The Xinjiang Brown also results from crossing exotic (mainly Brown Swiss) onto the indigenous breed (Kazakh) in the Ili and Tacheng districts of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Crossing to the Brown Swiss was carried on for 3 successive generations, then followed since 1951 by selective breeding among the crossbred progeny.

 

Xinjiang Brown are characterized yu their desirable milk/meat body conformation, and adaptability to the cold climate on the northern side of the Tianshan Mountains.

 

Coat colur is very variable, the majority of the animals being brown, while others are yellow or of mixed color.

 

 

Body measurements

Xinjiang Brown cows are usually smaller than Sanhe with an average height of 118 cm and a liveweight of 416 kg.

 

 

Milk production

The length of the lactation period is, of course, subject to the influence of feeding conditions. For cows out on the grassland year round, lactation is limited to the grass-growing season, i.e. from May to September and the average milk production is about 1600 kg. When put on supplementary feed, they may produce about 3000 kg of milk (305-day basis). Some high producers, fed and kept in the barn, may yield even more. The average milk fat percentage is 4.0-4.1.

 

 

References

Cheng, P. (1984) Livestock breeds of China. Animal Production and Health Paper 46 (E, F, S). Publ. by FAO, Rome, 217 pp.