survey the Anamalai hill cattle, the pasture lands and fodder facilities available and to suggest ways and means of further improvement of the cattle. The survey was confined mainly to the estates which are members of the Anamalai Hill Cattle Society.

Effects of Artificial Showers, Natural Rain and Wallowing on The Body Temperatures of Animals

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects on body temperature of artificial and natural rain in water buffaloes, sebu cattle small hill cattle and sheep, and the effects of wallowing, hosing and splashing in water buffaloes. A heavy shower for two hours will lower the body temperature of buffaloes by 2.8° F. in the morning and 1.6° F. in the afternoon, on the average, while a similar shower will reduce temperature of zebu cows by only 0.5° F in the afternoon. Young buffaloes are especially susceptible to the effects of rain on body temperature. With buffaloes, the fall is mainly during the shower, while with cattle it is due to the drying-off period. Mean body temperature decreases of about 0.7° to 2.7° F. as a result of natural rain, have been noted during the summer monsoon at Izatnagar, and of 1.6° to 3.8° F. in hill cattle and 1.4° to 2.7° F. in sheep, standing in monsoon rain at Mukteswar. The fall in body temperature due to rainfall can be counteracted by light exercise during the shower or drying-off period, or both. Rough drying following the shower is also beneficial. Adult water buffaloes wallowed naturaly from April to October, when air and water temperatures were above 85° and 77° F., respectively. Desire to wallow was most intense from July to October. Various methods of cooling water buffaloes were tested. Wallowing for 20 minutes and one hour gave similar results. Hosing for 3 minutes was as effective as wallowing for 20 minutes, while splashing for 10 minutes was not quite as good. Wallowing by the previously exercised animal will reduce the temperature by as much as 3° to 4° F. Iu organized dairies, a shower bath should be practically as efficacious, more hygienic, and no more costly than a properly-constructed wallow.

A Journey from Barrow Creek to Victoria River

EARLY in January 1909 the writer made an agreement with the South Australian Government to open up a line of waters, for a stock route, from near Central Mount Stuart to the Victoria river, so that stock bred in the Victoria river district might be taken direct to Alice Springs instead of by the roundabout route to Newcastle Waters, and then down the Overland Telegraph Line. Mr. F. B. Wallis kindly lent twenty camels and gave financial assistance as well, while the South Australian Government agreed to pay for any trial wells made at reasonable distances apart that would yield a fair supply of good water. On 8 February 1909 I left Adelaide with stores for six months, including a fair supply of dried beef, which proved a great success, though because it was heavily spiced the black boys objected to it and would only eat it minced fine as a hash, with dried vegetables. We bought fresh meat wherever possible, and also took in salted beef at the last station, Barrow Creek. My three companions, John Gettens, Harry Baxter, and Richard Douglas, joined me at Oodnadatta. They were all experienced bushmen, and used to mining and well-sinking. At Barrow Creek I secured two black boys, Tim and Paddy. Paddy knew the country to the west and north-west of Barrow Creek. The Hanson Creek country he knew well, and he had been as far west as the Lander Creek. For years past the rumour had been current?derived of course from the natives? that there were natural springs in the sandhills north-west of Barrow Creek. Paddy had visited some of these springs, and agreed to pilot me to them. They were far off, however, and the trouble was to find water low down along the course of the Hanson Creek, say 35 or 40 miles north-west of Barrow Creek, that would enable us to reach the first spring. From here, Paddy said, the distances between the springs were not very great. With the help of,these springs, if they existed, I hoped to be able to reach Winnecke Creek?so named by Alan Davidson on the journey when he dis? covered the Tanami goldfield. The creek was discovered by Nat Buchanan, a hardy old bushman, on his remarkable journey through quite unexplored country from Powell Creek to the Victoria river. Buchanan travelled with horses, and had only a black boy for companion. His route was north of mine, and must have been through the country where the ill-fated aviators, Anderson and Hitchcock, recently lost their lives. Buchanan, it is reported, had a very arduous trip, and only succeeded in getting through to Winnecke Creek by finding a native well or two. As no one has since visited the wells it is not known whether they are permanent or only contain water for a few months or weeks after the rainy season. Many of the natives' wells in the country he passed through are not permanent. From Winnecke Creek I hoped to reach the great south-east bend of the Victoria river, near which is the Mucka outstation of the Wave Hill cattle station. The Catfish set of yards, which are quite close to the bend, and the water-hole bearing the same name, were my real objective. The South Australian Government had supplied me with a light portable