SUDHAKAR, K (MAJOR)VINOO, RJAGADEESWAR RAO, SSURENDRA, KORRAPATI2020-07-102020-07-102019-11http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810148963THESESThe present study was conducted on 255 animals belonging to Punganur breed and “Punganur type” cattle in order to establish the morphometric traits and to screen those two populations for known putative dwarf mutations. The coat colour in Punganur cattle was predominantly white (47%) followed by red (19%), combination of colours. Punganur animals were characterized by black muzzle, pigmented eye lids, black coloured hoofs, and flat forehead profile short ears horizontal in orientation with pointed tips. In majority of Punganur cattle horns are curved attaining crescent shape (71.6%) when fully grown, horns usually emerged sideward direction from top of the poll and oriented upwards, slightly forward or backward. Stumpy horns (17.9%), horns upward with sideward orientation (5.2%), and downwards (5.2%) were also observed. Small to medium sized cervico thoracic hump was observed. Udder was small and rounded or bowl in shape and having cylindrical teats. Teat tip was rounded in majority of animals. “Punganur type” animals were predominantly with white coat colors but black and broken colours are not uncommon. The pink and white muzzle and animals with loose horns and horns with irregular pattern are observed in this population. The mean height at withers in adult “Punganur type” animals was 96.75±1.03 cm and is significantly (p<0.05) high compared to Punganur animals (93.93±1.18 cm). The farm bred animals mean height at withers was 94.85±0.80 and in field animals was 95.83±1.44 cm, respectively. Least squares means for chest girth in adult Punganur was 132.28±1.78 and 133.95±1.56 cm in “Punganur type” animals. The corresponding value in farm and field animals were 122.93±1.20 and 143.30±2.17 cm respectively, which differed significantly (p<0.01). The mean tail length with switch in adult Punganur and “Punganur type” animals were 87.35±1.65 and 87.49±1.45 cm respectively. All the animals were screened for mutations in PRKG2, ACAN and EVC2 genes which are responsible for dwarfism in cattle. All the screened animals in both Punganur and “Punganur type” were of wild type without any mutations.ennullThesis