Comparative Morphometric Analysis of Sahiwal and Gir Cattle Based on Linear Body Measurements

Abstract

In order to produce large amounts of milk, dairy animals are now raised in contemporary intensive systems, which unduly strains the animals' capacity to maintain their bodies in the face of changing climate conditions. To enhance each animal's performance, various selection criteria are applied. Understanding structural variation, functional efficiency, and breed-specific adaptive traits requires morphometric characterization of native cattle breeds. The goal of the current study was to use statistical analysis to compare the linear body measurements of two well-known native dairy breeds in India: Sahiwal and Gir cattle. Under comparable management circumstances, a total of 48 adult cows—24 from each breed—were chosen and examined. Various morphometric traits including body length, heart girth, paunch girth, height at withers, top line length, ear length, neck girth, tail length, rump width, were recorded using standard procedures. Gir cattle exhibited significantly higher values for height at withers (141.96 cm), ear length (38.83 cm), neck girth (122.17 cm), tail length (119.75 cm), rump width (46.83 cm), and top line length (189.46 cm), indicating their larger skeletal framework and adaptability to harsh environments. In contrast, Sahiwal cattle showed significantly higher heart girth (179.21 cm) and paunch girth (197.21 cm), reflecting superior body capacity associated with dairy productivity. The findings of the present study highlight distinct breed-specific morphometric patterns, which can be effectively utilized in genetic improvement, breed characterization, and conservation strategies of indigenous cattle.