Kankrej Cattle Breed – Everything You Need to Know

Table of Contents

1 KANKREJ BREED OF CATTLE QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
2 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
3 COW BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION
4 CATTLE MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION
5 CATTLE SKIN PRODUCTION INFORMATION
6 HISTORY
7 Video
8 USEFUL LINKS

Kankrej cattle are a hard-working cattle breed from India. They are considered to be the heaviest of the Indian cattle breeds are used a lot in operations such as road transport maintenance in villages and also for a lot of agricultural operations. They are quite lively and active animals with a lot of lean muscle and very powerful being highly adaptive and heat tolerant.

KANKREJ BREED OF CATTLE QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
The Kankrej breed of cattle is a very hard working cattle breed with the bulls working the roads or fields while the cows tend to the young and produce milk for the villagers.
Country of Origin:	India
Other Names:	Kankara, Nagar, Bannai, Wagad, Vaghiyar, Waged, Vadhiyar, Wadiar, Wadial, Wadhir
Main Purpose:	Milk and draft
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Can be used for	Breed, Milk, Draft
Ideal Climate:	Heat, Cold, Most Climates
Conservation Status:	Not listed by the *ALC
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Cattle?	Novice to intermediate Cattle farmer/keeper level
Cattle Associations:	Unclear – Please check with the American Dairy Association, National Association of Animal Breeders, Beef Cattle Breed Associations or The Beef Industry’s Information Center
Cattle Clubs:	Unclear – Please check with the American Dairy Association, National Association of Animal Breeders, Beef Cattle Breed Associations or The Beef Industry’s Information Center
Where to buy them?	Unclear – Please check with the American Dairy Association, National Association of Animal Breeders, Beef Cattle Breed Associations or The Beef Industry’s Information Center
Child Friendly?	Livestock should not be left unattended around unsupervised children
General Information:	The Kankrej have been exported to countries such as Latin America, Brazil and the southern states of America. The Kankrej cattle breed have played quite a significant part in the meat industry of the world in that the Brahman breed of cattle was derived from the cross-breeding of the Kankrej with some other cattle breeds.
Note: *ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Kankrej cattle have a long lithe body with the males being a lot more muscular and leaner than the females with a more pronounced hump between their shoulders. They have a broad chest with a tight dewlap and long lender but hardy and strong legs.

Size:

Medium

CATTLE ⇒	COW	BULL
Breed Color:	They are grey or a light to dark silver	They are grey or a light to dark silver
Breed Weight:	431 kgs	590 kgs
Breed Height:	Unclear	Unclear
Horns:	They have medium sized horns that grow out and the curve up	They have medium sized horns that grow out and the curve up
Temperament:	They are hardworking, active and obedient	Hard working, active and obedient. Bulls can be dangerous and should be treated with caution at all times
Matures at age:	6 to 8 months or 9 + months	6 to 8 months or 9 + months
Puberty Age:	6 to 15 months	9 to 1o months
Breeding Age:	13 to 15 months	1 year
Breeding Traits:	See Cow breeding & Milking Info	Cover 25 to 30 Cows in 1 season

COW BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION
Most Cattle produce milk but not all of them are used in the dairy Cattle capacity for their milk. Cows only calve once a year and should have 12 to 14-month inter-calving cycle. The cows are used for their nutritious milk qualities and are very good mothers. They have great maternal instincts and will protect their young at all costs. They are fertile and give easy births to robust calves.
Breeding Period/cycle:	Usually lasts 6 to 24 hours Most ave. 12 to 16 hours Cows usually come on heat every 21 days.
Estrous cycle:	Ave. 17 days to 24 days Heifer – usually ave. 20 days Cows – usually ave. 21 days
Gestation Period:	Usually, around 279 to 287 days but most gestation is 283 days. Cows that are carrying bull calf’s their gestation period is usually a little longer than cows that are carrying heifer calves.
No. Calves/Litter:	1 calf at a time. Cows rarely have twins or triplets, but it can happen
Lactation Period:	Cows lactation period can last for up to about 10 months (305) days.
Milking From:	1 to 6 weeks after Calving
Drying off Period:	The cow should have a 12 to 14-month inter-calving cycle. Drying off period for around 60 days before she can calve again.
Milk Quality:	Good, Butterfat = 4.8% Quantity: 1738 kgs Per: Lactation period
Milk Ideal for:	Calves, drinking, and various dairy products
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CATTLE MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Most Cattle breeds can be used for meat and produce an acceptable quality of meat. The Kankrej are not bred or used for their meat production in India.

Meat Production?

N/A

CATTLE ⇒	VEAL	BEEF
Ave. Maturity Age:	6 to 8 months	9 months up to 4 years

CATTLE SKIN PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Most meat Cattle will have a skin by-product, and these are usually used in some form or just as a hide. The Kankrej cattle breed are not used for their skins

Skin Production?

N/A

Skin is used to Produce:

Calf/cow skin leather products such as shoes, car seats, fine leather coats, gloves, handbags, belts, furniture, rugs, etc.

CATTLE ⇒	CALF	ADULT
Age they Produce from:	6 to 8 months for Calf skin 1 to 2 years old for Normal leather	9 months + for Cattle skin 1 to 2 years old for Normal leather

HISTORY

The Kankrej cattle breed originate from Rann of Kutch in the state of Gujarat and in the neighboring Rajasthan. It is an arid region with a challenging grazing environment of which the Kankrej have adapted and become accustomed to grazing on.

Kankrej cows and bulls were exported to Brazil from around 1870 where they are extensively used in draft situations. They are very resistant to tick fever, the heat stress and are being maintained in large numbers as pure bred in Brazil.