NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
December, 1952]
A.
A.
ASKER
AND
M.
T.
RAGAB
269
different correlations between relatives. Knapp and Nordskog [1946] and Dawson
et al [1947] used sire-offspring regression and parental half-sibs methods for estima-
ting the heritability of birth weight in beef cattle. Their estimates ranged between
11 and 42 per cent.
This analysis shows that the heritability of birth weight of Egyptian cattle
and buffaloes are higher than most of the previously mentioned results. Such
results are expected since cattle and buffaloes in Egypt are mixed populations and
consequently the genetic variability of birth weight should be higher than those
of the established European breeds of cattle.
According to such high estimates of heritability for birth weight in both Egyp-
tian cattle and buffaloes, it could be concluded that phenotypic selection could
be used for improving birth weights of animals. Since the genetic relation between
the birth weight and other subsequent weights was not investigated in this study,
it seems difficult to depend only on such measure for increasing the weights of
animals. However, Kadi [1952] working on two breeds of Egyptian sheep, found
that the genetic correlation between the birth weight and weaning weight on the
one hand, and birth weight and marketing weight on the other hand, were all near
unity. If the case in buffaloes and cattle is proved to be the same, selection based
on birth weight will not lead to any loss in the number of genes controlling mature
weights.
TABLE VII
Correlation coefficients for birth weights of Egyptian, cattle and buffaloes for various
combinations of calving sequences
Comparisons made
I and II
II and III
III and IV
I and III
I and IV
II and IV
Total and average
Cattle
Number
30
38
33
50
15
25
191
r.
—.099
.277
—.029
.285
.129
.071
.048
Buffaloes
Number
24
28
39
15
15
22
143
r.
.384
.630
.476
.501
.692
.596
.548
270
BIRTH WEIGHT OF EGYPTIAN CATTLE [Vol., XXII, Part IV
Repeatability of birth weight—
The repeatability of birth weight for cattle and buffaloes is shown in Table VII.
The calculations have been made for consecutive and non-consecutive calvings.
The results obtained for buffaloes are not in agreement with those for cattle. The
average correlation coefficient for buffaloes is .548 while it is .048 for cattle. Differen-
ces between sexes were not taken into consideration when estimates of repeatability
were worked out. It would be expected to obtain higher values, had correction
for sex been applied since there was a significant difference between the two sexes
in birth weight.
Effect of month of calving—
Month of calving was proved to be of no effect on birth weight in both buffaloes
and cattle (Tables VIII and IX). Calving occurred during the months from August
to March. The numbers of parturitions during the months of April, May, June
and July were too few to be of practical value. The average birth weight for buffalo
calves born during the above mentioned months, ranged from 35.42 to 38.74 kilos.
In Egyptian cattle the average birth weight ranged from 23.18 to 25.71 kilos. The
difference between the mean weights in the different months was not significant.
The main effect of the month of calving would lie in that the seasons of the
year differ in the kind of pasture, feeds and temperature. The first two factors
are the most important in this aspect. Eckles [1919] stated that the ration fed to
the dam had little effect on the birth weight of the calf. He believes, however,
that in extreme cases there would be an effect; while Fitch et al [1924] reported
that the feed given to the dam has some influence on birth weight but less than is
commonly supposed. They suggest that an effect may be obtained on a very
restricted diet.
TABLE VIII
Analysis of variance of birth weight for month of calving in Egyptian Cattle
Source of variation
Between months
Within
Total
Sum of
squares
113.43
2,937.68
3,051.11
D. F.
7
244
251
Mean
squares
16.20
12.04
TABLE IX
Analysis of variance of birth weight for month of calving in buffaloes
Source of variation
Between months
Within
Total
Sum of
squares
336.20
11,957.67
12,293.87
D. F.
7
271
278
Mean
squares
48.00
44.12
..
December, 1952] A. A. ASKER AND M. T. RAGAB 271
The herds of the Faculty were under a stable system of feeding for the whole
period of study. Animals received their rations according to weight and to produc-
tion. During Winter they were fed only on clover if it could suffice their
needs, otherwise they were given a supplementary ration of concentrates. This
system has been followed all through the long time of investigation without much
change. Therefore, one could not expect that month of calving to be a source of
variation in birth weight of calves under such stable system of feeding and manage-
ment. However, the present results agree with the results obtained by Tyler et al
[1947] and Knapp et al [1941].
Effect of grading—
Rhoad, Phillips and Dawson [1945] reported that when crosses are made bet-
ween breeds, the sire often has a marked effect on the birth weight of the calf.
In this data, it was the aim of the study to ascertain whether the pure shorthorn
calves differ significantly from the shorthorn grades as far as the birth weight is
concerned. The average birth weights of pure-bred, one half, three quarters and
seven eighth Shorthorn were 30.82, 30.32, 32.30 and 31.00 kilos respectively. It
is noticed that the average birth weight of half bred animals was very close to that
of pure shorthorn. It was expected that according to the multiple factor theory
the birth weight of half bred should lie between that of the parents, i.e., Egyptian
cattle and pure Shorthorn. The fact that heterosis is responsible for such increase
is quite evident here. However, the analysis of variance in table X showed that
there were no significant differences between birth weight of pure-bred Shorthorn
and different grades.
This result denotes that improving birth weight of Egyptian cattle by changing
the genotype of the calf through grading is attained in the first generation. In-
creasing the percentage of Shorthorn blood in the successive generations did not
lead to any significant increase in birth weight. Moreover, the data showed that
the mean birth weights of different grades of Shorthorn were heavier than that of
native cattle. The difference between the two groups in the birth weight was 6.58
kilos.
TABLE X
Analysis of variance of birth weight for different grades of shorthorn
Source of variation
Between groups
Within
Total
Sum of
squares
77.67
2,736.97
2,814.64
D. F.
3
130
133
Mean
squares
25.89
21.05
272
BIRTH WEIGHT OF EGYPTIAN CATTLE [Vol. XXII, Part IV
SUMMARY
A study was carried out on the influence of the sex of the calf, calving sequence,
month of calving and sire of the calf on birth weight of Egyptian cattle and buffaloes.
The heritability as well as the repeatability of birth weight in both species were
estimated. The effect of grading Egyptian cattle with pure-bred Shorthorn on
birth weight of calves was determined. The study covered a period of twenty
years (1930-1950) and included 286, 270 and 133 calves of both sexes from buffaloes,
native cattle and pure-bred Shorthorn and grades respectively.
The average birth weight of male calves was 38.50 kilos in the case of buffaloes,
while the mean birth weight of females was 36.41 kilos. In the case of Egyptian
cattle, the mean birth weights were 25.77 and 23.93 kilos for males and females res-
pectively. The differences between sexes in cattle and buffaloes were significant.
Sequence of calving was responsible for bringing about significant differences
between birth weights of calves in cattle and buffaloes. Month of calving appeared
to have no effect on birth weight of calves.
The heritability estimate for birth weight in buffaloes was 0.561 compared to
0.417 for cattle. The repeatability of birth weight was .548 and 0.048 for buffaloes
and cattle respectively.
Grading Egyptian cattle with purebred Shorthorns caused an increase in the
birth weight of calves. The difference between grades was not significant, also
grade Shorthorns were 6.6 kilos heavier in their birth weight than Egyptian calves.
REFERENCES
Dawson, W. M. Phillips, R. W. and Black W. H. (1947). Birth weight as a Criterion of Selec-
tion in Beef Cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 6, 247-257
Eckles, C. H. (1919). A Study of Birth Weights of Calves. Mo. Agr. Exp. Sta. Res. Bull. 35
Fitch, J. B., McGilliard, P. C. and Drumm, G. H., (1924). A Study of Birth
Weight and gestation of Dairy Animals. J. dairy Sci. 7, 222-223
Gregory, K. E., Cecil, T. Blunn and Marvel, L. Baker, (1950). A Study of some of the Factors
Influencing the Birth Weights of Beef Calves. J. anim. Sci. 9, 338-347
Kadi, M. R. (1952). The Influence of some Environmental and Hereditary Factors on Weights
of Ossimi and Rahmani Sheep M.Sc. Thesis, Faculty of Agriculture, Fouad 1st. Univer-
sity, Giza, Egypt
Knapp, B. Jr., Lambert, W. V. and Black, W. H., (1941). Factors Influencing Length of Gesta-
tion Period and Birth Weight in Cattle. J. agric. Res., 61, 277-286
Knapp, B. Jr. and Nordskog, A. W., (1946). Heritability of Growth and Efficiency in Beef
Cattle. J. anim. Sci. 5, 62-70
Lush, J. L., (1948). Heritability of Quantitative Characters in Farm Animals. Proc. Eighth
Cong. Genet. Stockholm, 356-375.
Rhoad, A. O., Ralph, W. Phillips and Dawson W. M., (1945). Evolution of Species Crosses
of Cattle by Polyallel Crossing, J. Hered., 36, 367-374
Snedecer, G. W. and Cox, G. M., (1935). Dis-proportionate Subclass Numbers in Tables of
Multiple Classification. Iowa, Agri., Exp. Res. Bull. 180
Tyler, W. J., Chapman; A. B. and Dickerson, G. E., (1947). Sources of Variation in the Birth
weight of Holstein-Friesian Calves. J. dairy. Sci., 30, 483-498
REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF TABANUS FLIES IN INDIA
AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE INCIDENCE OF SURRA
BY B. C. BASU. P. BALARAMA MENON, AND C. M. SEN GUPTA, Indian Veterinary
Research Institute, Izatnagar
(Received for Publication on 14 April 1952)
(With Plates XX-XXI)
T HE flies belonging to the genus Tabanus, commonly known as horse-flies or
gnats, are widely prevalent in India, having been recorded from tropical, sub»
tropical, and temperate regions. The adults are strong fliers and occur abundantly
in the neighbourhood of water both on the plains and hills. All the common species
are blood suckers and attack warm blooded animals including man. Of the diseases'
transmitted by these flies, surra is the most important, affecting horses, mules, camels,
cattle, etc. These flies lay their eggs generally on leaves over-hanging water. After
hatching the larvae fall into the water and develop. When mature, they crawl to
dry soil, pupate and after a few days emerge as adult flies.
The available meagre, scattered data on the distribution of Tabanus in India
comprise the catalogue by Senior-White [1927] and the records based on the speci-
mens received from field workers for identification at this Institute. In order to
provide an up-to-date ready reference to the distribution of species of Tabanus in
India, their occurrence, compiled from various sources has been recorded in this
paper. The study on the distribution of these flies has been extended as far as pos-
sible to Pakistan and other surrounding countries as a knowledge of their occurrence
in the neighbouring countries will be useful in devising control measures. For this
purpose the division of the country into five regions on the basis of topography,
climate, rainfall and vegetation, etc., as recommended by the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research for the orientation of agricultural research, has been adopted.
Their incidence has also been discussed according to four natural physical regions
of the country, viz., montane, submontane, pastural, and coastal.
Region 1—
Temperate Himalayan Region.—It comprises Kashmir, hilly tracts of Uttar
Pradesh, Punjab, Bengal, and Assam. This region covers the Himalayan ranges
interspersed with extensive ravines clothed with dense forests of a tropical type at
low elevations and of a temperate type higher up. Certain tracts have a heavy
rainfall, 120 inches or more, with the humidity varying considerably in the different
seasons. Though the majority of the hill streams are fast running, there are several
sluggish streams, rain pools and innumerable seepage areas and side pockets along
the river banks.
273
7
274 REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF TABANUS FLIES IN INDIA [Vol. XXII, Part IV
This region contains also the submontane zone, i.e., the foot hills, with a very
heavy rainfall, up to 220 inches, mostly distributed between the months of June and
September. The land has a slope and the soil is generally porous. It is traversed
by numerous rivers, streams and seepages of varying sizes particularly during the
rains. The local rainfall has very little effect on them for unless the sub-soil water
on the hills is high the streams do not have water for more than a day even if there
has been heavy downpour locally.
The places described above are ideal for the breeding of Tabanus flies as is evident
from the fact that nineteen species have been recorded from this region. They are
as follows:—
1. T. diversifrons Ricardo
2. T. explicatus Walker
3. T. fulvimedius Walker
4. T. fuscomaculatus Ricardo
5. T. hirtipalpis Ricardo
6. T. hirtus Walker
7. T. jucundus Walker
8. T. leleani Austen
9. T. leucocnematus Bigot
10. T. leucopogon Bigot
11. T. orientis Walker
12. T. exyceratus Bigot
13. T. provincialis Ricardo
14. T. rubidus Wiedemann
15. T. sexcinctus Ricardo
16. T. striatus Fabricius
17. T. subcallosus Ricardo
18. T. tropicus Panzer
19. T. wyvillei Ricardo
From the range of distribution of the above nineteen species, it is seen that seven
species, viz. (1) T. fulvimedius, (2) T. hirtipalpis, (3) T. hirtus, (4) T. leucopogon,
(5) T. oxyceratus, (6) T. tropicus, and (7) T. wyvillei are exclusive to this region while
the remaining twelve extend beyond it and have been recorded from one or more
other regions, vide Table I.
Region 2—
Eastern Wet Region.—It comprises the States of Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, and
the eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh, Vindhya Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Mardrs.
It has a rainfall of 50 inches or above and is predominantly rice growing. The area
mostly falls within the Gangetic basin though certain coastal alluvium are also in-
cluded.
Physical features of this region are not entirely uniform. In some areas the land
is dry with a porous soil consisting largely of a ferruginous laterite gravel, sand and
clay or composed of an old alluvium, while others are composed entirely of recent
alluvium, some of lime stone with a superficial layer of alluvium. There are also
undulating areas consisting of barren rocky country traversed by numerous small
streams. Some areas are devoid of large trees and the vast stretches of land are
covered with jungle with dwarf trees and grassy wastes usually above the flood
level. There are some zones within the limit of floods, composed entirely of recent
alluvium traversed by a number of distributaries of the Ganga and other rivers some
of which are alive while others are in a moribund condition. There is yet another
zone in this region which may be termed coastal, comprised of very low lying lands
subject to flooding by tides, This area is clothed with a dense tidal forest mostly of
mangrove type,
December, 1952] B. C. BASU, P. BALARAMA MENON, AND C. M. SEN GUPTA 275
TABLE I
Showing the incidence of different species of Tabanus in various regions of India and
the surrounding countries
Different regions of India and surrounding countries
I
18
21
25
28
II
4
7
10
11
13
17
18
22
24
28
III
9
11
17
20
22
IV
8
9
11
17
21
22
V
11
14
15
17
Ceylon
5
6
12
16
23
24
26
27
Burma
1
10
11
24
25
26
28
Perso¬
Baluchi
Afghanistan
2
17
19
Nicobat
Islands
7A
276 REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF TABANUS FLIES IN INDIA [Vol. XXII, Part IV
TABLE I—contd.
Showing the incidence of different species of Tabanus in various regions of India
and the surrounding countries—contd.
Different regions of India and surrounding countries
I
30
32
37
40
41
43
54
55
56
II
83
36
39
41
44
45
46
47
48
49
52
53
III
37
39
40
44
48
54
IV
34
37
41
42
44
52
V
34
44
56
Ceylon
35
37
58
Burma
31
33
38
41
47
54
55
Perso-
Baluchi
Afghanistan
29
40
Nicobar
Islands
5
December, 1952] B. C. BASU, P. BALARAMA MENON, AND C. M. SEN GUPTA 277
TABLE I—contd.
Showing the incidence of different species of Tabanus in various regions of India
and the surrounding countries—contd.
Different regions of India and surrounding countries
I
60
62
64
65
72
75
II
59
60
61
62
63
64
67
70
73
74
III
60
64
65
68
70
74
IV
60
61
63
64
67
69
70
73
74
V
60
63
70
Ceylon
60
63
70
Burma
59
60
65
66
70
Perso-
Baluchi
Afghanistan
57
Nicobar
Islands
The following three species have also been recorded from India, but their exact
localities are not known.
3 T. albocostatus Bigot
51 T. nigropictus Macquart
71 T. trinominatus Senior-White
This region is further characterised by the presence of borrow pits, brick fields,
railway side ditches and dead channels, etc., all providing ideal breeding places for
tabanid flies. In this region Tabanus is represented by thirty-two species, namely:—
1. T. albofasciatus Ricardo
2. T. auriflamma Walker
3. T. birmanicus Bigot
4. T. brunnipennis Ricardo
5. T. conicus Bigot
6. T. ditaeniatus Macquart
7. T. diversifrons Ricardo
8. T. flavicinctus Ricardo
278 REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF TABANUS FLIES IN INDIA
[Vol. XXII, Part IV
9. T. flaviventris Bigot
10. T. fuscomaculatus Ricardo
11. T. hybridus Wiedemann
12. T. joidus Bigot
13. T. khasiensis Senior-White
14. T. leucocnematus Bigot
15. T. macer Bigot
16. T. manipurensis Bicords
17. T. melanognathus Bigot
18. T. monotaeniatus Bigot
19. T. nemocallosus Ricardo
20. T. nephodes Bigot
21. T. obconicus Walker
22. T. obtatus Walker
23. T. rubicundus Macquart
24. T. rubidus Wiedemann
25. T. rufiventris Fabricius
26. T. sexcinctus Ricardo
27. T. speciosus Ricardo
28. T. striatus Fabricius
29. T. subhirtus Ricardo
30. T. tenens Walker
31. T. tuberculatus Ricardo
32. T. virgo Wiedemann
The following nine species (1) T. albofasciatus (2) T. auriflamma (3) T. conicus
(4) T. hybridus (5) T. joidus (6) T. manipurensis (7) T. melanognathus (8) T.
nephodes (9) T. tropicus are specific to this region while others have crossed the regional
boundary, vide Table I.
Region 3—
North Western Dry Region.—This region comprises parts of Jammu and Kashmir,
Western Pakistan, Eastern Punjab, Patiala and East Punjab States Union, Greater
Rajasthan, Western Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Bharat, and Delhi. The area is mostly
dry with an average rainfall of thirty inches or less. In the north-west lies the great
Rajputana desert with an average rainfall of less than five inches. The rivers of the
Punjab as also the Ganga and its northern tributaries run through parts of this
region which lies mostly in the Indus valley and is predominantly wheat growing.
Consequent upon the introduction of extensive canals system wide marshy areas
with concomitant growth of vegetation have developed providing ideal breeding
sites for Tabanus flies. Tabanus is represented in this region by seventeen species,
namely:—
1. T. bicinctus Ricardo
2. T. brunnipennis Ricardo
3. T. ditaeniatus Macquart
4. T. excelsus Ricardo
5. T. flavicinctus Ricardo
6. T. jucundus Walker
7. T. khasiensis Senior-White
8. T. leleani Austin
9. T. macer Bigot
10. T. Nemocillosu Ricardo
11. T. orientis Walher
12. T. rubidus Wiedemann
13. T. striatus Fabricius
14. T. subcallosus Ricardo
15. T. sufis Jaennicke
16. T. tenens Walker
17. T. virgo Wiedemann
Only two of these, viz. T. excelsus and T. sufis are confined to this region, the
remaining fifteen species occur in one or more of the other regions also.
Region 4—
Southern Region.—This region comprises mostly the peninsular area consisting
of Madhya Bharat, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Vindhya Pradesh, Hyderabad,
Mysore, Coorg, Sourashtra, Cutch, and greater parts of Madras and Bombay. The
December, 1952] B. C. BASU, P. BALARAMA MENON, AND C. M. SEN GUPTA 279
area has an average rainfall of twenty-five to fifty inches and is largely millet growing.
It is a roughly triangular undulating land of moderate elevation interespersed with
tracts of somewhat higher forest-covered hills and plateaus. In parts, the land is
very fertile and there are many areas of forest specially to the north and the west.
The central plateau as a whole slopes to the east and almost all the rivers flow
from west to east. Of these, the most important are the Mahandai draining the
north-west, the Godavari and Krishna draining the central portion of the Deccan
and the Pennar and Cauvery in the south. In the north, however, the rivers Tapti
and Narbadda flow in the opposite direction and, passing on either side of the Satpura
range, enter the gulf of Cambay. Most of these rivers form deltas at their mouth,
which provide ideal breeding places for the tabanid flies. From these rivers a few
irrigation projects have been developed in the south raising the subsoil water level
which along with numerous ponds, borrow pits, and a moderately heavy rainfall
provide innumerable breeding places for these flies.
In this region twenty-one species of Tabanus are found, namely:—
(1) T. auristriatus Ricardo
(2) T. bicinctus Ricardo
(3) T. brunnipennis Ricardo
(4) T. dilaeniatus Ricardo
(5) T. expeicatus Walker
(6) T. flavicinctus Ricardo
(7) T. indianus Ricardo
(8) T. jucundus Walker
(9) T. leucocnematus Bigot
(10) T. leucohirtus Ricardo
(11) T. macer Bigot
(12) T. obconicus Walker
(13) T. rubidus Wiedemaun
(14) T. rufiventris Fabricius
(15) T. speciosus Ricardo
(16) T. striatus Fabricius
(17) T. subhirtus Ricardo
(18) T. tenebrosus Walker
(19) T. tenens Walker
(20) T. tuberculatus Ricardo
(21) T. virgo Wiedemann
There are only three species, namely, (1) T. tenebrosus (2) T. leucohirtus and
(3) T. auristriatus which are exclusive to this region whereas the remaining eighteen
species have been reported from one or more other regions, vide Table I.
Region 5—
South Coastal Wet Region.—This region comprises the eastern coastal region of
Madras, the western coasts of Madras and Bombay States and the United States of
Travancore and Cochin. It is a narrow fringe of low lying coastal land surrounding
the southern plateau of peninsular India forming the eastern and western maritime
plains, the latter in places being a mere fringe of land a few miles wide. In Malabar
tract on the west coast, there are the high mountain ranges of the western ghats and