Narimaster Cattle Sibi

Beef Production Research Centre ( BRSC) Sibi

DR.MAZHAR KHAN KHAJJAK 

Livestock Development Officer

&      Beef Production Research Centre Sibi.

 The Beef Production Research Centre Sibi is focused on improving the genetic potential of native breeds for Beef production through cross breeding with well known beef breeds of the world. The BPRC Sibi was established in 1969 followed the long term cross breeding program with Droughtmaster cattle breed to develop native beef breed in Pakistan. In 60’s a consignment of Droughtmaster cattle was imported into Pakistan for having similar environmental conditions of Queensland, a Beef production Research Centre Sibi initiated research in 1969. The preliminary experiments carried out to select best indigenous cattle breed for beef production among Sahiwal, Thari and Bhagnari cattle breeds with Droughtmaster crosses. The results showed that birth weight, weaning weight and average daily gain in first cross were comparatively better in Bhagnari cattle. 

Bhagnari and Droughtmaster Outcross

 

Breeding Program for developing a Beef breed

The Droughtmaster is the Beef breed of Queensland, Australia which developed as a result of crossing Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus breeds. The Bos Indicus inheritance includes Red American Brahman and Afrikaner with some blood genetics of Santa Geratudis. The Bos Taurus inheritances include Devon, shorthorn, Hereford and Red Poll breeds.Droughtmaster cattle have good growth rate, fertility, docility and tick resistance.

Bhagnari and Droughtmaster cross

 

 The Bhagnari cattle breed is the heaviest drought breed of Pakistan which has its home tract in Sibi, Talli, Khajjak, Kachi, Dhadar, Bhag and Naseerabad territories. This breed has profound ability to survive in hot climate of the region, better conversion efficiency of poor nutritive roughage's, growth rate and mothering instinct are specialties of this breed. A long term cross breeding program for three generations ( crosses) was chalked out to combine the unique characteristics of both breeds of the world. In first cross male drought master mated with female Bhagnari cow. The resultant first cross was having 50% genetics of each breed. In second cross female animals of first cross were bred with male Bhagnari Bull.Consequently the resultant progeny had 25% characteristics of Droughtmaster and 75% of Bhagnari cattle. In third cross female animals of second cross were selected to be bred with drought master bull. The obtained progeny was having 62.5% genetics of drought master and 37.5% of Bhagnai cattle. This resultant progeny named as “Narimaster”. After completion of breeding plan, Narimaster animals were crossed within its population for fixation of characteristic by adopting culling and selection process. The baseline strength of 300 animals of this breed obtained almost two decades ago and is being maintained in farm at BPRC, Sibi. 

Narimaster Bull

 

Breed Characteristics of Narimaster

In its breed characteristics Narimaster has reddish dun color with some percentage of light red color. In our tropical conditions red color imparts beneficial effects on the health of animals. It protects cattle from the harmful rays of the sun which results in less or no incidence of eye cancer and pink eye. These animals are typically polled however horned animals can also be observed which facilitates easy handling and management of the herd. It has wide frame and muscular body structure. The hump is moderate to small and dewlap is loose enough. The more hide length and area more will be the sweat glands. As evaporation is the main mechanism of regulation of temperature, hence Narimaster cattle suffer less and well adapted to hot weather conditions of the region. Narimaster cattle are quite and docile in behavior. This quality makes them to consume less energy and grow better and produce more beef. It has good foraging ability and can be managed on maintenance ration with moderate growth rate. Its beef cuts has fine blend of tenderness and juiciness.

Potential of “Narimaster” as Beef breed

Narimaster has comparatively better birth weight, weaning weight and pre-weaning growth rate than indigenous cattle breeds. However the published work in hand did not represent the true potential of the developed beef breed. The plausible reasons are under feeding of animals particularly at pre-weaning stage. Hence true potential of the Narimaster can be obtained by proper feeding of calves at early stage so that they could express its worth at later stage. In these conditions a study was conducted under NARS-B project.