Red Sindhi Bull		Red Sindhi Cattle

Red Sindhi cattle are the most popular of all Zebu dairy breeds. The breed originated in the Sindh province of Pakistan, they are widely kept for milk production across Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other countries. They have been used for crossbreeding with temperate (European) origin dairy breeds in many countries to combine their tropical adaptations (heat tolerance, tick resistance, disease resistance, fertility at higher temperatures, etc.) with the higher milk production found in temperate regions. It has been crossed with Jerseys in many places, including India, the United States, Australia, Sri Lanka, etc.

1. Species: Cattle
2. Synonyms: Malir (Baluchistan), Red Karachi and Sindhi.
3. Habitat: Found in Sindh Pradesh of Pakistan& Orissa, Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan & Punjab states of India.
4. Breeding tract: The original breeding tract is in Pakistan but some organized herds are available in Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Kerala and Assam states of India.
5. Soil and Climate: The soil varies from loam through sandy loam to sandy. Annual rainfall ranges from 25 to 30 cm and a large proportion of this precipitation is during the months from July to October.
6. Main utility: Milk for food, crossbreds are used for meat.
7. Origin: Red Sindhi is considered to have originated from Las Bela cattle found in the state of Bela, Baluchistan. Originated in Karachi and Hyderabad (Pakistan) regions of undivided India and also reared in certain organized farms in our country.
8. Distribution: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.

1. Colour: This breed has distinctly red color. Red shades vary from dark red to dim yellow. Though patches of white are seen on dewlap and sometime on forehead, no large white patches are present on the body. In bulls, color is dark on the shoulders and thighs.
2. Number of Horns : 2.
3. Shape of Horns: Horns are thick at the base and emerge laterally and curve upward.
4. Visible characteristics: Dark to pale red color. Horns are thick at the base and emerge laterally and curve upward. Hump is well developed in males.

1. Body Color: Dark Red. The bull, as a rule, runs to a much darker red than the cow, its extremities being almost black when full grown.
2. Body Size: Medium size well proportionate compact body confirmation.
3. Forehead: Mild bulging forehead. A white marking on the forehead with a little sprinkling of white along the dewlap and underneath the barrel is generally permitted. Forehead is broad between eyes and flat or slightly protruding, carrying a short crop of hair.
4. Horns: About 12-14" in size & grow upward & backwards.
5. Temperament: The Sindhi cow is particularly docile and is a distinctive dairy animal.
6. Face: Face is of medium length and is clear-cut, gradually tapering into a square, and has a well-developed black muzzle with wide nostrils and muscular lips.
7. Eyes: Eyes are fairly large, clear and well set apart with eyebrows rather light.
8. Ears: Ears are of medium size, fine clean-cut and are carried at an angle. Generally, the skin inside is colored butter yellow with a dark fringe along the edge.
9. Dewlap: Dewlap is rather abundant both in males and females but thin and hangs well in nice folds, with a soft mellow feel.
10. Udder: Capacious & Pendulous.
11. Hump : Hump is medium-sized but well developed in bull, slopping gradually forward but with an abrupt fall at the back.

Difference between Red Sindhi and Tharparkar:
They are distinguished from the other dairy breed of Sindh, the Tharparkar or White Sindhi, both by color and form, the Red Sindhi is smaller, rounder, with a more typical dairy form, and with short, curved horns, while the Tharparkar are taller with a shape more typical of Zebu draft breeds, and with longer, lyre shaped horns.

1. Management System: Intensive
2. Mobility: Stationary
3. Feeding of adults: Fodder and Concentrate
4. Housing: Well developed housing for organized herds.
5. Feeding system: Stall feeding.
6. Feeds to be fed: Berseem, oats and mustard are the green fodder in rabi; and sorghum, pearl millet and cluster bean in kharif. Commercial feed can be fed anytime of the year. . Milking cows are provided supplementry feeding in the form of cotton seed, barley and oil cake. Feed is given in soaked form at the time of milking. Calves are reared on whole milk up to 1 month of age after which some green fodder is also fed. Calves are allowed to suck 1-2 teats up to 6 months of age.
7. Feeding of concentrates: 1kg/2kg milk at the time of milking.
8. Feeding of roughages: 1/10^th of body weight per day.
9. Milking: should be done twice a day, however thrice a day milking gives higher milk yield.
10. Milking practice: Full hand milking should be done. Avoid knuckling.
11. Milk let down time: 4-5 minutes.

• Peculiarity of the breed:
  They have been used for crossbreeding with temperate (European) origin dairy breeds in many countries to combine their tropical adaptations (heat tolerance, tick resistance, disease resistance, fertility at higher temperatures, etc.) with the higher milk production found in temperate regions. It has been crossed with Jerseys in many places, including India, the United States, Australia, Sri Lanka, etc.
• Research highlights:
  Due to various tropical characteristics, the cattle prove to be an excellent choice for cross breeding with Jersey, Brown Swiss, Ayershire, for meat and milk production.