UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

PERFORMANCE OF GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS

NOR AZMAN HAJI NGAH

FPV 1989 3

PERFORMANCE OF GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS

By

NOR AlMAN RAJ 1 NGAH

A Thesis Subaitted in Fulfil.ent of the Requireaents for the Degree of Master of Science in

the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Ani.al Science

Universiti Pertanian Malaysia

October 1989

This thesis is dedicated to

.Y wife. Zuriyani binti Yusof

.y two sona, Nor Azrin and Nor Azrai

and .y late daughter, Allahyarha.ah Azyan Hafra

for their patience. understanding and acral support.

ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I �ould like to express my gratitude to my supervisor,

Associate Professor Dr . Haji Mohd Hilmi bin Haji Abdullah of

the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary

Medicine and Animal Science, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia for

his keen interest, continous guidance, support and

encouragement rendered throughout the duration of this study.

I am grateful to Yang Berbahagia Datuk Dr. Ahmad Mus t a f f a

bin Haji Babjee, Director General of Veterinary Services for

granting the permission to use the facilities available at

Rancangan Daging Penusu Padang Hijau, Kluang , the trust and

encouragement given in conducting the breeding of the gaur x

cattle hybrids (Selembu) at the farm.

Special thanks are extended to Associate Professor Dr. Ali

bin Rajion, Professor M . R . Jainudeen, Professor P . K . Baseut and

staff at the Department 01 Animal SCience, universiti

Pertanian Malaysia for their valuable suggestions and

constructive criticism during the final preparation of this

iii

manuscript. Special thanks are also extended to Dr. Nazri bin

Salim for his guidance on the statistical analaysis and to Dr .

Mohd Zamri bin Saad for his precious time in the final editing

of this manuscript .

Sincere appreciation is given to En. Amat bin Aswadi of

the National Artificial Insemination Center , Kluang for his

assistance in the semen collection and evaluation. Further

acknowledgements are also due to En. Ahmad bin Mahamood, Dr.

Rosli bin Awaluddin, Dr. Abdul Latif bin Borhan and all the

staff of Rancangan Daging Penusu Padang Hijau for their help

and involvement directly or indirectly in conducting the

research and collection of data in the Seleqbu breeding

programme at the Padang Hijau Farm, Kluang. Further

acknowledgements are also due for the Zoo Negara, Kelang and

the Department of Wildlife and National Parks for their

assistance in the study involving the gaur.

The stenographic service of Puan Sohaila binti Abdul Karim

in the preparation 01 this thesis is greatly appreciated .

This manuscript and the work it represents could not have

been achieved without the patience, undestanding and moral

support of my wife, Zuriyani and .y two wonderful sons, Nor

Azrin and Nor Azrai.

iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

ACKNOWLEDGElIENTS i i i

LIST OF TABLES ix

LIST OF FIGURES xi

LIST OF PLATES xii

LIST o r ABBREVIATIONS xiv

ABSTRACT xv

ABSTRAK xvii

CHAPTER

1

2

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

LITERATURE REVIEW 7

Zoological Position of the Gaur and Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . 1

Breeds and Types of Gaur and Cattle .... ... 10

Phenotypic Features of Gaur and Cattle . . . . 1 2

World Distribution o f Gaur . . . . . . .... ...... 14

Numerical Distribution of Gaur in Malaysia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . 15

Chromosome Complement of Gaur. Caltle and Their Hybrids . . . . . . . . . • • • • • . . . . 16

Interspecific Hybridization . . . . . . . • • • • . . . . 1 9

"ale Reproductive Status . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . 22

Breeding Soundness Evaluation . . . . • • . . . . . . . 23

v

Libido . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Jlating Behaviour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Scrotal Circuaference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Se.en Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . 28

Interpretation of Breeding Soundness Evaluation ...................... .'. . .. . . . . 33

Testicular Histology ... . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Performance under Natural Mating . . . . .. . . . . 34

Growth Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Liveveight at Different Ages .... . . . . . ..... 35 Birth Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Weaning Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Yearling Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Average Daily Gain . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Experimental Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

3 EXPERIMENT 1 COMPARISOM OM THE PHEMOTYPIC FEATURES OF THE GAUR, X CATrLE mRIDS AlfD THE SABIVAL-FRIESIAlf CROSSBRED CATrLE

Introduction 42

Naterial and Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Results Phenotype of the Gaur .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Phenotype of Sahival-Friesian Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . 48 Phenotype of Gaur x Cattle Hybrids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

vi

4 EXPERIMENT 2: EVALUATION AND COMPARISON OF THE

GRONTH PERFORMANCE BETNEEN GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS AND SANIWAL-FRIESIAN CROSSBRED CATTLE

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • S9

Material and Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . S9 Ani_als . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Manage.ent of Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . 60

Results

Mean Liveweights at Different Ages • . • • • . • • . . • • . . • • . • • • . . • • . . • • . • • 6S Average Daily Gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Percentage Advantage in Li veweight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . 69 Growth Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Discussion

Potential of Gaur x Cattle Hybrids as Meat Producers . . . . • • • • • • • 73 Growth Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • • • . 77

Su .. ary and Conclusion . . . . . . .... .... ...... 19

5 EXPERIMENT l: EVALUATION AND COMPARISON OF THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE STATUS OF GAUR X CATTLE HYBRID AND SlBlfAL-FRIESIAH CROSSBRED CATTLE

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . 80

Materials and aethods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . 81 Libido and Mating Abil i ty . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Libido Scoring System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . 82 Mating Ability Scoring System . . . . . . • • . 83 Testicular growth . . . . . . . . ............. 84 SeMen Evaluation and Collection . . . . . • . 84 Seaen Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . 81 Breeding Soundness Evaluation . . . . . . . . . 92

Results

Libido and Mating Behaviour 92

vii

Testicular Capacity (scrotal circullterence) ... . ......... . ... . .... . .. 95 Se.en Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . 95 Breeding Soundness Evaluation ......... � 102

Discussion

Libido and Mating Behaviour .. . . . .. . . .. . 102 Scrotal Circu.ference . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . 104 Se�n Evaluation . . . . . . . . . .. . . .... . .. . . . 105 Breeding Soundness Evaluation . . . . • . . . . . 108

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . .. . . ...... . . . . . . . . .. . .. 108

6 EXPSIIIIIIIT 4 :m PUrolllAllCE OF 1lAL!: AIID FOOL!:

1

GAUR 1 CATTL!: HYBRIDS OIIDEI NATURAL IlATING AIID CONPAIED TO SAlIIAL - FRIKSIAII CIOSSBRED CATTL!:

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . • . . . . . 110

Material and Methods 110

Results ................................... 112

Discussion . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . ... . . . ... 115

Conclusion and RecOMaendation .... . . ....... 117

GEIIIlRAL cotICLUSlOli AIID RECOIIIIEIIDATIOliS 118

REFERENCES . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . • • • • . . . . . . . . . . • . . . 121

APPENDICKS • • • • • • • • • . • . • • . . . . . . • . • • • • . . • • . . • • • . • . 149

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SmrCB • • • • • • . . . . • • • • . • • • • • • • • . . . 151

viii

TABLE

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

LIST OF TABLES

DISTRIBUTION OF THE MALAYAN GAUR IN THE STATES OF MALAYSIA

THE NUMBER OF GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS AND SAHIWAL-FRIESIAN CROSSBRED CATTLE UTILISED IN THE EVALUATION OF GROWTH PERFORMANCE STUDY

LIVEWEIGHTS OF GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS AND SAHIWAL-FRIESIAN CROSSBRED CATTLE (Mean •

Standard Deviation) kg/day

AVERAGE DAILY GAIN OF GAUR- X CATTLE HYBRIDS AND SAHIWAL­FRIESIAN CROSSBRED CATTLE (Mean ± Standard Deviation) kg/day

PERCENTAGE ADVANTAGE IN LIVEWEIGHTS OF THE MALE AND FEMALE GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS OVER THE MALE AND FEMALE SAHIWAL-FRIESIAN CATTLE

GRADING OF SPERMATOZOA MOTILITY

SOCI�Y SCORING SOUNDNESS

OF THERIOGENOLOGY SYSTEM FOR BREEDING EVALUATION

ix

�PAGE

17

62

66

68

70

89

93

VIII MATING BEHAVIOUR SCORE OF GAUR X 94 CATTLE HYBRIDS AND SAHIWAL­

FRIESIAN CROSSBRED CATTLE

IX SCROTAL CIRCUMFERENCE (em) or 96 GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS AND

SAHIWAL-FRIESIAN BULLS

X SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS OF GAUR X 97 CATTLE HYBRIDS AND SAHIWAL­

FRIESIAN BULLS

XI INCIDENCE OF SPERM ABNORMALITIES 99 IN THE GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS AND

SAHIWAL-FRIESIAN BULLS

XII COMPARISON OF SPERM MORPHOLOGY 101 OF GAUR. GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS

AND SAHIWAL-FRIESIAN CROSSBRED

CATTLE (MICRON)

XIII BREEDING SOUNDNESS EVALUATION 103 SCORE FOR GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS

AND SAHTWAL-FRIESIAN DULLS

XIV THE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT METHODS 111 or CROSSING GAUR X CATTLE

HYBRIDS AND SARIVAL-FRIESIAN

BULLS

XV PREGNANCY WASTAGE IN THE GAUR X 113 CATTLE HYBRIDS.

x

FIGURE

I

2

LIST or FIGURES

ZOOLOGICAL POSITION OF THE GAUR

AND CATTLE

GROWTH PATTERN OF THE GAUR X

CATTLE HYBRID AND SAHIWAL-FRIESIAN

PAGE

8

72

PLATE

1

2

l

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

LIST or PLATES

LATERAL rACIAL REGION or GAUR

LATERAL FACIAL REGION OF SAHIWAL-FRIESIAN CATTLE

LATERAL rACIAL REGION OF GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS

FOREHEAD AND HORNS OF GAUR

FOREHEAD AND HORNS SAHIWAL-FRIESIAN CATTLE

OF

FOREHEAD AND HORNS OF GAUR X

CATTLE HYBRIDS

PHENOTYPE OF ADULT MALE GAUR

PHENOTYPE OF ADULT "ALE SAHIWAL-FRIESIAN CATTLE

PHENOTYPE OF ADULT MALE GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS

PHENOTYPE OF ADULT FEMALE GAUR

PHENOTYPE OF ADULT FEMALE SAHIWAL-FRIESIAN CATTLE

xii

PAGE

46

46

46

47

47

47

49

49

49

50

50

12

]J

14

15

16

11

18

19

PHENOTYPE OF ADULT FEMALE

GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS

PHENOTYPE OF NEW BORN GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS

PHENOTYPE OF NEW BORN SAHIWAL-FRIESIAN CATTLE

PHENOTYPE OF GAUR WEANER

PHENOTYPE OF SAHIVAL-FRIESIAN WEANER

PHENOTYPE OF GAUR X CATTLE HYBRID WEANER

MORPHOLOGY OF SPERMATOZOA A. GAUR B. SARIWAL-FRIESIAN CATTLE C. GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS

PHENOTYPE OF F2 GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS

xiii

50

51

51

53

53

53

100

114

SF

Fl HYBRIDS -

PKC

CMR

BSE

ICUN

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

SAHIVAL FRIESIAN

GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS

PALM KERNEL CAKE

CALF MILK REPLACER

BREEDING SOUNDNESS EVALUATION

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION or NATURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

xiv

Abstract of the thesis presented to the Sen�le of Universiti Pertanian Malaysia in ful f i lment �t the

require.ent for the Degree ot Master ot Science

PERFOIXAJCE OF GAUR X CATTLE HYBRIDS

by

Nor Azaan bin 8aj1 Ngab

October 1989

Supervisor Assoc . Prof . Dr Haji Mohd Hilmi Abdullah, Ph . D .

Faculty Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science

The phenotype, growth perfor.anee and the reproduc tive

status of 60 heads of �ale and fe.ale gaur x cattle hybrids

were recorded and coapared with Sahiwal-Friesian c rossbred

cattle.

The .ain objectives of this experi.ent were to evaluate

the phenotype of the hybrids, the growth potential for beef

produc tion and to assess the reproduc tive capabilities of these

hybrids for future propagation.

xv

The present result shoved that the phenotypic features

could be utilised to identify this gaur x catlle hybr.�s . They

showed similar growth pattern as the Sahiwal-friesian crossbred

cattle indicating a faster growth rate at any phases of the

growth curve. The fast growth rate and high carcass value of

the gaur x cattle hybrids indicate that these animals have the

potential for beef production.

The gaur x cattle hybrids were not sterile as speculated.

The aale hybrids showed normal libido and .ating behaviour

but rated as questionable potential breeders due to the saall

scrotal circuaference, high incidence of spera abnoraalities

and poor spera quality. Natural aating

hybrids were related to low pregnancy

involving the aale

rate with a high

incidence of pregnancy wastage, therefore not suitable for use

as breeding bulls. However the fe.ale hybrids can aaintain

nor�al pregnancy, produce high calf crop and normal calf which

indicate that they were not affected by the interspecific

hybridization and aay be used for the propagation of these

ani.als.

xvi

Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Senat Universiti Pertanian Malaysia sebagai

.emenuhi keperluan Ijazah Haster Sa ins

IEUPAYAAN lACUIAN SELADANG X LEMBU ( SELENBU )

oleb

Mor Azaan biD Raj1 Igab

Oktober 1989

Penyelia Prof . Hadya Dr. Haji Hohd Hilmi Abdullah, Ph . D .

Fakulti Kedoktotan Veterinar dan Sains Peternakan

Ciri-ciri pegenalan fizikal (fenotaip) , kadar tumbesar dan

status peabiakan untuk 60 ekor (jantan dan betina) kacukan

seladang x le.bu (Sele.bu) telah dianalisa dan dibandingkan

dengan le.bu-Ie.bu kacukan Sahival-Friesian (SF) .

Objektif-objektif uta.a kajian ini adalah untuk menilaikan

fenotaip kacukan tersebut , potens} pertuabuhan untuk

pengeluaran daging dan .enentukan keupayaan pe.biakan Sele.bu

untuk .ena.bahkan bilangan pada masa akan datang.

xvii

Keputusan aval menunjukkan ciri-ciri fenotaip boleh

digunakan untuk mengenalpasti kacukan Seladang x Ie.bu . Mereka

mempunyai corak tumbesaran yang serupa dengan le�t.: kacukan

Sahival-Friesian tetapi telah menunjukkan Kadar tumbesaran yang

lebih cepat dan nilaian karkas yang tinggi bagi Selembu

aenunjukkan bahawa ternakan ini mempunyai potensi

pengeluaran daging.

adalah didapati tidak mandul saperti

untuk

yang

diagakkan. Selembu jantan .enunjukkan libido dan ciri-eiri

_engavan yang normal tetapi diletakkan dibavah keupayaan

potensi pembiakan yang dipersoalkan kerana mempunyai lilitan

scrotal yang keeil , terdapat banyak sperMa yang tidak normal

dan kualiti sperma yang kurang baik.

melibatkan Sele_bu jantan .enunjukkan

Kacukan tabii yang

kaitan dengan Kadar

kebuntingan yan� rendah dan pembaziran kebuntingan dan tidak

sesuai digunakan sebagai jantan pembiak. Tetapi Selembu bet ina

boleh mengandung. menghasilkan anak yang normal dan ini

.enunjukkan yang mereka tidak terlibat dalam masaaalah kacukan

di antara spesis (interspesifik) dan boleh digunakan untuk

.ena_bahkan bilangan ternakan ini .

xviii

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

In 1974, the Malaysian Govern.ent through the DeDartqent

of Veterinary services (DVS) had decided a target of 80\ self

sufficiency tor beet by 1990. Since then the DVS had embarked

on various programmes in trying to increase and improve meat

production towards achieving this goal.

that had been i.pleaenled were:

Among the progranmes

a) up grading the s.all local indigenous Kedah-Kelantan

(KK) cattle by crossing thea with the larger exotic or

improved breed of cattle through natural aating and

artificial inseminations with the hope of establishing

new breeds of beef cattle,

h) importation of feeder calves for feedlot schemes. both

in the government farms and smallholder schemes,

c) importation ot frozen meat to satisfy the country's

de.and for animal protein and

d) utilization of dairy calves for slaughter.

When an interesting incident took place in one of the DVS

farms. the DVS has decided to add that as a special prograa.e

to the existing progra .. e s . This incident occured in early

1

2

April, 1983 at Padang Hijau Farm. Kluanq where a lone gaur (Bos

qaurus hubbacki) or locally known as the Seladang, �et and

aated a "group of crossbred dairy heifers (Bas indicus x Bos

taurus) . As a result of this chance mating, 12 calves were

born on the fara. which calves look phenotypically dif ferent

from normal calves (Ah�ad Mabamood, 1984) . Thus, blood samples

were sent to the Cytogenetic Laboratory. Faculty of Veterinary

Medicine and Ani.al Science. Universiti Pertanian Malaysia tor

chro.osome analysis.

The karyotype of these calves were analysed and found to

possess chromosoae complement 2n=58 , a complement different to

that of their parents; the chroaosoee complements [or the

crossbred heifers were 20=60 wbile tbe gaur were 2n=56 (80ngso

and Hilmi, 1989) . Since the cbro�osome comple.ents of tbese

calves were intermediate to that of the dam (Sahiwal-Friesian)

and the sire (Gaur) , these new born calves were confirmed to be

hybrids of interspecific hybridization between gaur and cattle.

The resulting gaur x cattle hybrids were shown, on preliminary

observation, to exhibit better productivity than crossbred

cattle by showing better growth rate and bigger body size.

They also showed no difficulties in the local envieo.ent . with

this characteristics, the Fl hybrids were thought to have

potential for increasing beef production in Malaysia. A special

progra .. e involving the interspecific hybridization between

J

Sahiwal-Friesian crossbred cows to the gaur sire was created by

the DVS at the Padang Hijau Farm. The main objectives laid

dovn for this programme were :

a) to increase the number of gaur x cattle hybrids by

allowing the crossbred cattle to mate with the lone

gaur on the far. as wel1 as using other sources of

gaur in the country through natural mating or

artificial iose.ination,

b) to deter.ioe the growth performance of gaur x cattle

hybrids at different phases of growth under dif ferent

planes of nutrition and ca.pare these values with

those of cattle.

c) to deter.ioe and co.pare carcass characteristics and

dressing percentage between the gaue x cattle hybrids

and cattle.

d) to assess the reproductive status and breeding

potential of the hybrids for continous propagations

of gaur x cattle crossbreds,

e) to investigate the possible barriers o( hybridization

through chro.osa.al studies and

f ) t o e.bark on the conservation of a gene pool of gaur

x cattle hybrids by backcrossing and upgrading.

4

Hybridization between two different species (interspecific

hybridization) often takes place at experimental stations or by

chance matinq under natural condition. The resulted male or

female hybrids are often associated with problems related to

reproductive capabal ities although occassionally their

fertility may not be affected (Gray, 1957) . Host hybrid

. animals. particularly those with different chromosome

co.plement between two species are typically sterile

(B,enirschke. 1967) , as observed in the case of crosses between

the horse and donkey (Me Govern, 1976) . Even when the

chromosomes 01 the hybrids are apparently identical, fertility

.ay be effected (Basrur and Hoon, 1961) . Haldane (l922)

predicated that if such fertility problems were to occur, the

heterogametic rather than the homogametic sex should be

adversely affected. The prediction has been borne out in the

males of bison (Bos bison) x domestic cow (Bas taurus) hybrids

(Basrur and Moon, 1961) , yak (Boa qrunniens) x domestic cow

hybrids (Popescu, 1969) ,

1961) zebra cross horse

mule x hinny hybrids {Benirschke,

hybrids (King. 1967) and female

peregrine talcon x pairie falcon hybrids (Schmutz and Oliphant,

1981). However, report by Frechkops (1964) on equine hybrids

buffaloes vith different chromosome co.plements. The gaur (80S

qaurus) x crossbred cattle (80S taurus/80S indicus) ',Iybrids

with 2 pairs of unidentical chromosoaes may have impaired

fertility as reported in other species.

Before embarking on extensive breeding programme, a proper

and concise study should be done to assess its potential and

·viability. So far, other than scattered preliminary

observations on the gaur x cattle hybrids and other hybrids,

little study has been done in Malaysia or elsewhere to (urther

justify the hybrids propagation programme.

The present �tudy ��s divided into 4 experiments with a

specific objective for each experiment:

a) Experiment 1 roaparison of the phenotypic features

of the gaur, the Sahhal-Friesian cattle and the gaur

x cattle hybrid.

Objective To establish identHication

characteristics of the gaur x cattle hybrids.

b) Experillent 2 : The evaluation and comparison on the

growth performances between the Sahiwal-Friesian

crossbred cattle and the gaur x cattle hybrids.

Objective : To evaluate the beel potential of the gaur

x cattle hybrids.

6

c) Experiment) Evaluation and comparison on the lRale

reproductive status of the gaur x cattl.� hybrids

and Sahi�al-rriesian crossbred cattle using the

breeding soundness eValuation technique (8SE).

Objective To deter�ine the reproductive

capabilities of the male gaur x cattle hybrids.

d) Experiment 4 Comparison between the reproductive

perforMances of male and fe.ale gaur x cattle hybrids

under natural Mating condition and the perforMance of

Sahiwal-Friesian cattle.

Objective : To determine the reproductive perfor.ance

ot .ale and female gaur x catlle hybrids.

The results obtained frOB this study should provide

sufficient basic information Lo help forMulate an appropriate

breeding policy through hybridization ai�ed at increasing the

productivity of beef and conservation of the gaur which is now

considered an endangered species.