Tharparkar (
Sindhi: ٿرپارڪر) (also known as White Sindhi, Cutchi and Thari) is a breed of cattle originating in
Tharparkar District
Tharparkar (Dhatki/ sd, ٿرپارڪر, ur, ), also known as Thar, is a district in Sindh province in Pakistan headquartered at Mithi. Before Indian independence it was known as the Thar and Parkar district.
The district is the largest in Sin ...
in
Sindh
Sindh (; ; ur, , ; historically romanized as Sind) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province ...
province in present day
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
and also found in neighbouring nation of
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. It is a dual purpose breed known for both its milking and draught potential. The cattle is of medium to large build and have white to gray skin.
Habitat
The
Tharparkar
Tharparkar (Dhatki language, Dhatki/ sd, ٿرپارڪر, ur, ), also known as Thar, is a district in Sindh province in Pakistan headquartered at Mithi. Before Indian independence it was known as the Thar and Parkar district.
The district is t ...
breed has been named after the district in
Sindh
Sindh (; ; ur, , ; historically romanized as Sind) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province ...
and
Gujarat
Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...
from which it originates. This district has large stretches of sand dunes, and adequate grazing is only available a few months after the monsoon rains (July to September). They are very well adapted to the extreme climatic conditions and feed scarcity of their home tract.
Physical Characteristics
Thari are medium-sized animals with a long tapering face, slightly convex forehead, medium-sized horns that curve upward and outward, and large, semi-pendulous ears. They are generally light-grey, with the colour deepening on the fore and hindquarters in males. A white stripe runs along the backbone. The tail twitch is black. They have a well-developed, firm hump, medium dewlap, deep barrel, and strong legs. The udder is medium-sized and strong. Cows are fairly good milk producers. Adult males and females weigh 400-500 and 300-380 kg, respectively.
[Bakht Baidar Khan & G. B. Isani. Breeds and types of livestock in Pakistan. Animal Husbandry by S. Iqbal Shah. National Book Foundation Islamabad, 1994. Page 59]
See also
*
List of breeds of cattle
*
Red Sindhi cattle
Red Sindhi cattle are the most popular of all Zebu dairy breeds. The breed originated in the Sindh province of Pakistan, they are widely kept for milk production across Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other countries. They have be ...
*
Sahiwal cattle
Sahiwal cattle is a breed of zebu cow, named after an area in the Punjab, Pakistan. The cattle is mainly found in Punjab province of Pakistan, and Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, & Rajasthan.
Sahiwal is considered a heat-tolerant cattle breed. ...
References
{{Cattle breeds of India
Cattle breeds originating in India
Cattle breeds
Thar Desert
Animal husbandry in Rajasthan
Cattle breeds originating in Pakistan