The Gir is one of the principal Zebu or Bos indicus breeds in India and is used for both dairy and beef production. It has been used locally in the improvement of other breeds including the Red Sindhi and the Sahiwal. It was also one of the breeds used in the development of the Brahman breed in North America.

 

The Gir is distinctive in appearance, typically having a rounded and domed forehead, long pendulous ears and horns which sweep back and spiral up. Gir are generally mottled with the color ranging from red to white. They originated in southwest India in the state of Gujerat and have since spread to neighboring Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

 

The females average 385 kg with a height of 130 cm and the males average 545 kg and a height of 135 cm. The average milk production for the Gir is 1590 kg per lactation, with a record production of 3182 kg at 4.5% fat.

 

 

References

Genus Bos: Cattle Breeds of the World, 1985, MSO-AGVET (Merck & Co., Inc.), Rahway, N.J.

 

Mason, I.L. 1996. A World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties. Fourth Edition. C.A.B International. 273 pp.