Rathi cattle

Rathi
Cow
Bull
Conservation status
  • FAO (2007): not at risk: 58 
  • DAD-IS (2024): not at risk
Country of originIndia
DistributionThar Desert, Rajasthan
Usedairy: 4 
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    386 kg: 278 
  • Female:
    327 kg: 278 
Height
  • Female:
    115 cm: 278 
Coatusually brown with patches of white: 133 
  • Cattle
  • Bos (primigenius) indicus

The Rathi (Hindi:राठी) is an Indian breed of dairy cattle. It originates in the state of Rajasthan, and is found principally in the Thar Desert, in the Bikaner, Ganganagar and Jaisalmer districts of the state. It is particularly numerous in the tehsil of Lunkaransar, in Bikaner District. In 2022 the total number of the cattle was estimated at 878852–1169828 head.

It is named for the nomadic Rath people of that area, who move with their cattle according to the available pasture and water resources, and depend on sales of cattle, ghee and milk for their living.: 133 

It is quite distinct from the white or grey Rath breed of draught cattle similar to the Hariana, described in 1909 and again in 1953: 134  in the Alwar district of eastern Rajasthan – some 400 km from the range of the Rathi breed – for which no modern status data is available.: 131 : 278 

Use

Milk yield is approximately 1530 kg in a lactation of 309 days; the milk has a fat content of 5.3%.

References

  1. ↑ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Breed data sheet: Rathi / India (Cattle). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 2024.
  3. ↑ [Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying] (2005). Country Report on Animal Genetic Resources of India, archived 22 August 2021. Annex to: Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 10 January 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
  5. 1 2 3 A.E. Nivsarkar, P.K. Vij, M.S. Tantia (2000). Animal Genetic Resources of India: Cattle and Buffalo. New Delhi: Indian Council of Agricultural Research. ISBN 9788171641253.
  6. 1 2 3 Rathi. Dairy Knowledge Portal. Anand, Gujarat: National Dairy Development Board. Archived 15 April 2024.
  7. ↑ N.R. Joshi, Ralph W. Phillips (1953). Zebu Cattle of India and Pakistan. FAO Agriculture Studies No. 19. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.