National Initiative On Climate Resilient Agriculture

KANKREJ

Synonyms: Wadad or Waged, Vagadia, Talabda, Nagar and Bonnai s

Origin and Distribution: THE Kankrej is one of the heaviest breeds of cattle in India and     is found in southeast Rann of Kutch comprising Mehsana, Kutch,Ahmedabad, Kaira,     Sabarkantha and Banaskantha districts of Gujarat, and Barmer and Jodhpur districts of     Rajasthan. It takes its name from the name of a geographical area in north Gujarat.

Location and Topography: The area covered by this breed is roughly 18,000 km2 and     lies between 21° and 24° north latitude, and between 71° and 74° east longitude.

Soil:In the southwestern part of the region the soils are sandy loam and heavy black, hereas on the eastern side they are mostly sandy     with some sandy loam areas. In some areas, the soil is whitish-grey clay loam. The sub-soil is yellowish white.

Average rainfall: 50 to 76 cm and is usually concentrated during July to October.

Temperature: varies from 4°C in winter to 49°C in summer.

Temperature Humidity Index : Station wise THI for Kankrej Breed.(Click here)

Physical Characteristics:

    1)Colour :silver-grey to iron-grey or steel-black.

    2)In males: forequarters, hindquarters and hump are slightly darker than the rest of the body. Forehead is broad and slightly dished in     the centre. Face is short and nose slightly upturned. Ears are large, pendulous and open — characteristic of this breed. Horns are strong,     and curved outward and upward in a lyre-shaped fashion. They are covered with skin to a longer distance as compared to other breeds.     Polls, forequarters and hindquarters are rusty red in newborn calves, but the colour disappears later on. Hump is well developed. Dewlap     is thin and pendulous; sheath is pendulous. The gait of Kankrej is peculiar to the breed; the action is smooth, there is hardly any     movement of the body, the head is held noticeably high, the stride is long and even, and the hind hoof is placed well ahead of the     impression of fore hoof.

Morphometric and Performance Parameters:

    1) Body length, height and heart girth average: 148, 158 and 194 cm.

    2)Females: 113.6, 133.6 and 166.2 cm.

    3)Average birth weight: 23 kg (range 21-26 kg).

    4)Adult body weight: 500-- 550 kg in males and 325 -400kg in females.

    5)Average age at first calving: 1,438.1±10.95 days (range 1,030 to 1,700 days).

    6)Average milk yield: around 1,746 kg (range 1,097 to 3,194 kg). Lactation length averages: 294 days (range 275 to 350 days) Calving     Interval: around 490 days (range 407 to 639 days). Fat is around 4.8% (range 4.66 to 4.99%).