Tackling the future challenges of Organic Animal Husbandry - vTI

! Agriculture and Forestry Research, Special Issue No 362 (Braunschweig, 2012) ISSN 0376-0723
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the age of 9 years. Similarly maximum body weight and body length were 149.38 ± 5.1 kg and
98.07 ± 1.52 cm respectively at the age of 8 years (ABD, 1995).
Table 1. Phenotypic characteristics of Achham Cattle (means ± standard errors in cm)
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Parameters Achham Cattle
Body length 92.10 ± 1.23
Heart girth 118.60 ± 1.40
Height at wither 90.80 ± 0.96
Height at hip bone 88.50 ± 0.76
Head length 33.20 ± 0.54
Tail length 72.42 ± 1.26
Horn length 3.0
Ear length 16.80 ± 0.28
Neck length 30.80 ± 0.66
Loin length 115.40 ± 1.65
Barrel height from ground 44.80 ± 0.72
Four legs above knee 32.10 ± 0.46
Four legs below knee 26.70 ± 0.42
Rear legs above knee 34.80 ± 0.53
Rear legs below knee 32.80 ± 0.46
Adult body weight (Kg) 125.00 ± 7.46
Source: Neopane et al. (2005); Shrestha et al. (1996)
Table 2. Productive and reproductive performance of Achham cattle (means, ± Standard
errors)
Parameters Achham Cattle
Age at 1st service (Months) 48(36-60)
Age at 1st calving (Months) 60(48-72)
Gestation length (days) 285 ± 1.80
Calving intervals (Months) 17(12-24)
Average daily milk yield (Liters) 1.5 ± 0.22(1-4)
Lactation length (days) 225(180-270)
Source: Neopane et al. (2005); Shrestha et al. (1996)
Though it has manifold valuable traits that are better than other cattle breeds, its number is declining
day by day. It is sure that in near future these cattle will remain only in papers. So, it is the
time for the every stakeholder of livestock and conservationists to think and take actions towards
the conservation of this breed. Population declining rapidly due to cross breeding while grazing
with other breeds, out- migration/ export to Tibet for slaughter and socio economic reasons.
Methodology
Following measures should be undertaken to conserve Achham cattle like other endanger cattle
breeds:
Survey on the status of breed:
First step that should be taken is to conduct survey on the real status of the cattle in the pocket
areas. Data should be generated on the various factors like the number of the cattle, number of pure
breed, number of cross breed, diseases that mostly responsible for their reduction in number and
quality, existing farming practice, and other factors.