Sahiwal cattle

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Sahiwal are a breed of zebu cattle, primarily used in dairy production. It produces the most milk of all zebu breeds, followed by the very similar Red Sindhi and Butana breeds. See photos [Synthetic Dairy Breed Proposal]. It originated in the Sahiwal district of Pakistan, a dry region of Punjab which lies along the Indian-Pakistani border. They were once kept in large herds by professional herdsmen called "Junglies". However, with the introduction of irrigation to the region they began to be kept in smaller numbers by the farmers of the region, who used them as draft and dairy animals. It is tick-resistant, heat-tolerant and noted for its high resistance to parasites, both internal and external. Long a favorite dairy breed in Pakistan and India, its cows average 2270 kg. of milk during a lactation while suckling a calf and much higher milk yields have been recorded. Due to their heat tolerance and high milk production they have been exported to other Asian countries as well as Africa and the Caribbean. As oxen they are generally docile and lethargic, making them more useful for slow work. Their color can range from reddish brown to the more predominant red, with varying amounts of white on the neck, and the underline. In males the color darkens towards the extremities, such as the head, legs and tails. The Sahiwal breed arrived in Australia via New Guinea in the early 1950’s. In Australia, the Sahiwal breed was initially selected as a dual-purpose breed. It played a valuable role in the development of the two Australian tropical dairy breeds, the Australian Milking Zebu and the Australian Friesian Sahiwal. Sahiwal cattle are now predominantly used in Australia for beef production, as crossing high-grade Sahiwal sires with Bos taurus animals produced a carcass of lean quality with desirable fat cover. Sahiwal bulls have demonstrated the ability to sire small, fast-growing calves, noted for their hardiness under unfavorable climatic conditions. The cows are the heaviest milkers of all zebu breeds and display a well-developed udder(Reference: 1-Handbook of Australian Livestock, Australian Meat & Livestock Corporation,1989, 3rd Edition 2-Genus Bos: Cattle Breeds of the World, 1985, MSO-AGVET (Merck & Co., Inc.), Rahway, N.J. 3-Mason, I.L. 1996. A World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties. Fourth Edition. C.A.B International. 273 pp.[1]). Research Centre for Conservation of Sahiwal Cattle [2]