# Comparative analysis of the physical and phenotypic traits of native cattle (Bos indicus) in the Tarai region of North Bihar for conservation

## TL;DR

This study analyzed the physical traits of native cattle in Bihar's Tarai region to support conservation and breeding programs.

## Contribution

The study provides baseline morphometric and phenotypic data for Tarai cattle to aid in breed identification and conservation.

## Key findings

- Tarai cattle are small breeds with significant sex-based differences in height, body weight, and heart girth.
- Females have lower milk yields compared to other Indian draught cattle, with an average lactation yield of 680.2 kg.
- The data can guide the establishment of selective breeding programs for Tarai cattle.

## Abstract

The evaluation of the phenotypic and morphological characteristics of indigenous breeds may help to frame breeding policies and plans to implement breed conservation and improvement programs to increase the efficiency of the native breed of the Tarai region. This study aimed to determine the phenotypic and morphological characteristics of indigenous cattle of the Tarai region of North Bihar.

A field study was undertaken in 32 villages belonging to 13 blocks of the East and West Champaran districts of Bihar. Animals (n = 562) of different age groups were studied to evaluate their phenotypic and morphological characteristics.

It revealed that cattle of the Tarai region are small breeds, and the heights at withers in the females and males were 104.2 ± 0.32 cm and 115 ± 0.27, respectively, with a significant (p = 0.000) difference between sexes. In addition, heart girth was significantly (p = 0.000) higher in males than females. Body length and chest girth were 101.6 ± 0.13 cm and 132.6 ± 0.25 in adult females and 114.8 ± 0.23 cm and 145.7 ± 0.15 cm in adult males, respectively. Body weight also differed significantly (p = 0.001), with 180.9 ± 1.12 and 208.7 ± 1.91 cm for females and males, respectively. Among the draught animals of India, the region cows were comparatively low milkers, with an average lactation yield of 680.2 ± 4.52 kg with a mean lactation length of 224.5 ± 2.06 days and a peak yield of 3.4 ± 0.06 kg/day. The age at first calving and calving interval of Tarai cattle was recorded 32.4 ± 0.22 months and 16.2 ± 0.12 months, respectively.

The results of this study could serve as a potential guide for the establishment and identification of new cattle breeds based on the phenotypic and morphometric characteristics of the cattle in Tarai region of North Bihar using baseline data. The data generated from this study can be useful for new Tarai breed identification and serve to establish long-term selective breeding programs for Tarai cattle in the region.