Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2020) 9(9): 70-78 International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 9 Number 9 (2020) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.909.008 Studies on Reproductive Performance of Red Kandhari Cattle in their Breeding Tract of Maharashtra, India D. V. Bainwad*, B. M. Thombre and S. G. Narwade Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, College of Agriculture, Parbhani- 431 402, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Red Kandhari is one of the important breed of Marathwada region of Maharashtra State. This breed is known as Lal Kandhari. In the present investigation the reproductive performance of Red Kandhari cattle at various stages of growth were studied at different K e yw or ds locations in the breeding tract. The idea behind the collection of data in breeding tract of Red Kandhari cattle from the farmers and breeders herd of Red Kandhari rather than on Reproductive the organized farm to obtain the real picture of reproductive performance of breed in the performance, breeding tract. The reproductive traits often help in judging the economic value of the Economic value, animal. The overall least square means for age at puberty (AP) of Red Kandhari cattle was judging, Calving, recorded as 883.16 + 0.83 days. The effect of block and season were found highly Oestrus significant on AP whereas, the effect of colour was found non-significant. The overall least square means for age at first estrus (AFE) of Red Kandhari cattle was recorded as Article Info 1236.96 + 1.67 days. The effect of block and season were found highly significant on AFE whereas, the effect of colour was found non-significant. The overall least square means for Accepted: age at first calving (AFC) of Red Kandhari cattle was recorded as 1529.61 + 1.71 days. 04 August 2020 The effect of season was found highly significant on AFC whereas, the effect of block and Available Online: 10 September 2020 colour were found non-significant. The overall least square means for service period (SP) of Red Kandhari cattle was recorded as 139.92 + 0.66 days. The effect of block and season were found highly significant on SP whereas, the effect of colour was found non- significant. The overall least square means for gestation period (GP) of Red Kandhari cattle was recorded as 283.49 + 0.23 days. The effect of block, season and colour were found non-significant on GP. The improvement in reproductive characteristics of indigenous breeds has become essential to make the economically viable dairy animals. Introduction women farmers. The livestock sector alone contributes nearly 25.6% of value of output at Dairying has become an important secondary current prices of total value of output in source of income for millions of rural families Agriculture, Fishing and Forestry sector. The and has assumed the most important role in overall contribution of livestock sector in total providing employment and income generating GDP is nearly 4.11% at current prices during opportunities particularly for marginal and 2012-13. India has 190.9 million cattle, 108.7 70 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2020) 9(9): 70-78 million buffaloes, 135.2 million goats and data on reproductive characteristics i.e. AP, 65.06 million sheep population. The total AFE, AFC, SP, GP and ICP was collected by Bovine population is 299.9 million in 2012 actual interview with the livestock owners which shows a decline of 1.57% over with the help of model questionnaire. The previous census (Livestock Census, 2012). collected data was classified as per colour Red Kandhari is one of the important breed of pattern (viz., Dark Red, Brick Red followed Marathwada region of Maharashtra State. The by Black Shades on NST i.e. Neck, Shoulder Red Kandhari germplasm has very old and and Thigh) and as per seasons as S1 - Pre- rich historical background. It is said that the monsoon (March - May), S2 - Monsoon (June breeding of cattle was taken up by the Royal - September), S3 - Post-monsoon (October - dynasty of king Somadeorai as far back as November) and S4 - Summer (December - fourth century A. D. The cattle breed having February). The data on productive traits were red colour naturally acquires the name as Red collected from different districts of Kandhari as it is sure that the breed would Marathwada region as mentioned in Table 1. have been named by Raja Somadeorai in memory of his father as Raja Kanhar now Reproductive characteristics misnomered as Red Kandhari (Chauhan et al., 2008). The reproductive characteristics like The analysis of data will be done by method reproductive characteristics like AP, AFE, of Least Square Technique as outlined by AFC, SP, GP and ICP were taken into Harvey (1990). The following mathematical consideration for present study. The Red model will be employed to analyze the data. Kandhari breed is reared mainly for draught purpose. Animals are medium in size, strong, Yijklm = µ + Bi + Cj + Sk + Ol + eijklm compact and good looking. Body colour is dull red to almost dark brown. Cows are low Where, milk producers and bullocks of the breed are th preferred over the Deoni breed for better Yijklm = is the record of m Red Kandhari draught ability and smaller size (Pundir and individual in ith block, jth colour, kth season Singh, 2008). Therefore, the present study has and lth off-type. been conducted to study the reproductive characteristics, colour pattern effect on µ = is the population mean common to all the various characteristics, effect of season on observations. lactation milk yield and block effect on th various characteristics. Bi = is the effect of i block of individual. th Cj = is the effect of j colour of individual. th Materials and Methods Sk = is the effect of k season of individual. th Ol = is the effect of l off-type of individual. Selection of Cattle eijklm = is the random error assumed to be NID The data on reproductive traits of 597 Red (0, δ2,e ) Kandhari cattle was collected by actual interview with the livestock owners with the The significant effect will be further analyzed help of model questionnaire at different to have all pair wise comparison by Duncan’s villages as mentioned below. From each Multiple Range Test (DMRT) as modified by tehsils on an average 66 cattle / individuals Kramar (1957). was chosen randomly for present study. The 71 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2020) 9(9): 70-78 Results and Discussion maintained in S2 season had highly significant higher AP over other seasons. Reproductive characteristics Age at first estrus (AFE) Age at puberty (AP) It was observed from Table 3 that the overall It was observed from Table 2 that the overall least square means for AFE of Red Kandhari least square means for AP of Red Kandhari cattle was recorded as 1236.96 + 1.67 days. cattle was recorded as 883.16 + 0.83 days. Higher days AFE was reported by Kulkarni et Higher days AP was reported by Vedpathak et al., (2013) as 41.70 + 0.20 months in Kathani al., (2006) as 1280.50 + 0.73 days in Red cattle of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra and Kandhari cattle and Azizunnesa et al., (2010) lower days AFE was reported by Singh et al., as 2.68 + 1.71 years in Red Chittagong cattle, (2002) as 35.60 + 0.53 months in Deoni respectively. cattle. Block effect on AP Block effect on Age at first estrus The difference observed in the LSMs for AP The difference observed in the LSMs for AFE of Red Kandhari cattle was highly significant of Red Kandhari cattle was highly significant due to block effect. The LSM for AP of Red due to block effect. The LSM for AFE of Red Kandhari cattle in block D1, D2, D3, D4, and Kandhari cattle in block D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5 were 885.63 + 1.35, 878.82 + 1.38, 878.04 D5 were 1238.51 + 2.72, 1238.61 + 2.77, + 1.26, 886.53 + 1.54 and 886.78 + 2.43 days, 1244.58 + 2.53, 1235.41 + 3.09 and 1227.71 respectively. The DMRT revealed that Red + 4.89 days, respectively. The DMRT Kandhari cattle maintained at D5 block had revealed that Red Kandhari cattle maintained highly significant higher AP over other at D3 block had highly significant higher AFE blocks. over other blocks. Colour pattern effect on AP Colour pattern effect on Age at first estrus The differences observed in the LSMs for AP The differences observed in the LSMs for of Red Kandhari cattle were non-significant AFE of Red Kandhari cattle were non- due to colour pattern effect. The LSM for AP significant due to colour pattern effect. The of Red Kandhari cattle for colour pattern C1 LSM for AFE of Red Kandhari cattle for and C2 were 883.04 + 1.01 and 883.28 + 1.08 colour pattern C1 and C2 were 1237.69 + 2.03 days, respectively. and 1236.24 + 2.16 days, respectively. Season effect on Age at puberty Season effect on Age at first estrus The differences observed in the LSMs for AP The differences observed in the LSMs for of Red Kandhari cattle were highly significant AFE of Red Kandhari cattle were highly due to season effect. The LSM for AP of Red significant due to season effect. The LSM for Kandhari cattle for season S1, S2, S3 and S4 AFE of Red Kandhari cattle for season S1, S2, were 878.48 + 2.01, 891.97 + 1.89, 883.81 + S3 and S4 were 1256.59 + 4.04, 1243.33 + 1.09 and 878.37 + 1.03 days, respectively.