Meetei San

The word Meetei refers to the indigenous people of Manipur, and San means cow. Because of this, the cattle are commonly known as Meetei San throughout the state. Manipuri communities in Manipur rear these cattle.^[3][4]

Meetei San cattle are found only in Manipur. They live mainly in districts that have plains and grazing land. These cattle are reared in open grazing areas and also in closed cowsheds. A semi-intensive system is followed, where animals both graze and are stall-fed.^[3][4]

The breed has a semi-wild nature and is considered a rare type of cattle.^[3][4]

According to the 20th Livestock Census (2019), Manipur had about 2.63 lakh cattle. Out of these, 2.19 lakh were indigenous cattle and 0.44 lakh were crossbred cattle.^[3][4]

Meetei San cattle are strong and well adapted to local conditions. They can survive with limited feed and simple management. These cattle are mainly used for draught work. Milk production is limited, but it still contributes to household needs.^[3][4]

The average daily milk yield ranges from 2.0 to 4.5 kg. This shows that there is scope to improve milk production in Manipur through proper breeding programs.^[3][4]

Cows begin calving at about 34 months of age, give birth annually, and produce approximately 7–8 calves during their lifetime. The breed is easy to rear, produces about 1.5 to 3 liters of milk per day (averaging around 2 liters), and its milk has been a staple food for the local population, though overall milk production has declined with the falling cattle numbers. The breed also shows some tolerance to common diseases such as foot and mouth disease, hemorrhagic septicemia, and black quarter.^[1]

The average age at sexual maturity is 26.00 ± 0.36 months. This age is higher than in some other cattle breeds. This may be due to poor quality feed, lack of grazing land, and poor management conditions.^[3][4]

The average length of the oestrous cycle is 21.50 ± 0.13 days. The average duration of oestrus is 18.43 ± 0.11 hours.^[3][4]

Oestrous behaviour

During the oestrus period, the following behaviors were seen:

• Restlessness was observed in 100% of the animals

• Frequent urination was seen in 70%

• Tail raising was seen in 20%

• Bellowing was observed in 90%

• Homosexual behavior was seen in 20%

• All animals showed genital discharge during oestrus.^[3][4]

Physical signs of oestrus

The following physical signs were observed:

• Vulval swelling

• Marked swelling: 60%

• Moderate swelling: 20%

• Mild swelling: 20%

• Hyperemia (reddening) of the vulval mucous membrane was seen in 80% of the animals^[3][4]

Genital discharge

The genital discharge was:

• Clear in 90% of animals

• Opaque in 10% of animals

• The amount of discharge was plenty in 60% of the cases. The amount and type of discharge can vary between breeds and also depend on the health of the reproductive organs.^[3][4]

Age at first service

The average age at first fertile service was 27.00 ± 0.36 months. Differences in age at first service may occur due to breed, nutrition, housing, climate, and stress conditions.^[3][4]

Age at first calving

The average age at first calving was 37.35 ± 0.33 months. This age can vary depending on feeding, management, and environmental conditions.^[3][4]

The average gestation period was 280.10 ± 0.17 days. This value is within the normal range for cattle. Gestation length is not greatly affected by feeding or housing but can affect calf size.^[3][4]

The average daily milk production was 2.86 ± 0.03 kg. This is lower than that of crossbred cattle, which usually produce more milk under good climatic and feeding conditions.^[3][4]

The total milk production per lactation was 363.34 ± 5.86 kg. Milk yield is an important economic trait because it affects the income of farmers and the success of dairy farming.^[3][4]

Providing good quality fodder and stress-free housing can help improve milk production in Meetei San cattle.^[3][4]

Lactation length

The average lactation length was 407.23 ± 1.83 days.^[3][4]

Dry period

The average dry period was 148.00 ± 3.00 days. The dry period is important for the health of the cow and the growth of the unborn calf. Very short or very long dry periods can reduce productivity and reproductive efficiency.^[3][4]

The inter-calving period was 555.23 ± 3.97 days. This is the time between two calvings. A shorter inter-calving period is considered better for productivity.^[3][4]

The average number of open days was 275.13 ± 3.95 days. Open days are the number of days from calving until the cow becomes pregnant again. High open days may be caused by poor nutrition, reproductive problems, or management issues.^[3][4]

The number of services per conception was 2.28 ± 0.12. This means that, on average, more than two services were needed for one pregnancy. This shows moderate reproductive efficiency. Poor quality feed and stress from stall-feeding may affect fertility.^[3][4]