Gir
The Gir is a famous milk cattle breed of India. The native tract of the breed is Gir hills and forests of Kathiawar including Junagarh, Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Amreli districts of Gujarat. The Gir animals are famous for their tolerance to stress conditions and resistance to various tropical diseases. Bullocks of this breed are used to drag heavy loads on all kinds of soil. exported to USA, Brazil,Mexico, Venezuella. The Rabaris, Bharwads, Maldharis, Ahirs and Charans tribes are mainly involved in Rearing of Gir cattle. They move with their cattle for grazing.
Physical Characteristics:
- Skin colour is dominantly black but in a few animals it is brown, red/white and black/white or completely red haired cows can be seen.
- Forehead is prominent, convex and broad like a bony shield. This overhangs eyes in such a way that they appear to be partially closed.
- Ears are long and pendulous and folded like a leaf.
- The tail is long and whip like.
- Hooves are black and medium-sized.
- Horns starts at the base of crown downward, backward and again upward in a half moon shaped.
- Skin is loose and pliable. Hair is short and glossy
- Hipbones are prominent, the body is well proportioned, udder is well developed
- Age at first calving in Gir cows is 52.49 months
- Average lactation and 300 days milk yield in 378 Gir cows is 1775 and 1449 kg, respectively.
