Taurine Cattle Breeds: A Key to Unlocking the Secrets of Ancient Agriculture

The use of draught cattle in farm operations has been a cornerstone of agriculture for centuries. These magnificent animals have been employed for various tasks such as ploughing, carting, tilling, sowing, weeding, water lifting, threshing, oil extraction, sugarcane crushing, and transport. However, with the increasing mechanization of agriculture, their role has become significantly reduced in advanced economies.

In South India, a region known for its rich agricultural heritage, the use of draught cattle is still prevalent. The availability of purebred semen for artificial insemination, incorporation of genomic/molecular information to identify purebred animals, and increased awareness among farmers are crucial factors that will help maintain breed purity, conserve, and improve these important draught cattle germplasms.

The study of South Indian zebu cattle has revealed several concerns, including the risk of endangerment due to small effective population size and high rate of inbreeding. Additionally, there is a lack of sufficient purebred zebu bulls for breeding, and an increasing level of taurine admixture in zebu cattle.

The results of this study indicate that additional sampling and comprehensive analysis of mtDNA control region variations are necessary to unravel the probable location of origin and domestication of I2 zebu lineage. The pairwise differences among the I2 haplotypes of South Indian cattle were found to be relatively higher than those of West Indian (Indus valley site) zebu cattle.

Two major maternal haplogroups, I1 and I2, typical of zebu cattle, were observed in this study. Interestingly, the former was found to be predominant over the latter. A significantly strong negative correlation coefficient of -0.674 (P6.25%) was observed in Punganur, Vechur, Umblachery, and Pulikulam cattle breeds.

The diversity of South Indian cattle was found to be moderately high, with a comprehensive report on the genetic diversity, population structure, admixture, and mitochondrial DNA variation in South Indian draught type zebu cattle. This study highlights the importance of preserving these valuable resources for future generations and underscores the need for further research into the genetics and conservation of taurine cattle breeds.

In conclusion, this study underscores the significance of taurine cattle breeds in agricultural production and their potential as a key to unlocking the secrets of ancient agriculture. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of preserving these valuable resources for future generations and highlight the need for further research into the genetics and conservation of taurine cattle breeds.

Taurine cattle breeds