Indian cows
generally are known as BOS INDICUS. They have their typical charecteristics
cows in India hitherto, were mainly raised for getting a male calf for agricultural
purpose and not for milk. After 1970, as there was increased demand for milk, scientists
adopted a method of CROSS- BREEDING, in this method, local cows ( Indian
cows) when come in oestrous are bred (artificially) with the semen of the bulls of
European Breeds, which are known generically as "Bos Taurus". Breeding of cows
for getting more milk was known to the scientists of European country after 1850. This
resulted in selection of good cow mothers, and good male calves born out of them. The make
calves born to high yielding mothers are well cared and reared for breeding. Out of
hundred such breeding Bulls hardly 15-20 bulls are capable to transmit genes of high
yielding quality to its progeny. Such bulls are known as proven sires. This technique of
selection of breeding bulls improved milk yield to a great extent. Thus using semen of
such bulls is used to get a cross bred born. The first generation calf has 50% Exotic
Blood Level. The 50% blood level cow shen bred to Exotic bulls the second generation calf
is known as 75% blood level cross breed. One can go for forward crossing upto 7th
generation; where in the 7th generation cross bred carries 99.99% exotic blood
level.
Such cross breeding
improves the performance of dairy cow. It is observed that, by and large 50 to 62.5% blood
level animals, are suitable, in India, for getting more milk; beyond 62.5% blood level
animals need more health and management care.
Out of various
identified dairy breeds of the world, HOLSTEIN FRESIAN and JERSEY breeds are accepted for
cross breeding.
Holstein Fresian
(Popularly known as HF) is a black 7 white cdoloured animal which gives good quantity to
milk with 3 to 4 % fat % .
Jersey
breed is red or chocolate coloured breed which gives comparatively less milk than HF. How
ever the fat percentage of milk is more than 4 to 6%. Other breeds are not found to be as
suitable as these, and thus could not become popular. Where faslities for green fodder are
more HF crosses are perferred where they are limited Jersey crosses are used.