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Blood-Group Identifications of Indian Breeds
These small cattle are confined to the Himalayan
sub-ranges and these are connected with the Tibet-
an ranges. It would be interesting to study the
blood-groupings of Tibetan and other Mongolian
breeds of cattle, or at least other Himalayan
hill cattle in India, to see whether geographical
proximity has provided the means of importation,
adaptation and spread of these cattle in the
Himalayan ranges. Their blood-group
simi-
larity with Friesians is suggestive, but no solid
hypothesis is possible because few of the latter
could be tested. It is intriguing however to
find that both Friesian and Kumauni cattle are
decidedly more susceptible to rinderpest than
other breeds.
Sahiwal, Afghan, Gir and Red Sindhi. These
breeds reveal a striking preponderance of group
O, and an equally low frequency of groups A and
B (mixed). This clearly establishes a close inter-
relationship among these breeds and supports
Olver's hypothesis, that the Sahiwal and Sindhi
breeds are derived from contact with Afghan
and Gir cattle. It is further established that their
origin is distinct from the white-grey cattle of
India.
Kankrej, Ongole and Hariana. In all these breeds
there is a very low frequency of group O, whereas
AB frequencies are fairly high and there is great
similarity as regards group IV (negative). The
Hariana cattle, tested at Hissar, it is understood,
have a small admixture of Kankrej blood. In spite
of this, there is a greater affinity between the
Hariana and Ongole as regards group O and AB.
Geographically, these two breeds are widely
separated, the Ongole being confined to a small
tract near the eastern coast of south India. These
animals have no morphological similarity with
any of the neighbouring breeds. Hariana cattle
are situated well to the north, but show marked
resemblance to the Ongole breed. The blood-
group findings again provide support to the views
of Olver and of Ware, as to the common origin
of these breeds.
The Dhanni breed. This breed shows a fairly
high frequency 0. This factor and the location of
these cattle, on the route from Afghanistan to
India, suggest the incorporation of blood from
Afghan or some allied breed during their evolu-
tion.
The Tharparker breed. This has a fairly high
frequency of group O and A and B (mixed), and
this suggests that the breed is a cross between
the grey and Gir types of cattle. Observations
on a large number of cattle of this breed revea
much variation in cranial formation. On m
phological and serological grounds, these cat
cannot be granted the rank of a regular bre
Further investigations, however, may throw m
light on the matter.
Amritmahal. This famous breed falls into
group comprising the Kangayam, Ongole
Kankrej breeds. The blood-group relationship
to these three breeds are too close to be ignore
and this raises the interesting possibility that
breed may not after all have been imported
a separate migration wave, but may be the outco
of the magnificient efforts of the rulers of Mys
to evolve an army transport beast by the crossi
of local south India cattle (Kangayam bree
with grey-white cattle (Ongole-Kankrej). Oth
wise, there must be some common ancestry
their original home.
Summary
1. The blood-group distribution of 11 Indi
and two foreign breeds, comprising 1,199 head
cattle, has been studied. With the exception
Friesians, all the cattle tested were of Zebu ty
2. The final blood-grouping by percentag
is: group O, 26-8; group A and B (mixed), 8
group AB, 36 and group IV (negative), 28.8. T
blood-group frequencies for each breed beha
as independent units and indicate possible ori
and relationship with other breeds.
3. Gir, Red Sindhi, Sahiwal and Afghan cat
show a similarity in blood-grouping, especially
respect of the high frequency of group O, so th
these four breeds may be regarded as related
Hariana, Ongole, Kankrej and Amritmal
were also very similar to one another and so m
be from the same stock or closely related.
Dhanni, Tharparker and Kangayam bree
represent intermediate types.
Kumauni hill cattle appear to be a separ
entity in India. Their blood-group similar
to that of Friesian cattle and the high suscep
bility of both these breeds to rinderpest has be
pointed out.
4. A blood-grouping classification for Indi
cattle has been provisionally fixed, and a differe
tiation of A and B groups by absorption te
has been made. The ratio of groups A and
in Kumauni hill cattle was 2:1.
5. Attention has been called to the geographi
distribution and morphological characters of Indi
breeds.