Sahiwal cattle

{{Short description|Pakistani/Indian breed of cattle}}

{{infobox cattle breed

| name = Sahiwal

| image = Sahiwala 02 (cropped).JPG

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| image_caption =

| image2 =

| image_size2 =

| image_alt2 =

| image_caption2=

| status = {{ubl|FAO (2007): not at risk{{r|barb|p=145}}|DAD-IS (2025): not at risk{{r|dad1|dad2}}}}

| altname = {{ubl|Lambi Bar|Lola|Montgomery|Ravi|Teli{{r|nddb|dad1}}}}

| country = {{ubl|India|Pakistan}}

| distribution = 27 countries in 4 continents

| standard =

| use = {{ubl|dairy|meat|draught}}

| weight =

| maleweight = average 544 kg{{r|dad1}}

| femaleweight = average 408 kg{{r|dad1}}

| height =

| maleheight = 170 cm{{r|dad1}}

| femaleheight = 130 cm{{r|dad1}}

| skincolour =

| coat = reddish dun

| horn = horned

| subspecies = indicus

| note =

}}

The Sahiwal is a breed of zebuine cattle indigenous to the Indian Subcontinent. It is named after Sahiwal District of the Punjab province of present-day Pakistan,{{r|nddb}} and is distributed mainly in that province of Pakistan and in the Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

History

The Sahiwal has been exported to many countries. These include: Burundi, the Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Mali, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, the Seychelles and Uganda in Africa; Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam in Asia: Australia and New Zealand in Oceania; and Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Jamaica, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago and Zambia in America.{{r|dad0|ilri}} Seven countries have reported population data in recent years, and from this the world population is estimated to be about {{val|4.25|u=million}};{{r|dad0}} Pakistan has not reported population numbers since 2006, when the total herd numbered over {{val|2.75|u=million}} head.{{r|dad1}} The large numbers reported may include cross-bred as well as pure-bred stock.{{r|cabi|p=288}}

Characteristics

The Sahiwal is of small to medium size:{{r|felius|p=386}} in Pakistan, average body weights are {{val|544|u=kg}} for bulls and {{val|408|u=kg}} for cows, while heights at the withers are {{val|170|u=cm}} and {{val|130|u=cm}} respectively;{{r|dad1}} in India cows are reported to be considerably smaller, with an average weight of {{val|327|u=kg}} and withers height of {{val|124|u=cm}}.{{r|dad2}} The coat is a reddish dun, sometimes with white markings.{{r|nddb}} In bulls, the hump is large and may lean to the side; the crown of the head is domed, particularly in bulls; and the horns are small.{{r|cabi|p=288}} It is a heat-tolerant cattle breed.{{r|ht}}

Use

It is a triple-purpose breed, reared for its milk, for its meat and for draught work.{{r|felius|p=386}} It has been much used for cross-breeding, often with European dairy breeds such as the Friesian and Jersey.{{r|cabi|p=288}} It has contributed to the development of a number of other breeds, among them the Australian Friesian Sahiwal or Australian Frieswal, the Australian Milking Zebu, the Australian Sahiwal, the Frieswal, the Jamaica Hope, the Karan Swiss, the Kenya Sahiwal, the Mpwapwa and the Quasah.{{r|mason|p=101|felius|p2=586}}

References

{{commonscat}}

{{reflist|refs=

Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20200623201209/http://www.fao.org/3/a1250e/annexes/List%20of%20breeds%20documented%20in%20the%20Global%20Databank%20for%20Animal%20Genetic%20Resources/List_breeds.pdf List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources], annex to: [https://web.archive.org/web/20170110125634/http://www.fao.org/3/a-a1250e.pdf The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture]. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. {{isbn|9789251057629}}. Archived 23 June 2020.

Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). [https://books.google.it/books?id=2UEJDAAAQBAJ&hl=en Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding] (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. {{isbn|9781780647944}}.

[https://dadis-transboundary-ext-ws.web.app/?species=Cattle&transboundary=Sahiwal&lang=en Transboundary breed: Sahiwal]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2025.

[https://dadis-breed-datasheet-ws.firebaseapp.com/?country=PAK&specie=Cattle&breed=Sahiwal&external=1&lang=en Breed data sheet: Sahiwal / Pakistan (Cattle)]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2025.

[https://dadis-breed-datasheet-ws.firebaseapp.com/?country=IND&specie=Cattle&breed=Sahiwal&external=1&lang=en Breed data sheet: Sahiwal / India (Cattle)]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2025.

Marleen Felius (1995). [https://books.google.it/books?id=iXImAQAAMAAJ&hl=en Cattle Breeds: An Encyclopedia]. Doetinchem, Netherlands: Misset. {{isbn|9789054390176}}.

Parampreet Singh Narula (6 May 2016). [http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/for-desi-breed-sahiwal-punjab-luring-farmers-with-special-benefits-rashtriya-gokul-mission-indigenous-cow-breed/story-MTquWIOvaOfTZgiHkyiDTM.html For desi breed 'Sahiwal', Punjab luring farmers with special benefits]. Hindustan Times. Accessed June 2025.

C. Devendra (1997). [https://books.google.it/books?id=BRnoK4OAodsC&pg=PA33&hl=en Improvement of Livestock Production in Crop-animal Systems in Rainfed Agro-ecological Zones of South-East Asia]. Nairobi: International Livestock Research Institute. {{isbn|9789291460311}}.

Valerie Porter, Ian Lauder Mason (2002). [https://archive.org/details/masonsworlddicti0000unse/page/101/mode/1up Mason's World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types, and Varieties] (fifth edition). Wallingford: CABI. {{isbn|085199430X}}.

[https://www.dairyknowledge.in/article/sahiwal Sahiwal]. Dairy Knowledge Portal. Anand, Gujarat: National Dairy Development Board. Accessed June 2025.

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{{Cattle breeds of India}}

{{Cattle breeds of Pakistan}}

Category:Livestock in Punjab

Category:Cattle breeds originating in India

Category:Cattle breeds originating in Pakistan

Category:Dairy cattle breeds

Category:Fauna of Pakistan

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