Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
UG Badole, BR Wankhede, NP Kadam, AB Motghare and SL Khatke

Abstract:
The present study entitled “Studies on morphological characteristics of Kathani cattle in Gondia tahsil of Gondia district” was conducted in the year 2021-2022 by selecting 200 cattles, belonging to different age groups i.e., up to 1 year, 1 to 2 year, 2 to 3 year and above 3 years, from ten villages of Gondia tahsil in Gondia district. The population of female cattle was higher in the age group of above 3 years. The cattles were mostly seen having white coat colour. The colour of muzzle, hoof, tail switch, and eyelid was mostly black and the colour of horns were found to be grey. Horns were small to medium curved with outward orientation, horizontal ear orientation. Hump and dewlap were mostly found to be medium sized and the naval flap in most of the cattles was small in size. The forehead was found to be straight. The cattles were mostly found with bowl shaped udder, cylindrical shaped teats and small size of milk vein. The average body weight of adult female was 226.1±4.41 kg. The biometric measurements of chest girth, body length, height at wither, length of tail, length of neck was 153.82±1.01, 103.28±1.30, 108.88±1.34, 75.64±1.49, 42.9±0.55 cm respectively. The study on morphological characteristics of Kathani cattle, suggested that this unexplored breed can be considered as drought purpose breed having higher biological potential for improvement in production. By assessment of these characters, it will be useful for the breeders for recognition of breed in the region.