Sahiwal cattle

Pakistani/Indian breed of cattle

Sahiwal

Conservation status|

* FAO (2007): not at risk[1]: 145
* DAD-IS (2025): not at risk[2][3]

Other names|

* Lambi Bar
* Lola
* Montgomery
* Ravi
* Teli[4][2]

Country of origin|

* India
* Pakistan

Distribution| 27 countries in 4 continents
Use|

* dairy
* meat
* draught

Traits
Weight|

* Male:

average 544 kg[2]

* Female:

average 408 kg[2]

Height|

* Male:

170 cm[2]

* Female:

130 cm[2]

Coat| reddish dun
Horn status| horned

* Cattle
* Bos (primigenius) indicus

The Sahiwal is a breed of zebuine cattle indigenous to the Indian Subcontinent. It is named after Sahiwal District of the Punjab province of present-day Pakistan,[4] and is distributed mainly in that province of Pakistan and in the Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

## History

[edit]

The Sahiwal has been exported to many countries. These include: Burundi, the Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Mali, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, the Seychelles and Uganda in Africa; Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam in Asia: Australia and New Zealand in Oceania; and Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Jamaica, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago and Zambia in America.[5][6] Seven countries have reported population data in recent years, and from this the world population is estimated to be about 4.25 million;[5] Pakistan has not reported population numbers since 2006, when the total herd numbered over 2.75 million head.[2] The large numbers reported may include cross-bred as well as pure-bred stock.[7]: 288

## Characteristics

[edit]

The Sahiwal is of small to medium size:[8]: 386 in Pakistan, average body weights are 544 kg for bulls and 408 kg for cows, while heights at the withers are 170 cm and 130 cm respectively;[2] in India cows are reported to be considerably smaller, with an average weight of 327 kg and withers height of 124 cm.[3] The coat is a reddish dun, sometimes with white markings.[4] In bulls, the hump is large and may lean to the side; the crown of the head is domed, particularly in bulls; and the horns are small.[7]: 288 It is a heat-tolerant cattle breed.[9]

## Use

[edit]

It is a triple-purpose breed, reared for its milk, for its meat and for draught work.[8]: 386 It has been much used for cross-breeding, often with European dairy breeds such as the Friesian and Jersey.[7]: 288 It has contributed to the development of a number of other breeds, among them the Australian Friesian Sahiwal or Australian Frieswal, the Australian Milking Zebu, the Australian Sahiwal, the Frieswal, the Jamaica Hope, the Karan Swiss, the Kenya Sahiwal, the Mpwapwa and the Quasah.[10]: 101 [8]: 586

## References

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sahiwal cattle.

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. ^ a b c d e f g h Breed data sheet: Sahiwal / Pakistan (Cattle). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2025.
3. ^ a b Breed data sheet: Sahiwal / India (Cattle). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2025.
4. ^ a b c Sahiwal. Dairy Knowledge Portal. Anand, Gujarat: National Dairy Development Board. Accessed June 2025.
5. ^ a b Transboundary breed: Sahiwal. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2025.
6. ^ C. Devendra (1997). Improvement of Livestock Production in Crop-animal Systems in Rainfed Agro-ecological Zones of South-East Asia. Nairobi: International Livestock Research Institute. ISBN 9789291460311.
7. ^ a b c 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.
8. ^ a b c Marleen Felius (1995). Cattle Breeds: An Encyclopedia. Doetinchem, Netherlands: Misset. ISBN 9789054390176.
9. ^ Parampreet Singh Narula (6 May 2016). For desi breed 'Sahiwal', Punjab luring farmers with special benefits. Hindustan Times. Accessed June 2025.
10. ^ Valerie Porter, Ian Lauder Mason (2002). Mason's World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types, and Varieties (fifth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 085199430X.

* v
* t
* e

Cattle breeds of India

These are the cattle breeds considered in India to be wholly or partly of Indian origin. Inclusion here does not necessarily imply that a breed is predominantly or exclusively Indian.

* Alambadi
* Amrit Mahal
* Bachaur
* Badri
* Bargur
* Belahi
* Bengali
* Binjharpuri
* Brownsind
* Cutchi
* Dangi
* Deoni
* Devarakota
* Devni
* Frieswal
* Gangatiri
* Gaolao
* Ghumusari
* Gyr
* Goomsur
* Gujamavu
* Hallikar
* Hariana
* Hissar
* Jellicut
* Jersind
* Kangayam
* Kankrej
* Kappiliyan
* Karan Fries
* Karan Swiss
* Kasaragod Dwarf
* Kenkatha
* Khamala
* Khariar
* Khasi
* Kherigarh
* Khillari
* Kosali
* Krishnagiri
* Krishna Valley
* Kumauni
* Ladakhi
* Malnad Gidda
* Malvi
* Mampati
* Manapari
* Mewati
* Mhaswad
* Motu
* Nagori
* Nakali
* Nimari
* Ongole
* Ponwar
* Pulikulam
* Punganur
* Purnea
* Ramgarhi
* Rathi
* Red Kandhari
* Red Sindhi
* Sahiwal
* Sanchori
* Shahabadi
* Siri
* Son Valley
* Sunandini
* Tarai
* Taylor
* Tharparkar
* Tho Tho
* Umblachery
* Vechur

* v
* t
* e

Cattle breeds of Pakistan

These are the cattle breeds considered in Pakistan to be wholly or partly of Pakistani origin. Inclusion here does not necessarily imply that a breed is predominantly or exclusively Pakistani.

* Achai
* Bhagnari
* Cholistani
* Dajal
* Dhanni
* Gabrali
* Hariana
* Hissar
* Kankaraj
* Lohani
* Red Sindhi
* Rojhan
* Sahiwal
* Thari

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