Important Reproductive Characteristics of Livestock

Important Reproductive Characteristics of Livestock

Particular	Indigenous Cow	Exotic / Crosses	Buffaloes	Sheep	Goat
Sexual season	Polyoestrus	Polyoestrus	Polyoestrus	Seasonal polyoestrus	Seasonal polyoestrus
Age at puberty	24 months	12–15 months	24–30 months	8–14 months	4–8 months
Age at first mating	30 months	18–24 months	30–36 months	12–18 months	14–18 months
Oestrus cycle length	21 days (17–24)	21 ± 3 days	21 days (18–22)	15–18 days	19–21 days
Duration of oestrus	12–18 hrs	12–18 hrs	24–36 hrs	24–36 hrs	34–48 hrs
Gestation period	285 ± 5 days	285 ± 5 days	315 ± 5 days	150 days (144–152)	150 days
Age at first calving	3½ – 4 years	2½ – 3 years	3½ – 4½ years	1½ – 2 years	1½ – 2 years
Calving to first heat	40 days	40 days	40 days	21 days	21 days
Calving to first service	60 days or less			Usually in next winter	80–90 days
Lactation length	305 days			150–180 days	150–180 days
Dry period	80–90 days	60–70 days	90–120 days	—	—
Breeding life span	12–15 years	12–15 years	15 years	5–8 years	6–10 years