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Organic animal husbandry of Achham cattle, world’s smallest cattle breed
DEVENDRA PRASAD BHANDARI
Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences (IAAS), Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal.
email: bhdevendraa@gmail.com
Abstract
Achham cattle are the smallest indigenous cattle breed of the world with population 863 (DLSO Achham)
and less than 1m tall, registered in Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) found only in Khaptad buffer
zone, Achham district of Nepal. The major constraints regarding these precious and important breeds
are; low level of management, lack of appropriate breeding strategy, cross breeding, least empha- sis on
research and exploration, decreased interest of the farmers towards livestock farming, illegal trade to
Tibet for slaughter, etc, due to which the breed is in critically endangered condition. This disease
resistance milch breed can be reared in low input system in wide range of climatic condi- tions (5-400C).
These constraints have left opportunities for the organic farming of the Achham cattle. Different
activities that can be undertaken are; selection of the superior individuals for the milk yield, provision of
balanced organic feed supplement, sanitation, administration of the conven- tional herbal and ayurvedic
medicines for disease management, disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerance, in-situ conservation
of the breed, policy to reduce the illegal trade to Tibet, com- mercialization of the breeds and its organic
products in the national and international market. Another virgin topic that has to be done is its publicity
and advertisement and best suitable breed for the organic farming. This breed can be improved as the
organic breed as work has to be done from root level.
Key words: Achham cattle, organic animal breeding, in-situ conservation and ex situ conservation
Introduction:
Sustainable animal husbandry is considered as positive future way out (Lin et al., 2003), that stres- ses on
the resilience ability of ecological biodiversity. In the hills fodder trees and straw along with negligible
concentrate comprises the diet of these animals (Kaphle and Devkota, 2000), while con- centrate feed is
available to high producing animals. Twelve percent of this is exotic (pure and cross bred) and the rest
indigenous (Neopane et al., 2005).
In Nepal there are most notably seven indi- genous cattle breeds identified. They are Terai cattle, Lulu,
Pahadi, Siri, Khailia, Achham and Yak (Neopane et al., 2005). Achham cattle (Bos indicus) are considered
as rare breed of cattle (FAO online, 2008) and smallest breed of cattle in the world (NARC, 2008).
Achham cattle provide food (milk) to farmers, power for agricultural operations and manure for
maintaining and enhancing soil fertility (FAO et al, 1993/1994). These indigenous Achham cattle
represents a small proportion of total cattle population and are mostly found in Achham, Bajhang,
Bajura, and Doti Districts of Western Nepal mid and high hills (Neopane, 2002).They are known as Sano
Gai (Sano= small and Gai = cattle in Nepali) or Naumuthe Gai meaning Small cattle (Neopane et al.,
2005). This can be a suitable breed for low input system mainly in hills (Shrestha et al., 1996).
Achham cattle as being the smallest breed are less than 1 meter in height at withers. They are suita- ble
for hill conditions and low input system. Body color varies from black to white i.e. black, brown, grey,
white, spotted black and white. Ear is straight with an average length of 17 cm. Its temperament varies
from docile to wild. The wither height of Achham cattle was 90.8 ± 0.96 cm at the age of 9 years.
Similarly maximum body weight and body length were 149.38 ± 5.1 kg and 98.07 ± 1.52 cm respectively
at the age of 8 years (ABD, 1995).
Table 1. Phenotypic characteristics of Achham Cattle (means ± standard errors in cm)
Parameters Achham Cattle
Body length 92.10 ± 1.23
Heart girth 118.60 ± 1.40
Height at wither 90.80 ± 0.96
Height at hip bone 88.50 ± 0.76
Head length 33.20 ± 0.54
Tail length 72.42 ± 1.26
Horn length 3.0
Ear length 16.80 ± 0.28
Neck length 30.80 ± 0.66
Loin length 115.40 ± 1.65
Barrel height from ground 44.80 ± 0.72
Four legs above knee 32.10 ± 0.46
Four legs below knee 26.70 ± 0.42
Rear legs above knee 34.80 ± 0.53
Rear legs below knee 32.80 ± 0.46
Adult body weight (Kg) 125.00 ± 7.46
Source: Neopane et al. (2005); Shrestha et al. (1996)
Table 2. Productive and reproductive performance of Achham cattle (means, ± Standard errors)
Parameters Achham
Cattle Age at 1st service (Months) 48(36-60)
Age at 1st calving (Months) 60(48-72)
Gestation length (days) 285 ± 1.80
Calving intervals (Months) 17(12-24)
Average daily milk yield (Liters) 1.5 ± 0.22(1-4)
Lactation length (days) 225(180-270)
Source: Neopane et al. (2005); Shrestha et al. (1996)
Though it has manifold valuable traits that are better than other cattle breeds, its number is decli- ning
day by day. It is sure that in near future these cattle will remain only in papers. So, it is the time for the
every stakeholder of livestock and conservationists to think and take actions towards the conservation of
this breed. Population declining rapidly due to cross breeding while grazing with other breeds, out-
migration/ export to Tibet for slaughter and socio economic reasons.
Methodology:
Following measures should be undertaken to conserve Achham cattle like other endanger cattle breeds:
Survey on the status of breed:
First step that should be taken is to conduct survey on the real status of the cattle in the pocket areas.
Data should be generated on the various factors like the number of the cattle, number of pure breed,
number of cross breed, diseases that mostly responsible for their reduction in number and quality,
existing farming practice, and other factors.
Selection of the genetically pure stocks and breeding strategy:
From the breed population of Achham cattle, prolific pure breeder bull and cow should be selected on
the basis of the physical and reproductive characters. About 5-10 bull and 50 cows can be selected
according to their superiority over other individuals. These all selected individuals should be managed in
a farm.
In the farm, focus on the natural breeding should be given and should be avoided the cross bree- ding/
out breeding with other breeds. Parents of previous cross should be culled out from the herd. Among
the progenies, again selection should be done to obtain the pure breeds; this can be done for 2-3
generation. Finally we select pure breed of Achham cattle for the purpose of breeding purpose with
another breeds to get the hybrids which can benefit important characters of the Achham cattle.
At the same time, focus should be given to maintain this important cattle genotype. The AI and ET
should be avoided during the breeding process to retain totally organic cattle breed of achham cattle.
When pure breed of Achham cattle will be obtained, then there will wide range of opportunity to take
consideration in its improvement in productivity. Crossing with other superior varieties in respect to
productivity or milk yield will eventually give hybrid, of Achham cattle and crossed breeds, with perfects
traits like disease resistance, small in height, high milk yield, and so on.
In-situ and ex-situ conservation:
For its conservation, the local environment of Achham, Doti, Bajhang and bajura should be prima- rily
utilized. In addition to this, similar environment can be used to conserve this breed anywhere of Nepal
and in foreign countries. These approaches of conservation not only conserve the declining population
of the cattle but also help in the dissemination of this breed in variable environments of the world.
Feeding:
Feeding arrangement should be done so that cow gets enough nutrients required for different stages of
developments. Generally, pasture feeding should be encouraged, besides to this feeds like straw, silage,
cereals, concentrates can be supplemented. This is because most of the cattle in the popula- tion are
now malnourished so gives bad performance.
Stop the illegal trade:
From various studies, it is found that this breed of cattle is traded to Tibet illegally. This practice should
be discouraged to conserve the infinitesimal number of remaining Achham cattle. There should be the
provision of law to the illegal trader.
Awareness program and dissemination of its importance:
One of the major factors behind the decrease in the number of this cattle from the Far western regi- on
of Nepal is due to the socio economic reasons. Local cow raisers are discouraged because of its low
productivity and due to the low income from this breed. These necessities the awareness pro- gram
simultaneous to the improvement of these cattle breeds with desired characters. The importance of this
breed should be made clear to the local raisers and also this information should be dissemi- nated to
various conservationists and related stakeholders.
Conclusion:
Review of the different papers and the real status of the Achham cattle seek its conservation from us
because its number and genotype is in great risk. If any measures towards its conservations and im-
provements are not undertaken, Achham cattle will be limited to the pages of the journals and in history.
Local farmers of its native habitat were continuously working for its conservation but their efforts are not
working effectively. So, it’s our time to take a way to conserve it now. The best way to conserve them and
utilize the genotype for the breeding program can be effectively achieved by the organic breeding
method and in-situ and ex-situ conservation approach. Organic breeding should include selection of the
superior individuals, crossing among themselves and again selection within progeny; cross progeny to
obtain pure breed. But there should be taken equal consideration to avoid out breeding. Final progenies
should be maintained and multiplied. These afterwards should be used to get the superior breeds
including the high milking character of another breed and disease resistance, short height, tolerance to
extreme environment characters of the Achham cattle.
Conservation in its natural or native environment can significantly help to increase its number. In
addition, another approach for conservation i.e. ex-situ conservation should be done in the diverse
climatic condition around the world. Dissemination of the breed to the different environment around
the world will itself aid to its conservation.
Reference:
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