Kumar, DhirendraFarid, Asma2022-11-142022-11-142022-09-21https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810189856Phenotypic characterization of local cattle population is important to provide overall picture of cattle genetic diversity. Local cattle population is mainly reared by small and marginal farmers in UT J&K. The present study was conducted with the objectives to study the phenotypic, morphometric, production & reproductive traits of the local cattle in Poonch & Rajouri districts of J&K. A stratified random sample survey was conducted in different blocks namely Poonch, Mandi, Loran, Sathra and surankote in Poonch district and five blocks of district Rajouri namely Rajouri, Darhal, Thanamandi, Budhal & Plangar. Data of total 120 animals (32 male & 88 females) were collected randomly from these blocks. From each district data of total 60 cattle of different age and sex were recorded for the study. Four different body colors i.e, black (B), white (W), brown (Br) & roan (Rr) were found. Statured cattle were categorized as short & medium. The forehead of this local cattle was concave in majority of the animals. Ears were horizontally oriented. In most of cases tail was almost touching the ground with a prominent tail switch in both the sexes. Hump size in local cattle varied from small to medium size in cows and medium to large size in bulls. Cattle from Poonch region were better in production traits like lactation length (200±3.4) days, milk yield per day (kg) (2.4±0.1) and lactation yield (450±9.1) kg than cattle from Rajouri region having lactation length (174±4.8) days, milk yield per day (kg) (1.7±0.08) and lactation yield (381±8.5) kg. Also, it was found that sex and age group (AG) had highly significant (P<0.01) effect on all morphometric traits i.e chest girth (CG), height at wither (HW) and body length (BL). However, geographical region had no significant effect on any of the morphometric traits. Further, concave forehead, long tail almost touching the ground & ears having horizontal orientation can be considered as distinguishing features of these cattle.EnglishThesis