Genomic study on red Sindhi cows

KARACHI - The scientists of the Karachi University (KU) are carrying out a genomic research on red Sindhi cows, the most popular cattle of all dairy breeds in the world, to improve their breeds as the demand of such cattle in the world is increasing day by day.
Red Sindhi cows, also known as Sindhi Cattle, Red Karachi Cattleare being used for crossbreeding with temperate (European origin) in many countries to combine their tropical adaptations. Such cows have been found a highly disease resistant, very docile and robust food animal of Sindh.
Talking to The Nation, Dean, Science Faculty KU, Prof Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi said that red cows belong to Sindh, where over 75 per cent of the rural population practice animal husbandry. The research is being carried out on the theme of genetic improvement and enhancing reproductive efficiency of animals, while the research is entitled as genetic characterisation for improving productive and reproductive performance in red Sindhi breed, she said.
The dean said, “As per livestock census 2006, there were 2.64 million red Sindhi cattle in Sindh and 0.13 million in the adjoining province of Balochistan (anonymous, 2006). This breed is well adapted to tropical and semi-arid climatic conditions of Thatta, Hyderabad, Karachi and Lasbella. These compact built animals are medium sized, reasonably resistant to tick borne diseases and resilient to harsh environments. The red Sindhi cattle are considered as one of the good yielding cattle breeds in whole sub-continent. Due to these characters, it has been spread into many parts of India and at least 33 countries in Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Americas.  The milk production of red Sindhi cows were averaged 1,007.4 litre in an average lactation period of 227.9 days in a recent study.â€�