Question

A dual-purpose breed would be ________ .
(a) Jerseys
(b) Ayrshine
(c) Krishna valley breed
(d) All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Dual-purpose breed is an animal breed such as chickens, beef/dairy cattle, sheep, goats, ducks, geese, pigs, hops, etc. that provide at least 2 kinds of resources; food such as meat, eggs, and milk; wool, hide or skills such as with some hunting dogs and agricultural purposes.

Complete answer:
The Krishna valley breed of cattle is a dual-purpose breed distributed in Bagalkot, Belgaum & Bijapur districts of Karnataka. It is a draught breed mainly used for agricultural purposes. The bulls are known for strength and endurance and the cows are moderate milk yielders. The Krishna Valley is a relatively modern breed. A local breed known as Gaonti was cross- bred with Gir, Kankrej, and Ongole, with selection for the power and size needed to plough the sticky soil of the valleys of the Krishna River and its tributaries such as the Ghatprabha and the Malaprabha.

Additional Information:
- Other dual-purpose breeds of cattle are Sahiwal: The breed is regarded as one of the best dairy breeds in India due to its excellent ability to produce sufficient amounts of milk, good carcass quality, and its resistance to drought, parasite- borne diseases, and harsh climatic conditions.

- Gir: The Gir breed is distinct from other cattle breeds due to its qualities like weight, height, and natural beauty. It has a high tolerance to diseases, harsh climatic conditions, and tick infestation among other qualities. It produces 4000- 5000 kg of milk per lactation with $4.5\%$ butterfat content.
- Dual- purpose breeds have an important share of milk and beef production in certain parts of the world, especially in Europe. Minor breeds are of local or regional importance and some of them are endangered.
So, the correct answer is ‘(c) Krishna valley breed'.

Note:
- Public support is essential for maintaining the specific advantages of these breeds for sustainable cattle production.
- Many characteristics need to be documented. Specific characteristics, like milk proteins, mastitis resistance, or strong claws, could be of special advantage in commercial crossbreeding or in genetic manipulation in the future.
- Despite technological progress in highly developed countries, genetic diversity should be maintained for future generations.