SELECTION
Cattle and Buffalo
Importance of Selection in Dairy Animals:
Selection in dairy animals is a critical aspect of dairy farming that involves choosing and breeding animals with desirable traits to enhance overall productivity and profitability. The importance of selection in dairy animals can be highlighted in several ways:
-> Milk Yield Improvement and Adaptability to Local Conditions:
The primary goal of selection is to improve the milk yield of dairy animals. Selecting animals that are well-adapted to the local climate, feeding conditions, and prevalent diseases is crucial. Indigenous breeds, known for their adaptability, are often preferred in different regions of India.
-> Genetic Improvement and Economic Viability:
Selection plays a key role in enhancing the genetic potential of the herd. Traits related to milk production, reproductive efficiency, and disease resistance can be improved over generations through careful breeding. Selecting animals based on economically important traits, such as feed efficiency, helps in optimizing resource utilization. Animals that convert feed into milk more efficiently contribute to the overall economic viability of the dairy farm.
-> Disease Resistance, Health and Reproductive Performance:
Selection helps in developing a herd that is more resistant to prevalent diseases. By choosing animals with a history of good health and robust immune systems, farmers can reduce the risk of disease outbreaks and minimize the need for medical interventions. Selection for desirable body conformation traits, including udder structure and overall physical health, leads to healthier and more productive animals. Efficient selection also contributes to improved reproductive performance, including shorter calving intervals and increased conception rates. This leads to a more consistent and productive breeding cycle.
-> Efficiency in Feed Utilization, Sustainability and Environmental Impact:
Animals selected for efficient feed utilization help in reducing feed costs and improving the overall sustainability of dairy farming operations. Selection for traits that contribute to sustainable farming practices, such as reduced environmental impact and efficient resource utilization, is becoming increasingly important.
-> Conservation of Indigenous Breeds and Livelihood Improvement:
India is home to several indigenous dairy breeds with unique characteristics. Selection plays a crucial role in the conservation of these breeds, preserving biodiversity and cultural heritage. And also for many farmers in India, dairy farming is a crucial source of livelihood. Selection contributes to increased income and improved living standards for farmers engaged in the dairy sector.
Characteristics of Good Dairy Animal:
- Attractive individuality with feminity, vigour, harmonious blending of all parts,
- Impressive style and carriage
- Animal should have wedge shaped appearance of the body
- It should have bright eyes with lean neck
- The udder should be well attached to the abdomen
- The skin of the udder should have a good network of blood vessels
- All four quarters of the udder should be well demarcated with well placed teats.
Body Capacity:
Viewed from the side, a cow with a deep, long body with wide, well-sprung ribs is said to have a large body capacity. Large body capacity is associated with ample space for the rumen and digestive system, and this, in turn, is associated with superior milk production. It should be obvious, but still needs to be stated, that a dairy cow with little body capacity cannot be a great milk producer. This is because the gut size is limited by the capacity of the abdominal cavity.
A broad muzzle
(“shovel-nose”). A broad, strong muzzle implies the ability to get the food into her mouth and to masticate (chew her cud) effectively.
Width between the forelegs.
This shows whether, or not, there is plenty of room for the vital organs situated between the shoulders and front legs. Cows with a narrow chest are normally not good producers.
Width of rib.
If at least two fingers, can be placed between the ribs of a dairy cow, she is said to have a fair degree of capacity. Ideally, in any cow, three flattened fingers would indicate great capacity. These pointers are quite acceptable rules-of-thumb to measure body capacity.
The bulls ability to breed (body capacity) should also be considered in any breeding programme. However, milk yield, fat and protein content, feet and legs, and udders, are most important, whereas with body capacity a certain amount of leniency is allowed.
Udders.
The udder must be pliable, silky in texture and sack-like in nature. When the udder is viewed from the side it should not hang below the cow’s hock. Well developed milk vein is utmost important for giving maximum amount of milk. This must be extremely strong and well attached. Teat placement should also be considered important. Ideally, the front teats should be even and centrally placed on each quarter of the udder. Teat size (over- and undersized teats should be avoided), shape and placement are highly heritable.
History sheet or pedigree sheet which are generally maintained in organized farms reveals the complete history of animal The maximum yields by dairy cows are noticed during the first five lactations. So generally selection should be carried out during first or second lactation and that too month after calving. Three successive complete milkings have to be done and an average of it will give a fair idea regarding production by a particular animal. A cow should allow anybody to milk, and should be docile. It is better to purchase the animals during the months of October and November. Maximum yield is noticed till 90 days after calving.
1.Stature/ Chest and Body Measurements:
Extremely tall/Deep body
2. Dairy Character:
3. Foot and shape:
4. Rear legs (Side view):
5. Pelvic Angle:
6. Rump Width:
7. Fore udder Attachment:
8. Teat Placement (Rear view):
9. Suspensory ligament (cleft)
10. Udder Depth:
The Unified Score Card System:
The Unified score card system (Table) gives a good index of Dairy conformation of animals. This includes the following parameters.
| A. General appearance : 18 | ||
| 1 | Size of animal- ideal to breed and age | 3 |
| 2 | Form of animal- symmetrical or stylish | 2 |
| 3 | Dairy character –lean ,angular | 5 |
| 4 | Skin quality-thin, pliable, hairs smooth, fine and soft | 4 |
| 5 | Temperament- active vigorous disposition and docile | 4 |
| B. Head and neck : 09 | ||
| 6 | Muzzle- wide nostrils and large | 2 |
| 7 | Face – clean cut, facial veins prominent. | 1 |
| 8 | Forehead- wide fine at poll | 1 |
| 9 | Horns- fine , typical of breed | 1 |
| 10 | Neck-Slender, medium length | 1 |
| 11 | Eyes- Large , bright prominent | 1 |
| 12 | Ears- Typical of breed size, well set | 1 |
| 13 | Dewlap- Thin, light, graceful folds | 1 |
| C. Fore-Quarters :07 | ||
| 14 | Withers-Clean refined , free from fleshiness | 3 |
| 15 | Shoulders- light oblique, well attached free from fleshiness | 2 |
| 16 | Legs-Straight, well apart, fine and smooth | 2 |
| D. Body :20 | ||
| 17 | Chest, wide, deep fore-flank full | 6 |
| 18 | Back-Straight, strong, vertebra, well defined | 4 |
| 19 | Lion- Broad strong , leveled, free from flesh | 3 |
| 20 | Ribs – wide apart and well sprung | 6 |
| 21 | Flanks- Thin, deep and full | 1 |
| E. Hind Quarters :12 | ||
| 22 | Hip bones- Prominent, and wide apart | 2 |
| 23 | Rump-Long, wide leveled. | 3 |
| 24 | Pin bones-Prominent ,and wide apart | 2 |
| 25 | Tail setting –Long fine, tapering. | 1 |
| 26 | Thigh- Thin, widely separated and incurring. | 2 |
| 27 | Hind legs- Straight carried well apart, fine shank. | 2 |
| F. Mammary Development :34 | ||
| 28 | Udder, (a) Shape | |
| (i) Fore Udder: Full attached forward | 5 | |
| (ii) Rear Udder: Full Attached, high and wide | 5 | |
| (B) Symmetry: Quarters even balanced, floor of udder leveled | 3 | |
| (C) Capacity: Large, Texture, pliable, Free from fat and fibrous tissue | 12 | |
| 29 | Teats: medium sized, squarely placed | 4 |
| 30 | Milk Veins: Long, Tortuous | 3 |
| 31 | Milk Wells: Large, numerous | 2 |
Classify the Cows based on Dairy type as follows
| Type | Grade Score |
| Excellent | 90 and above |
| Very Good | 85 to 90 |
| Good | 80 to 85 |
| Acceptable | 70 to 80 |
| Fair | 60 to 70 |
| Poor | below 60 |
Animals scoring below 75 must be discarded.