GYR (GUR, GIR)
High productive capacity, rusticity and milk attitude.
Origin
Gir is one of the most important breeds in India. It is considered as a milking aptitude breed, and it is raised with a lot of care at the regions of Rayputana and Baroda, and also at the region of Kathiawar, where you can find high mountains covered in gir forests. It is only selected for milk production in India, and it presents, in that country, herds, with outstanding animals, regarding both production and milk type, mainly at the monasteries, where the feeding allows better productions. The arrival of Gir in Brazil happened from 1906, although only after the World War II producers started to take an interest in the breed, that was used for a double purpose: milk and meat. The first cattle of the Polled Gir breed were shown in the state of Goiás, in a cattle show in 1912. It was only in 1976 that the ABCZ made the genealogic record available for the Polled Gir. The removal of the horns, or making them polled, is not allowed for these breeds.
Characteristics
The breed is characterized by the ultra convex profile, with a backwards thrown forelock, its forehead is wide and linear, it does not allow the presence of nimburi, the horns are grown downwards and for behind, the ones which are curved upwards and inwards are preferred. The ears are of average length, typical, pending, starting tube-shaped, with its upper part rolled around itself, gradually opening outwards, bowing inwards and again narrowing in its bowed end and turning towards face (hawk). The pelages are varied, and they can be red or yellow in all its tons, or they can present little depigmentation spots at shadowed parts and little points of depigmentation in not shadowed parts of the body. The ideal pelages are still considered callico and moorish. The skin must be dark and rose at the udder and the vulva region, allowing little depigmentation spots in any part of the body. The polled Gir, classified as another breed, presents the same biotype, it is different from the regular breed only by the absence of horns.
Advantages
The Gir breed has an enormous participation and importance on the Brazilian milking cattle breeding, when it is born as a pure breed or through various crossings, for example, with the Dutch breed, generating the breed Girolando. The average milk production is of 3,777 kg in 305 days, which corresponds to over three times the national average (960 kg). The duration of lactation is of 307 days (daily average of 12 kg of milk). According to EMBRAPA (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation), it is easily possible to observe lactations superior to 5,000 Kg of milk, and in many cases superior to 10,000 Kg of milk. The Gir and polled Gir breeds are calm animals, of good nature, and present well defined breed characteristics The females are excellent mothers and the calves require few care. The males are medium sized animals of compact musculature. Females can reach 520 kg in 48 months and males over 750 kg within the same time period.
The Gyr is a medium to medium large animal, depending on whether they were developed in the Gyr valley region or in the surrounding mountain area. They can be either spotted (very fine spotting similar to roan in shorthorn) or rich red with varying degrees of the two combined. The undercoat is always red even on cattle that may almost appear white. The Gyr are extremely intelligent and very willing cattle to work with. Theit hair is coated with an oil that is secreted by the skin that is a natural insect repellent. Another feature of zebu cattle is the extra layer of muscle tissue just under the skin (like in horses) which enables them to shake their skin to remove or discourage parasites. The Gyr are very social cattle and spend a lot of time licking, touching and leaning on each other. The bulls tend to protect the herd and the whole herd protects the calves. The cows seem to rotate being nurse maids and a large number of the calves stay together with them, but as soon as there is a disturbance the whole herd will gallop back to protect them.
NELORE
Responsible for 80% of meat production in Brazil.
Origin
The Nelore breed comes from the region of Ongole in the State of Madras and receives the same name: Ongole. Nelore was one of the last Indian breeds to arouse interest among Brazilian breeders, mainly because of the shape of its ears, a standard for imported Zebu races at that time. Among the many and important imports is the outstanding 1962 purchase, that brought into the country bulls such as: Karvadi, Kurupath, Godhavari, Golias, Taj Mahal and Rastã, which developed important breeding strains. Due to its high adaptability to the tropical weather, remarkable instinct for defense and calf survival. Nelore breed quickly conquered the Brazilian territory and represents today 76% of the animals registered at ABCZ and participates on approximately 80% of the meat production in the country.
Characteristics
Nelore breed is characterized by the white, gray and spotted gray pelages, and the colors red, yellow or black are allowed at their nuances, generally the males present darker extremidades, the ears are short and horizontal, ending in spearpoint, always turned to the front, with live movement. The coffin-shaped head and the sub convex profile are strong characteristics. The horns, dark colored, many variations are allowed, as long as they are short, flat and of oval section, and that the growth is upwards, following the head profile, and never turned to the front. On the males, the hump is developed in the shape of a cashew nut, and on the females the hump is smaller and more delicate. Since 1969, the polled character is allowed at the Nelore, it is an excellent choice for producers who want animals without horns. On these animals, the presence of bungs or calluses.
Advantages
The females stand out for their high fertility and excellent breeding capacity. The calf is very active from the moment of birth, it quickly stands up to suck milk. The bulls present navel and shift adequate for extensive production, and the high libido is a remarkable characteristic from this breed. The animals of the Nelore breed present high sexual and carcass precocity, as well as good food conversion and rusticity, adapting themselves to various diverse regions. Weight gains of over 1,000 grams/day are common. At 36 months females can reach 570 kg and males over 790 kg.
Nelore are a type of Zebu cattle that are very popular in South America. Brazil is the largest breeder of Nelore. They are hardy cattle well suited for tropical or sub-tropical areas. Their loose black skin is covered by a white or light gray coat which filters and reflects harmful sun rays. Nelores possess natural resistance to various insects, as their skin is thick and dense, making it difficult for blood sucking insects to penetrate. Nelores also have a well developed subcutaneous muscle layer which enables them to remove insects simply by shaking their coat. They are fertile, easy calving cattle with a highly developed maternal instinct . They thrive in areas where other breeds barely survive.
