Cattle : SAHIWAL

Australian Status:

International: Estimates vary in Pakistan but believed to be less than 5,000. Also some in India and Kenya - used for both dairy and beef in Kenya - and an important insurance population. Some estimates give giant numbers in Pakistan and India but most of these are not genetically pure at all.

Australian Population: 2020: 40 full bloods (estimate). Several upgrades. 2022: 50.

History:  A zebu breed from the Punjab area of the India-Pakistan border. Descended from cattle of Afghanistan. Once triple purpose, being widely used for draught, mostly agricultural, as well as dairy and beef.
 

Brought to Australia in the early 1950's from New Guinea (CSIRO project).

Breed Traits:  Dairy and beef. Primarily dairy in their home country - only beef in Australia now - although some were used for dairy here, and for composite dairy breeds (now extinct). The best milkers of all zebu breeds, average lactation 2325 kilograms.

Very heat tolerant.

Tick resistant - and high resistance to all internal and external parasites - one dairy on the Australian Sahiwal Society website, when it existed, said they hadn't needed to treat for tick in over three decades.

Bloat resistant.

Eye cancer resistant.

Great tropical climate breed. Easy calving. Fertile. Long lived and productive to at least 20.

Red colour through to brown, usually darker in males. Pale under tum, around eyes, muzzle legs sometimes, others are darker in these areas. Thoracic hump. Black noses and feet. Little to no white markings. Loose skin with generous dewlap and long ears help with heat control.

Good docile temperament.
 

Short solid horns go straight out and slightly up. Help with heat control.

Great milkers - the best of all zebu dairy breeds. High butterfat content. Calves thrive due to the ample rich milk supply.

Breed Organisation:  The Australian Sahiwal Society no longer exists.

"Australian Sahiwal Genetics" have a Facebook page, and a good herd of these cattle in Queensland, probably run by  Running Creek Beef, Queensland, which has the biggest herd left in Australia and do a superb job with this breed. Great website.

Additonal Notes:

Photo : Sahiwal, Wikimedia Commons. The Australian breed is very similar being developed from these. Hopefully can get an Australian photo at some stage  

Page by Janet Lane

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