Research Potential of Nepalese Agriculture to adapt Climate Change

• Improvement of heat, drought, andpest-resistant crops
• Improvements in resources for irrigation efficiencies: drip and sprinkle irrigation.
• Research in water and nutrient management in various agroecologies to meet climate change.
• Research in green manuring crops cover crops to preserve soil moisture, soil organic matter, and micronutrients.
• Research on climate prediction-related models and their application
• Research on land use planning, watershed management, vulnerability assessment, and resource management.

Buffalo breeds and their characteristics:

A. Indigenous breeds

a. Lime:

• Believed to have originated from wild arna(bublis arnii) and then has been domesticated throughout.
• Light brown and relatively small in body size
• Small sicket-shaped horns curved towards the neck
• Founds in hilly regions with higher altitudes.
• Estimated at 35% of total Indigenous buffalo according to Rasali (2000)
• Have a gray coat color
• Have gray-brown or black skin color
• Have black muzzle
• Have brownish or white eyeballs
• Havea  whitish chevron mark around the neck

b. Parkote

1. Found in the Palpa district.
2. Typical buffalo of mid-hills and river valley
3. It is estimated that 25% of the Indigenous population of buffalo
4. Have a dark coat color
5. Have black skin color
6. Have black eyebrows, black muzzle
7. Have no chevron mark
8. The pure breed population is declining

c. Gaddi

1. Bigger in size found in inner terai and lower hilly region of Nepal
2. Efficient meat and milk production among Indigenous breed
3. The white patch on the forehead is the main distinguished feature of this animals
4. Horns are long, flat, and curved backward to the neck
5. Short and strong legs with broad hoofs
6. Have tough overlap and hump absent
7. Udder is rough and tears are cylindrical.

B. Erotic breeds of buffalo

a. Murrah

1. Originated in Rohtak, hisar and Jind of Hariyana and patiyala district of Punjab.
2. Dark black color,and  curved horns an important characteristics of this breed.
3. Average lactating yield is 1500-2500 liters: 6-7 liters/day, maximum 19 liters / day.
4. High fat content 7-8%
5. The body is massive, neck and hand are comparatively long
6. The age of first craving is 45-50 months
7. Weight of bull: 550 kg
8. Weights of female: 450-480 kgs

b. Surti:

1. Originated from Gujrat state of India
2. Body: wedge shape and medium size
3. Color: black or brown, some white marks on brisker
4. Horn: little curve, sickle-shaped
5. Milk yield: 1800 liters/lactation
6. Calving interval : 450 days

c. Nili rabi:

1. Originated in Punjab province
2. Body: massive and wedge-shaped
3. Weight: 800 kg male and 550 kg female
4. Color: Black
5. Horn: small and curved
6. Milk yield: 2000 liters/lactation
7. Calving interval : 450 days
8. Milk breed but bullock used for drought purposes

d. Jafrabadi

1. Originated from the air forest of Gujrat
2. Body: Large but hot compact
3. Color: Black
4. Horns: heavy inclined to drop on each side of the neck turning upward.
5. Milk yield: 1800-2200 liters/lactation
6. Calving interval: 480 days
7. Male can be used for draft purposes
8. Body weight: 455 kg
9. Cattle breeds and characteristics

C. Indigenous breeds

a. Siri

1. Found in eastern hills like Ilam, Pachter
2. Found at an altitude of 1200 m
3. Can produce 6 liters of milk / per day
4. The average body weighs 280 kg
5. Attain sexual maturing at about 3.5 years

b. Lulu

1. Found in manage, mustang and Dolpa.
2. Found at high altitude
3. Can produce 2 liters of milk per day
4. The average body weight is 225 kg
5. The number of pure breeds is declining

c. Aachhami

1. Found in western hilly region (aachham, bajura, bajhang)
2. Can produce 2 liters of milk per day
3. Average body weight 125 kg
4. Smallest breed in the world

d. Khaila

1. Found in far-western hilly region (doti, baitadi, dadeldhura)
2. Can produce 205 l milk per day
3. Average body weight is 80 kg
4. Attain sexual maturing at 4 years

e. Pahadi

1. Found in in Terai and hilly region across the country
2. Milk yield 205 l per day
3. Black in color
4. Bulls are used for draft purposes
5. Found in mountain regions above 300m
6. Milk 0.6 l per day

f. Chauri: milk yielder and Jhopkyos: sterile and good transportation

1. Sexual maturity at 5 years
2. Population is declining

D. Exotic breeds of cattle

a. Jersey

1. Originated in Channel Island of Jersey
2. Body: medium and compass, wedge-shaped.
3. Females are docile and males are furious
4. Milk yield: 4000 kg / lactation with 5% fat.
5. Male weight: 675 kg, female: 450 kg
6. Can tolerate tropical and humid climates.

b. Holestein Friesian

1. Developed in northern Netherlands (holland)
2. Body: massive and well built, wedge-shaped
3. Color: white marks on black body
4. Milk yield: 5500-6000 kg / lactation with 3% fat.
5. Large capacious udder with prominent milk with vein
6. Body weight: male: 1000 kg, female: 675 kg

c. Brown swiss

1. Originated in swiss Alps of Switzerland.
2. Body: wedge-shaped, compact.
3. Color: Brown.
4. Milk yield: 5000 kg/lactation with 4% fall.
5. Body weight: male 900 kg, female 650 kg.
6. Dual purpose ( milk and beef breed).

 d. Haryana :                   

1. Originated in Hariyana, Punjab province
2. Body: long and compact structure.
3. Color: white and grey
4. Milk yield: 600-800 kg/ lactation
5. Body weight: male 500 kg and female 350 kg.
6. Developed and sheath are small.
7. Well developed and compact udder.

e. Sahiwal :  

1. Originated in Punjab province of Pakistan.
2. Body deep, loose skin, short legs
3. color: red-brown with or without splashes
4. Milk yield: 2100-2200 kg/lactation.
5. Body weight: male 520 kg and female 350 kg.
6. It is also resistant to bloat and heat tolerant.

f. Red Sindhi:

1. Originated in Sindh province of Pakistan.
2. Body: Medium size, compact, and docile.
3. Color: Red, male are dark red.
4. Milk yield: 1250-1800 kg/lactation.
5. Boy weight: male 450 kg and female 235 kg.
6. Well-developed udder and, milk vein.

g. Ayrshire :

1. Originated from Ayrshire of Scotland.
2. Commonly found in finland , the U.K. , Canada , America , New Zealand , and Australia.
3. The body is covered with red and white strips.
4. Horns are wide and curved.
5. Spink (Backbone) is straight.
6. Milk production: 5000 kg per lactation with 4 % fat.
7. Adult cow weight 500-700 kg.
8. Adult ox weight 800-1000 kg.

C] Sheep :

A. Indigeneous breeds of sheep.

I) Lampuchre :

• Found in Terai region
• Long tail (up to 34 cm ), black color.
• Body length 63 cm, height 61 cm.
• Lambing once a year.
• Annual wool production: 0.25 -0.5 kg.
• Ram weight: 30-4 kg.
• Ewe weight: 20-35 kg.

ii) Kage :

• Found in hilly regions and inner Terai.
• Coarse wool is suitable for radi and pakhi.
• Body length: 62.5 cm, height 60 cm.
• Annual wool production: 0.3 -0.5 kg.
• Ram weight: 32 kg.
• Ewe weight: 22 kg.
• Age of first lambing: 18 months.

Iii) Baruwal :

• Reared in mid hills, western hilly region.
• Coarse wool producer.
• Body length 70.5 cm, height 65 cm.
• Age of first lambing : 24 months.
• Annual wool production: 0.5 -1.2 kg.
• Body weight: 35-45 kg.

iv) Bhyanglung :

• Found in high hills, and mountain regions.
• Only white.
• Body length: 65 cm, height 60 cm.
• Annual wool production: 0.8-1 kg.
• Age of first lambing : 24 months.

B. Exotic breed of sheep :

a. Merino (fine wool breed):

• Originated in Spain.
• Wrinkles or fold in skin.
• Ewes are polled while rams have large curved horns.
• The mass portion of the fore and hind legs are covered by wool.
• Can survive under adverse weather and grazing condition.
• It is the result of the long unbroken chain of breeding that extends back more than two centuries age.
• Have a single kid at the time.
• Mature Ram weight: 75 kg.
• Mature Ewe weight : 65 kg.
• Wool production: 9 kg annually.

b. Rambuillet :

• Descendant of the Spanish merino and was developed as a breed in France.
• Greater in size than Marino.
• Ewes are polled, and Ram have curved horns.
• Wool isa  long staple: fair density, uniformity ,and moderate shrinkage.
• Ewe are good mother, quite prolific.
• Ram weight 115 kg, Ewe weight: 60-70 kg.
• Annual fleece production is 4-5 kg.

c. Romney :

• Originated in England.
• Popular in New Zealand for wool and meat.
• Strong and well-developed body.
• Resistance to foot rot, liver fluke.
• Fleece production is 10 kg annually.
• Ram weighs 110 kg.
• Ewe weigh about 85 kg.

d.  Suffoclk :

• Domestic sheep from United Kingdom.
• Mainly raised for meat production.
• The body frame is large and highly muscular.
• Both Ram and Ewe are usually polled.
• Mature Ram weight 110-160 kg.
• Mature Ewe weigh 90-130 kg.

e. Damascus (Goat breed)

• Commonly found in Middle Eastern Asia.
• Originated in Cyprs-Lebanon and Syria.
• Good milk producer ( Milk breed)
• can give 3-4 kids per kidding.
• Red or Brown color, long neck, and long legs , and Prominent ears are common characteristics.
• Can produce 1.5 kg milk per day.
• Mature Buck weight 70-90 kg.
• Mature Ewe weigh 50-60 kg.

D] Goat :

A. Indigenous breed of goat :

I) Terai Goat (27 % of total total Nepali breed population )

• Found in western Terai.
• Has a roman nose and dropping ears.
• Color: white , black, spotted in body.
• Male weight: 32-35 kg.
• Female weight: 21-25 kg.
• Age of first kidding: 13-18 months.
• Litter size: 1.4

ii) Khari / hilly goat (56% population)

• Found in hilly regions across the country.
• Twins are common
• Short kidding interval 270 days.
• Male weight 30 kg, female 24 kg.
• Age of first kidding 12-17 months.
• Litter size 1.4

iii) Sinhal (16 % OF POPULATION )

• Found in the south of the high mountains.
• Reared for meat purpose.
• Boy weight: male 42 kg and female : 35 kg.
• Age of the first kidding: 15-20 months.
• Kidding interval: 325 days
• litter size: 1.1

iv ) Chyangra (1 % population )

• Found in hilly and mountain region
• Reared for meat and pashmina production
• Color varies from white to cream white
• Age of the first kidding 20-24 months.
• Kidding interval: 300-400 days.
• Litter size : 1.0

B. Exotic breed of goat :

I) Barberi :

• Originated in East Africa and Somali island.
• Body: small and compact
• Body weight: male: 35-40 kg, female: 25-35 kg.
• Reared in stall feeding condition.
• Ears are short and pointed outwards.
• Milk production is 2 kg/ day with high fat.

ii) Beetal :

• Originated in Amritsar and Ferojpur of Punjab.
• Roman Nose, long ears with bread in male
• Body weight male: 65 kg, Female: 45 kg.
• Single kid at one birth.
• It is the dual breed for milk and meat.

Iii) Jamunapari :

• It is dual purpose breed.
• Found in Itawah district of UP.
• Large prominent Roman nose with long ears.
• Well muscular; compact body with long limbs.
• Used for improvement of local breed.
• Adult body weight: 65-75 kg for males and 40-45 kg for females.
• Age of first kidding: 24 months
• Single kid at once.

Iv ) Kashmiri :

• Found in high hills of Kashmir and UP.
• Used for transportation in rural areas.
• Both males and females have beards and horns
• Adult body weight 65 kg male and 45 kg female.

v) Anglo hubian :

• Originated in Great Britain as a result of cross-breeding of British and Indian goats.
• Strong body structure and beautiful appearance.
• White, black, brown, or mixed with various colors.
• Mainly raised for milk but also produce meat.
• Long-sized pendulous ear hangs close tothe  head.
• Udder are large in size and well developed.
• Adult male Buck weight: 75-80 kg.
• Adult female Doe weight: 65 kg.
• Can produce 2 liters mof ilk per day with high fat and butter.

vi) Boer :

• Originated from South Africa.
• Highly meat-producing breeds.
• White coat color with red or brown heads.
• Have long and pendulous ears.
• Fast-growing goat breeds.
• High fertility rate as compared to other breeds.
• Suitable for commercial farming.
• Mature Boer male weight 110-135 kg.
• Mature Boer Female weight 90-100 kg.
• Produce single kid during kidding.

Vii) Sannen :

• Originated in the sannen valley of Switzerland.
• Generally white.
• Efficient milk producer.
• Barrel-shaped body, usually hornless.
• Can tolerate cool, dry ,and hilly climates.
• Can produce 3-4 liters of milk daily.