ACHAI CATTLE BREED, ITS PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE UNDER TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN DISTRICT LOWER DIR (N.W.F.P.) PAKISTAN

Abstract

The present study on physical and morphometric characteristics and productive and reproductive performance was conducted on Achai cattle from Talash, Jandool and Maidan valleys of District Lower Dir, North West Frontier Province (NWFP now known as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Pakistan. Physical characteristics observed on Achai cows and bulls were colors of the coat, eyelashes, horns, hoof, muzzle and switch of the tail. Morphometric characteristics of Achai cows and bulls recorded were heart girth, body length, height at withers, height at hipbone, head region (face length, ear length and width), horn (length of the horn along the greater and smaller curvatures and the circumference of the horn at base, mid region and just below the tip), neck and dewlap (length and circumference of the neck, length and width of the dewlap), height and circumference of the hump, back and rump (chine length, loin length, rump length and width), length of the leg below knee joint, circumference of the hoof, length of the tail and length of the switch of the tail. Productive performance studies included standard 305-day milk yield and birth weight of male and female calves. Studies on reproductive performance included pubertal age, postpartum anoestrus interval, conception efficiency, calving interval and dry period. The present study revealed that majority of the Achai cows have spotted reddish brown coat color; reddish brown color of eyelashes, light brown color of hooves, and reddish brown color of tail switch in all the three valleys. The dominant color of the horn of cows was light brown at the base, grayish in the middle and black in the upper part upto the tip in Jandool and Maidan valley and light brown at base with blackish tinge in the upper part of the horn in Talash valley. The most prevalent color of the muzzle of the cows was light brown with black pigments in Jandool and Maidan valley, whereas, it was light brown in Talash valley. The highest percentage of Achai bulls have spotted reddish brown coat color; light brown color horns at base with blackish tinge in the upper part of the horn; reddish brown color of eyelashes, light brown color of muzzle with black pigments, black color of hooves and white color of tail switch. There was no significant difference in the distribution of the physical characteristics of cows and bulls among the three valleys except colors of the horns of the bulls where significant difference (P=0.04) was observed among the three valleys. There was also no significant difference in the prevalence of the physical characteristics between Achai cattle genders in these three valleys. Morphometric characteristics of Achai cows with significant differences among the three valleys included ear length, horn mid region circumference, chine length, loin length and switch length. In bulls’ significant difference was observed in height at withers, face length, ear length, ear width, neck length, loin length, rump length, length of the leg below knee joint and switch length among the three valleys. Based on combined data of all three valleys, Achai cows have significantly longer and wider ears, long neck, long loin and wider rump than Achai bulls. On the other hand, Achai bulls have significantly higher values for heart girth, body length, height at withers, height at hip bone, length and circumference of the horns, neck circumference, dewlap length and width, chine length, rump length, length of the leg below knee joint, hoof circumference, tail length and switch length than Achai cows. Based on combined data of all the three valleys, the overall mean 305-day milk yield was 1426.31±30.23 liters. It was significantly higher in Jandool (1560.14±36.88 liters; P<0.0001) and Maidan valley (1501.76±47.76 liters; P=0.0002) as compared to Talash valley (1217.04±53.05 liters). Regression analysis of variance revealed no significant difference in mean 305-day milk yield among first, second and third parity in Talash, Jandool and Maidan valley. Similarly no significant difference was observed in mean 305-day milk of cows calved in spring, summer, autumn and winter Abstract Achai cattle breed, its productive and reproductive performance under traditional management system in District Lower Dir, NWFP, Pakistan. x season in all the three valleys. The overall mean birth weight of male Achai calves based on combined data of all the three valleys was 16.88±0.27 kg. There was no significant difference in birth weight of male calves among Talash (17.50±0.43 kg), Jandool (16.40±0.50 kg) and Maidan valley (16.74±0.48 kg). The birth weight of male calves increased significantly with advancing parity number from first to third parity in Talash (b=0.28±0.003; F (1, 1) = 9747; P=0.006) and Jandool valley (b=0.16±0.006; F (1, 1) = 768; P=0.02), whereas, there was no significant difference among the three parities in Maidan valley. The overall mean birth weight of female Achai calves based on combined data of all the three valleys was 14.46±0.24 kg. There was no significant difference in birth weight of female calves among Talash (14.30±0.46 kg), Jandool (14.46±0.45 kg) and Maidan valley (14.62±0.37 kg). Parity also has no significant effect on birth weight of female calves in all the three valleys. Combined data of all the three valleys revealed that male calves (16.88±0.27 kg) were significantly (P<0.001) heavier than female calves (14.54±0.26 kg) at birth. The overall mean pubertal age of cow based on data of all the three valleys was 1147.73±18.26 days. There was no significant difference in pubertal age among Talash (1144.29±45.18 days), Jandool (1161.00±22.45 days) and Maidan valley (1125.00±39.04 days). The overall mean postpartum anoestrus interval based on combined data of all the three valleys was 97.33±3.42 days. There was no significant difference in postpartum anoestrus interval among Talash (100.00±6.33 days), Jandool (96.31±5.35 days) and Maidan valley (92.50±5.67 days). Parity significantly affected postpartum anoestrus interval in Talash valley and a significant (b= - 10.06±1.49; F (1, 2) =45.11; P=0.02) decrease was observed from first to fourth parity. However, parity did not significantly affect postpartum anoestrus interval in Jandool and Maidan valley. Season also had no significant effect on postpartum anoestrus interval in Talash and Jandool valley. In Maidan valley significantly (P=0.02) longer postpartum anoestrus interval was observed in cows calved in winter as compared to spring season. The highest percentage of cows conceived at first natural service was observed in Jandool (72.32%) followed by Maidan (71.58%) and Talash valley (68.12%). The overall mean calving interval based on combined data of all the three valleys was 476.37±5.17 days. There was no significant difference in calving interval among Talash (462.10±9.18 days), Jandool (483.36±8.01 days) and Maidan valley (480.65±9.70 days). Parity and season did not affect calving interval significantly in all the three valleys. The overall mean dry period based on combined data of all the three valleys was 91.55±2.71 days. Cows in Talash valley had significantly shorter dry period than cows in Jandool (P<0.001) and Maidan valley P=0.005). Regression analysis of variance revealed no significant effect of parity and season on dry period in all the three valleys. The present study indicated that Achai cows and bulls had no significant difference in physical characteristics except the colors of horns in bulls among all the three valleys. Bulls were larger in size than cows. Standard 305-day milk yield was significantly higher in Jandool and Maidan valley than Talash valley. Male as well as female calf birth weight did not differ significantly among the three valleys. However, male calves were significantly heavier than female calves at birth. There was no significant difference in reproductive performance like pubertal age, postpartum anoestrus interval, conception efficiency and calving interval among the three valleys except dry period which was significantly short in Talash compared to Jandool and Maidan valley. Parity significantly affected male calf birth weight and postpartum anoestrus interval in Talash valley, whereas, the effect of parity on other productive and reproductive parameters was not significant. Similarly, the significant effect of season was observed on postpartum anoestrus interval in Maidan valley and season did not significantly affect other productive and reproductive parameters. Abstract Achai cattle breed, its productive and reproductive performance under traditional management system in District Lower Dir, NWFP, Pakistan. xi The present investigation was conducted for the first time for Achai cattle with the objectives to study the physical and morphometric characteristics and productive and reproductive performance under traditional management system. The findings obtained can be used as baseline data to improve productive and reproductive performance of Achai cattle with the potential approaches discussed for improving these parameters. No doubt this study was carried out for a particular breed. It can be suggested that on the same pattern improvement in productive and reproductive performance in other cattle breed in the country can be carried out. It is expected that improvement in productive and reproductive performance shall lead to the improvement of economy of farmers as well.