Viceroy Lord Linlithgow to Shankarrao Chitanvis: Journey of Gaolao Breed
Interview with Dr. Arun Sirothia
Ex Head, Department of Genetics and Breeding, Nagpur Veterinary College
Q. Please tell us about your background like parents, place of birth early collage education, what attracted you to veterinary science?
I am Dr. Arun Sirothia born and brought up in the orange city of Nagpur. I did my schooling and completed my graduation and post-graduation from Nagpur Veterinary College, Nagpur. My father Late Shri. Roopkishore Sirothia was a Loco Pilot in Central Railway, Nagpur and mother Smt. Kusum, then inter-science, hails from Satna (MP). Originally my routes can be traced back to Shivpuri/Gwalior (MP) and parts of adjoining Rajasthan.
There were many influences that went into my decision to select this profession as my career.To be honest, I was aspiring to get into medical profession because of my family background as most of my relatives were in central services including medical.
Although I had keen love for animals as quite a few family friends had pets. Secondly, when I was in B.Sc. first year I was selected to represent Nagpur University in Inter University Hockey tournament held at Ajmer and I took this opportunity to visit Pushkar Camel Fair where I saw number of breeds of livestock and was fascinated by numerous competitions. So, when I could not get into medical I considered veterinary profession as my second option. Even my mother and friends were very supportive. I completed my entire veterinary education up to masters from Nagpur Veterinary College. In the year 1981, I was selected in Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) of Indian Army but because of the insistence my parent, I focussed my attention towards academic stream of veterinary profession and hence when time came I applied for the post of Assistant Professor in Dr. Panjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth and fortunately I was selected for that amongst 37 competing candidates.
Q. What is your area of specialization? Can you describe the domain details?
My area of specialization is Animal Genetics and Breeding and domain is Animal Genetic Resources, Conservation and Livestock Biodiversity.
Q. You have worked intensively on Gaolao Breed cattle. Can you please explain in brief how your involvement was?
Immediately after few months of my first posting at Post Graduate Institute Akola, my then HOD Dr. R. N. Deb and Guide Dr. S. N. Deshmukh asked me to visit Udgir along with 6 post graduate students for participating in the All India Livestock Show cum Exhibition as a university representative and also entrusted me the responsibility to teach students about different breed specific characteristics of participating breeds of various livestock species. There I got an opportunity to see this majestic and fabulous “Gaolao’ cattle. My association with this breed further deepened when authority asked me to conduct few experiments to evaluate the genetic potential of this particular breed maintained at University Cattle Breeding Farm at University H.Q. Akola. Gradually, I started generating, collecting and analysing data on various productive and reproductive parameters with respect to this breed of cattle within a span of 12 years. When I presented the analysed data with respect to this breed in the research forum of university, which was appreciated by the scientific fraternity.
Q. Can you give insight into how Gaolao breed evolved? When was it recognized as a new breed?
Vidarbha region is fortunate to find its reference in Ramayana and Mahabharata. When one wants to trace out the history and evolution of Gaolao, then one will have to study the epics of Mahabharata where Lord Krishna fell in love with princess Rukhamini who was the daughter of Vidarbha King “Bhishma” of Kaundanyapur a place presently christened as Amravati. After seeing so charming and beautiful Rukhamini, Lord Krishna sent marriage proposal to her father which was rejected and ultimately ended in war. It is said that Lord Krishna came with warriors and cows and won the war and later on eloped with her. Vidardha being calm and pleasant place, few of his solders preferred to stay back along with their precious cattle wealth Gaolao.
After marrying Lord Krishna took Rukhamini with him but donated cows to locals called ‘Gaoli’ who reared and propagated these animals. This might be the probable reason why these animals were referred to as “Gaolao”. It is also claimed that during Rig-Veda, Aryans migrated from northern peninsula towards south through hilly areas of Satpuda ranges along with few herds of cattle which later on spread to entire Vidarbha region, especially Wardha district of Maharashtra and adjoining area of Chindwada district of Madhya Pradesh .Though the Gaolao animals were popular among the local farmers since long but the policy makers and scientific fraternity did not realize the importance of this precious genetic resource of the region. Viceroy Lord Linlithgow in the year between 1934 to1943 established good Gaolao Breeding Farms near Chanda (Chandrapur), Yavatmal, Pohra (Amravati). Few years later Shri Dadasaheb Deotale then State Minister Irrigation, Govt of M.S. established Gaolao Cattle Breeding Farm at Hetikundi (Wardha) approximately about 65 km from Nagpur. Similarly, Shri. Dharysheelrao Wagh from Rohna villege (Arvi), Shri. Tatyasaheb Kharade (Kinhala) and Shri. Mohamad Yusuf from Arvi were the prominent Gaolao cattle breeders who were instrumental in propagating and developing this precious genetic wealth of Maharashtra. According to Shri Shankarrao Chitanvis (1970), a then renowned Gaolao breeder and owner of Gaolao Control Breeding Farm Nagpur, Gaolao cattle shares phenotypic resemblance with Bhagnari cattle breed from Bhag territory of Jacobabad in Baluchistan district of northern Pakistan. This breed also has close phenotypic similarities with Nellore (Ongole) breed from southern India especially Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. He further opined that Gaolao cattle might have been evolved during the process of transhumance resulting into intermixing of above two breeds.
In fact, Gaolao is not a newly recognized breed of cattle but it is in fact one of the extant breeds registered in the year 2008 by NBAGR under the aegis of ICAR amongst other 30 already known cattle breeds of India with Accession No INDIA_CATTLE_1110_GAOLAO_03006.
Q. What are the special features of Gaolao Breed both at Phenotype and Genotype?
Morphological Characteristics:
Gaolao cattle are majestic, very fabulous good-looking draft-purpose animals having muscular body with narrow body frame. The females are usually white, while males are white with blackish and greyish tinge mainly on the forehead, neck and shoulder areas. The head is markedly long and narrow with a straight profile tapering towards the muzzle and broader at the base of the horns. The horns are short and stumpy. Males have fleshy hump and convex forehead with typical almond eyes. Under the eyes there is a typical black ring like marking. Once the animal reaches six months age all the breed specific morphological characteristics can be seen.
Q. You have carried out a survey of Gaolao Cow, can you throw some light on how the survey was done, who were involved and what were the survey findings.
As per the discussion with District Animal Husbandry Officer, Wardha the survey centres were established in Arvi (Kinhala-Bothali, Kharangna, Gumgaon, Dahegaon-Mustafa, Chandni, Pimpalkhuta, Wadhona Gunmund and Chopan villages) Karanja (Bothali-Panjra, Bodad, Virul, Gaurkheda, Kinhala Bodad, Chandani, Kinhala–Bothali, Kanamwar Gram and Bangdapur villages) and Selu (Madni, Amgaon-Gangli, Giroli, Hingni, Masala, Ghorad and Pimpalgaon-Bhosale village). Gummund village near Arvi is supposed to be the origin of Gaolao cattle
The survey on geographical, demographical, managemental, physical characteristics and breed performance for production and reproduction traits of the breed was carried out in 133 villages as per the guidelines and questionnaires developed by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (ICAR), Karnal (Haryana). As the basic information of the breed identity and its distribution was available and hence confirmatory approach for phenotypic characterization of the breed was carried out using stratified two-stage sampling design was used. The data on demographic and geographic distribution of the breed was collected as per the format and questionnaires developed by the Bureau. For physical characterization, information on approximately 200 animals of varying age groups and sexes were collected and analysed. Economically important traits such as body measurement (growth) reproduction and production parameters were adequately assessed by actual field visits while some indicative data on average performance levels was collected through direct measurement and interviewing livestock keepers.
who were involved…….
I personally supervised the whole survey work with the help of Co-P. I, Dr. Nitin Fuke. (presently DAHO, Bhandara) and my colleague Dr. M. D. Kothekar, Dr. Dilip Ghorpade, then DAHO, Wardha Dr. Kargilwar, Dr.Anju Nair along with postgraduate students of AGB discipline.
what were the survey findings…….
Gaolao animals were & are observed to be the living traditions of Nanda-Gaoli community (meaning descendant King Nanda- the foster father of Lord Krishna) of Vidarbha region and these animals are very popular among the local farmers for their draft qualities. One alarming observation that needs to be reported here, was that the total number of Gaolao cattle in Wardha district alone had decreased significantly 17800 to 13500 during the 1997 to 2006.This reduction in Wardha district alone accounts to more than 24.5%. Mechanization of agriculture and emphasis on crossbreeding in its breeding tract resulted in the marked reduction in the purebred population of Gaolao cattle. We also analysed 13th to 16th Livestock Census Reports- published by the Government of Maharashtra. In those census reports only, white coat colour pattern was the criteria considered by the staff of the AHDS department. According to their reports approximately 13000 pure Gaolao cattle were found in Amravati division. However, when we conducted survey by actual head count basis as per the Bureau guidelines, we noticed the presence of only 4700 purebred Gaolao animals in its breeding tract. This marked reduction in the population could be attributed, probably to the migration of cattle at the time of survey (in search of grazing) and also because of faulty breeding programme adopted from sixties. Now, as per my own estimate there are hardly 300-400 cows and around 50 bulls of this breed in the breeding tract.
Q. Your department has been active in the field of genotyping Indian cattle breeds, can you give us some details what work has been done?
My department was associated with genotyping of various Indian cattle breeds. I have guided number of PG students in collaboration with NDRI and IVRI on the reproductive productive & genomic aspects of Gaolao cattle. I was fortunate enough to have with me highly qualified technical expert, Dr. Deepak Kale who was associated with me in the genotyping research work of various milk production traits of Gaolao breed, specially αS1 casein, β-lactoglobulin, Kappa casein and lactoglobulin genes. Recently our work on A1 and A2 proteins in milk of various Indian cattle breed, specially, Sahiwal, Gaolao and Tharparkar was also conducted in the department. Most of the Indian breed cows have A2 variant which good rennet property. I along with my other professional colleagues have also analysed Growth Hormone gene of Nagpuri buffalo and ARMP-2metal transforming gene, Trivalent metal transforming gene and Alpha ALAD genes of Gaolao cattle.
Recently (May 18) I was honoured by the NBAGR, SEVA & HONEY BEE NETWORK, jointly, for my significant role in preparing profile of livestock keepers for conserving Nagpuri buffalo & Gaolao cattle respectively. Three livestock keepers, one from Jambhavadi village of Yavatmal district and two from Virur, Chandani-Pimpalkhutta villages of Arvi tehsil of Wardha district of Vidarbha were honoured with Breed Saviours Award for their significant contribution towards conservation and sustainable utilization of Gaolao Cattle and Nagpuri buffalo in the year 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively.
Q. Major problem with our animals is low productivity and delayed maturity which makes these animals not profitable under the current system of feeding and management. Can you tell us in your experience maximum milk produced recorded in a Gaolao cow, where was it? What is average milk production, age at first calving and inter-calving period?
Maximum milk produced recorded in a Gaolao cow……
There are several publications wherein Gaolao cows were reported to produce more than 10 litres milk/day (Chitanvis,1970). According to him a Gaolao cow named “EKADASHI” aged 19 years from Gopuri Gaushala, Wardha yielded approximately 10 to 11 litres of milk /day. Similarly, MADHUBALA from Yavatmal and KAPILA from Chitanvis Gaolao Cattle Breeding Farm, Nagpur were reported to produce milk in the range from 10-11 and 8-9 litres milk/day. Further, in a Milk Competition Programme organized by DAHO, Wardha, at Gumgaon villege, taluka-, Arvi on Ocober2009, I along with other technical staff from AHDS, department had a very good experience of recording a Gaolao cow of shri Namdeo Sathe yielding about 11kg/day (average of three consecutive recordings).
What is average milk production, age at first calving and inter-calving period?
Typically, Gaolao cows come in heat late with the age at first calving in the range from 53 to 55 months. Calving interval ranges from 410 to 440 days. The average milk yield of cow ranges between 3.8 to 4 kg per day with lactation yield of 550-585 kg. This means that the cows have short lactation length ranging between 245-265 days as compared to 305- days standard milk production. Milk fat percentage ranges between 4.3 to 4.4 %. Milk production of Gaolo cows is very low s these animals are usually reared under zero input system. Only milking cows are rarely fed with small quantity of feed and fodders while dry animals are generally of feed.
Q. Are you in favour of crossbreeding Gaolao because of this will be short way to improve this breed?
No, I am not in favour in crossbreeding specially of Gaolao cattle. In fact, I am interested in up gradation and conservation of this breed by selective breeding. As National /State Livestock Breeding Policy, cross breeding is advisable to only to upgrade non-descript cow population. Crossbreeding might yield short-term results but in long term we will lose our precious genetic wealth. Now coming to your question how to improve. We can improve the breed with the help of farmers, as they are the best breeders. Earlier strategy of establishing Government farms failed because of inherent issues. For undertaking any breed improvement program herd size should be more. To overcome the smaller herd size, we can improve the performance of these animals by networking with the help of farmers under progeny testing programme, production of bulls or bull mother farms using newer technologies like MOET and other state of art techniques will be implemented. We should adopt conservation approaches based on combining economic value. Use of genetic markers for higher and quality milk production may be done to supplement the conventional procedure of selection. As Gaolao breed has been found to have A2-type Beta casein which can be used as marker for cheese production. We should promote such activities wherein economic value of the animal to the farmers cannot be compromised. There is need to document indigenous technical knowledge that our farmers had but it needs to be combined with recording, documentation and economic analysis.
We can improve these animals by taking participatory approach actively involving farmers. Important but difficult issue is milk recording. They should be provided some incentives for recording under supervision of official milk recorder. At the same time some incentive such as per kg milk produced and buy-back guarantee of the produce will help farmers greatly. Since the age at first calving is very long this can be shortened by focusing on nutrition in calf stage. In case of young calves, farmers would need support in terms of supplies of milk replacers, calf starter or cash incentives. There is need to deploy computerized system using available software to identify good animals.
Q. You have vast experience in breeding and have worked with farmers. In your opinion how we should go about to enhance per animal productivity?
As per my experience in field condition, better nutrition, proper recording for provision of good quality semen are the important activities. Only those farmers which have large land holding should be encouraged for crossbreeding and marginal farmers who having not more than five acres land, minimum irrigation facility, they should be promoted for conservation of indigenous breed. Landless farmers are mostly rearing non-descript cattle. There is also need to network ONBS (Open Nucleus Breeding System) by making Breeding Society. There is also need to supply good quality semen or bulls.
Q. What is selection of animals?
According to text book definition “Selection is the process where best animals are chosen for prorogation of next generation.” But, according to me “Selection is the process which tells about experience gained by one generation of breeder and passing it to the next generation of breeder.”
Q. Brazil has shown that Indian breeds of cattle can be improved, they could do but could not, what could be the reasons? Where we went wrong.
In Brazil farmers provide feed as per feeding standards and follow good management practices. They are not bothered about cost of the animal and settle for good genetics. There are institutes and systems developed which is followed by all. Most of the animals are identified and recorded and the data is computerized for analysis. They have improved Indian Breed with the help of various breeding Societies and new technologies. We should establish Breeding Society through which in-situ conservation activities need to be expedited. NGOs and other organization can play a pivotal role in creating the interest among the livestock custodians, maintain purity and development in this breed. In my opinion will-power of the government and the farmers, proper dada recording, ONBS, improvement of animals by community breeding, involvement of farmers in sharing their ITK (Indigenous technical knowledge). Gaolao cattle are not maintained for milk production but bulls are of high value. In that case selling milk should be regarded as by product. In such scenario we should also develop breeding program for powerful bulls that can perform excellent traction work. Even for value-added product Gaolao milk can be sold at premium.