Cattle : RED SINDHI

Species: Bos indicus

Country of origin : Sindh, Pakistan

Australian Status: Lost

International status:

Arrived in Australia:

Australian Population: 10 cows, no bulls found yet (cows found by Todd McNamara, June 2019, thank you, are on a farm northern NSW).
Note (2022) these became inbred and small, due to a lack of other around, and were bred out to another breed (Gyr) according to comments on our facebook group, June 2022.

Distribution:

History: Brought to Australia in 1954 as a gift from the Pakistan government. 

The breed is from a mountainous region called `Mahal Kohistan', spread over parts of Karachi, Thattha and Dadu districts in Sindh. Its homelands extends to the irrigated areas of Hyderabad (Sindh) and the arid plains of Lasbella district in Balochistan.

Sometimes known as Malir and Red Karachi.

"I knew the Breed well, as I did a degree at the Qld. Ag. College in the late 60's early 70's. They had, what at the time was the only Sindhi cattle in Australia. They had been an exhibit at the Melbourne Zoo. There was an aged bull, a young bull, 2 aged cows & a heifer. They were very tiny, as they are in Pakistan, (due to limited nutrition & the extreme climate), but exceptional feed converters. The old bull was bred to some Shorthorn cows & showed the value of real hybrid vigour in the calves who were monumental.
I've also seen Sahiwal cows too. There were small numbers of them at that time & beautiful cattle." From Gary Bestel, June 2019 (via the RBTA Facebook group). Gary also affirms what an outstanding placid temperament they have. 

Breed Traits: Dual purpose breed. Primarily used for milk however a great success as a beef breed too, and for crossing over Bos taurus breeds.

Red Sindhi bulls and Sahiwal bulls were used over Jersey cows in Australia to create the Australian Milking Zebu (AMZ).

Tick and disease resistant, very heat tolerant. Fertile, easy calving. Docile.

Good for conservation grazing, good doers. Males have thick horns, females have thin horns, both sweep back. Generous but not excessive dewlap for dispelling heat, well developed hump on the males. Ears are small for a zebu breed.

Females weigh 300 - 350 kg. Bulls average 400 - 500 kg. Lactation yields 1200 - 2000 litres. 

All a red colour, bulls usually darker to being black at extremities. Tail switch is black.

Organisation: None in Australia.

Additional Notes:

Page by Janet Lane

Back to Cattle