Fauna of Thailand. Sambars, muntjacs, serows, axises, gaurs, bantengs

Today there are many most different breeds bulls, among which there are no “bad” ones, since each variety is bred for a specific purpose, winning in comparison with the others in some parameters and inferior in other characteristics. Regardless of the direction of breeding, these animals are of great agricultural importance to humans.

All about the bull

A bull is a large horned animal, a representative of the bovid subfamily of artiodactyls. Representatives of the species differ from other subfamilies in size and massive build.

A bull is taller than a cow, since the live weight of an adult is 60–70% greater, the head is coarser, and the neck is thicker. The shoulders of bulls are more rounded, the chest is wider. Young bulls reach sexual maturity on average at 7 months of life.

Primitive bull

The ancestor of domestic cows was the wild bull, in particular its subspecies, extinct in the wild, the aurochs (also a primitive bull). Wild and the first domesticated aurochs were used only for meat, but with the growing dependence of people on agriculture, they began to be used mainly as labor: for many centuries, aurochs were the main draft animals and remain so in many third world countries to this day.

Domestic bull

The domestic bull is a domesticated subspecies of the wild bull that is bred for its meat and leather. Males of the species are called bulls, castrated males are called oxen.

The inseminating bull (or breeding bull, also a stud male) is the main value in livestock breeding, as it is used in breeding to produce purebred offspring through natural mating or through artificial insemination. Incorrectly selected breeding males (with low potential, high differentiation of traits) can significantly reduce the productive qualities of the offspring, even when using outstanding mothers.

Domestic bull

Bull breeds

The entire variety of bull breeds, depending on the economic orientation, is conventionally divided into 3 branches:

• Dairy breeds. Individuals of this direction are bred for the production of dairy products. Their thin build makes them unprofitable for beef production, but they are good-natured and even-tempered.
• Meat breeds are large in size. Unlike dairy breeds, the physiological processes of meat varieties are aimed at increasing muscle tissue under conditions of the most optimal consumption. Such cows only have enough milk to feed their calves.
• Combined, that is, universal breeds are characterized by the fact that they combine the qualities of both directions.

Note! Beef today is highly valued in dietary nutrition, and therefore the breeding of beef bulls is of particular importance. Their meat is low in fat and cholesterol, making it healthy.

There are more than 1,000 purebred bull breeds in the world, as well as about 30 hybrid forms. This diversity is explained by the wide distribution of cattle and its special importance in agriculture. In addition to the usual traditional breeds, there are quite exotic and rare varieties that are not so easy to see on an ordinary farm.

Takin

Takin (lat. Budorcas taxicolor) is a butane bull, a very rare species that looks like a large goat. The height of the animal at the withers is about 100 cm, the length of the body is 120-150 cm, and the body weight reaches 300 kg. The takin has a large mouth and eyes, but small ears. It is covered with a thick golden skin that darkens towards the underbelly. The horns of males and females resemble those of a buffalo.

Black bull

Aberdeen Angus bull (English: Aberdeen Angus) is a breed that originates from Scotland. Distinctive features of Black Angus bulls are polled and black in color. Their Aberdeen dogs are passed on to their descendants even when crossed with individuals of other breeds.

These small cows rarely reach 120 cm at the withers. Their skin is loose and thin. The bones of animals are thin and make up 15-18% of the carcass weight.

Black bull

Zebu

Zebu (lat. Bos taurus indicus) is an unusual subspecies of wild bull with a pronounced hump. This muscle-fat formation serves as a kind of “warehouse” nutrients and plays an important role in the life of the animal’s body.

The weight of adult zebu reaches 300-350 kg. Satisfactory meat qualities, as well as high milk fat content and endurance, make humpback bulls one of the most valuable forms of cattle in areas with hot climates.

Muskox

The musk ox, or musk ox (lat. Ovibos moschatus) is a large stocky mammal with a large head and short neck. Musk oxen are covered with unusually thick hair and have rounded horns with a massive base on the forehead.

On average, the height at the withers of an adult musk ox is 135 cm, weight varies from 260 to 650 kg.

Bull Gaur

Gaur (lat. Bos gaurus), or Indian bison, is the largest representative of the genus of true bulls that were bred in India.

The body length of an adult gaur reaches an average of 3 m, height - 2 m. This bull from India weighs from 600 to 1500 kg. The gaur's horns are curved upward and resemble crescents in shape, the color of the coat is brown, approaching black.

The domesticated form of the gaur bull is gayal.

Watussi bull

Watussi (English: Ankole-Watusi) is an African bull with a very exotic appearance. A characteristic feature of the species is its huge horns (up to 1.8 m wide), which serve as a kind of air conditioner for the animal. They are permeated with blood vessels and regulate the body's temperature in extreme heat.

Watussi are considered sacred bulls among African tribes, and only members of the nobility and the wives of chiefs can own them. These bulls are raised primarily for meat.

For your information! The weight of adult bulls reaches 600-730 kg.

Tibetan bull

The Tibetan bull, also yak (lat. Bos mutus) or sarlyk, is a cloven-hoofed mammal native to the Tibetan mountains. This species is difficult to confuse with another because of its memorable appearance. This is a massive, long-haired animal with a sloping back and long, upward-curved horns. The height of an adult at the withers reaches 2 m, weight - 1000 kg. A distinctive feature of yaks is their rather short legs with a long body.

American bull

Bison (lat. Bison bison), or American bison, is a large, massive animal with thick brown hair. The head is massive, broad-browed. The ends of the horns are wrapped inward.

The back of the American bull's body is not as developed as the front. The height of an adult individual is 2 m, length - 3 m.

Since ancient times, bulls have occupied an important place in human life, however, despite such close “neighborhood”, there are many so-called “false” myths about these animals, and some features of their content are incomprehensible to many.

Why do bulls react to the color red?

It is believed that during a bullfight, the bull attacks the matador's red cape because the color red irritates him. This is nothing more than a myth, since bulls and cows do not distinguish colors well. Moreover, they do not perceive the color red at all. The animal is irritated by something else - movement.

Bulls are very short-sighted, so the flickering of matter is perceived by them as a threat, but the red color for bullfighting was not chosen by chance. It is designed to calm, not irritate, not the bull, but the audience. The blood of an animal is not so noticeable on red fabric, and therefore its killing is perceived more calmly.

Are bulls able to distinguish colors?

Color blindness (also color blindness) is a hereditary feature of vision in humans and primates, which is expressed in the inability to distinguish all or some colors, but most often color blind people are people who are unable to see the color red. In this regard, it is difficult to give a definite answer to the question of whether bulls are color blind.

The fact is that bulls and cows have only two color receptors in their eyes, and not three, like in humans, and in general, most animals distinguish only the spectrum of colors that is important for their life. For them, this is a feature of vision, while for people, limited color recognition is a disease. While humans recognize shades of red, blue and yellow, and their various combinations, cattle are most sensitive to yellowish-green and blue-violet colors. And although bulls cannot distinguish between red tones, this does not make them color blind.

Bull and red

Why does a bull need a nose ring?

On a farm, bulls are usually kept with a nose ring. The reason is simple - these are large, strong animals that are difficult to control, but there are points on the animal’s body with increased pain sensitivity. These are ears, eyes and nose. That is why quite often the partition between the animal’s nostrils is used to attach a ring, with the help of which the obstinate animal is kept “in check” without much difficulty.

Ancient Egypt

The ancient Egyptians revered bulls as sacred animals. In particular, the Egyptian bull Apis (or Hapis), dedicated to the gods Osiris and Ptah, from ancient Egyptian mythology even had its own temple in Memphis.

Initially, Apis was considered the embodiment of part of the soul of Ptah, the patron saint of the city of Memphis, and acted as a symbol of the power of the pharaoh. It was believed that Apis existed in the body of an ordinary bull living at the temple, and with his death acquired a new incarnation.

When the previous incarnation of Apis died, the priests of Ptah began searching for a new “vessel” for the soul of their god. Once a new animal was found, it was fattened for a month, after which it was taken to the temple.

Breeding and keeping yaks at home

Domestic yaks are bred primarily for meat and wool, since the average annual milk yield of this breed is insignificant - about 500 liters per year, no more, but the milk is very fatty. The meat is coarse and is mainly used in the manufacture of sausages and canned food. In addition, about 3 kg of wool can be obtained per year from one adult individual.

Keeping and breeding yaks does not present any difficulties. Even domesticated cattle prefer to get food on their own, climbing high into the mountains. You can feed them with black bread, turnips, carrots and oats. The main thing is not to overdo it, since these products are a treat for yaks, and not daily food. Salt and bone meal are added to the feeders as a mineral supplement.

The yak pen is a simple fence made of metal structures, the height of which does not exceed 2.5 m. A small canopy is built inside the pen, under which the animals can shelter from the rain.

Important! Yaks are rather unsociable animals. This trait is especially noticeable during the rutting period, so it is recommended not to disturb them during this time.

Yaks can be crossed with domestic cows, and the resulting hybrids, khainaki, are convenient not only as draft animals, they are distinguished by good fertility and produce up to 3.5 tons of milk per year.

When choosing a bull for your estate, experts recommend paying attention to the following characteristics of the animal:

Important! In order not to spend a lot of time caring for animals at home, it is recommended to purchase young animals at the end of April so that they can be immediately put out for grazing.

The business of raising calves for meat can bring significant profits if you know not only the numerical parameters: milk productivity, meat yield, etc., but also some features of the nature of the breed and its content. It is equally important to pay attention to appearance animals upon purchase. And then the farmer will not go broke!

Gaur (Bos gaurus) , also known as the Indian bison, is the largest extant representative of the genus true bulls (Bos), native to South and Southeast Asia. The gaur has been included in the IUCN Red List of Vulnerable Species since 1986. Population declines in some parts of its range have been more than 70% over the last three generations. The species' demographic trends are stable in well-protected areas, and are also recovering in several areas that have been placed under protection.

Description

The body length of the gaur, including the head, is 2.5-3.3 m, the length of the tail ranges from 0.7 to 1.05. The height at the withers ranges from 1.65 to 2.3 m. The body weight of the gaur is 650-1500 kg. Adult males are approximately 25% larger and heavier than females. Males and females have paired horns, ranging from 0.6 to 1.15 m in length. The coat color varies from dark brown to reddish brown with white stockings on the legs. A characteristic hump is noticeable on the shoulders, which is the result of the process of lengthening the vertebrae.

Area

The gaur's geographic range includes Nepal, India, Indochina and the Malay Peninsula.

Natural habitat

Prefers forested hills and nearby grassy meadows. Found at altitudes up to 1800 meters.

Nutrition

Classified as a herbivore. Gaur prefers green grass, but when there is a shortage of food, it can consume coarse, dry grasses, forbs and leaves.

Behavior

Gaur herds usually number from 8 to 11 individuals, but sometimes reach 40 individuals. The average habitat area is 78 square kilometers. Herds typically consist of one adult bull, several cows and offspring. Bulls can form their own herds when they reach sexual maturity, or become solitary. Hierarchy is present in all gaur herds.

Ritualized aggressive behavior is characteristic of both sexes to maintain their dominant status. Aggressive behavior is expressed by horizontal and vertical head movements. The degree of head movement activity indicates different levels of aggression.

Danger-signaling vocalizations include snorting and high-pitched moos. Bulls have two auxiliary sounds. One sound signals other members of the herd to stop and gather together. Another roaring sound that lasts up to several hours is made by gaur bulls during the mating period. Gaurs also use licking to communicate. Females lick their young to form strong bonds with them. Individuals lower in the herd hierarchy lick superior individuals. In addition, the male and female lick each other during mating.

Daily behavior of the gaur includes walking from the forest to grassy areas for morning feeding. In the afternoon, the gaurs rest. The next feeding occurs in the evening, and at night the herd returns to the forest to rest and sleep.

Reproduction

Gaurs breed at any time throughout the year, although females have a gap of 12 to 15 months between births. The estrus cycle is three weeks, the duration of estrus is from one to four days. Females leave the herd during childbirth. Usually, on days 270-280 of pregnancy, one calf is born, weighing about 23 kg. Calves feed on their mother's milk for up to nine months. Females become sexually mature at the age of two to three years. Although lifespan in the wild is unknown, one gaur in captivity has lived to be 26 years old.

Security status

The gaur population is in decline due to uncontrolled hunting, habitat modification and destruction. Among animals, the main threat comes from. It has been estimated that there are about 1,000 individuals left in the wild. Gaurs are also very sensitive to diseases in cattle. Diseases are spread by farm livestock that intersect with the gaur's habitat.

Gaurs are the largest representatives of the genus of true bulls. Their body length is more than 3 meters, and their shoulder height reaches 2.2 meters. Among all other types of bulls, they stand out not only for their impressive size, but also for the correct body composition. Unfortunately, there are very few gaurs left in natural conditions. In fact, they were preserved only in reserves and national parks.

The average body weight of males reaches 1000 kilograms, in some cases - 1200 kilograms.

This is a fairly calm animal. Due to its size, it does not have many natural enemies.

The feeling of power and strength of the gaur is given not only by its dimensions, but also by its massive horns, the length of which can reach 90-115 centimeters each. They are curved upward and resemble crescents in shape. The dark brown color of the bull is “diluted” by white “stockings” on the legs. Female gaurs are much smaller than males, their horns are thinner and shorter.

These bulls can be found in the mountain forests and grassy plains of India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia and southern Vietnam. Gaurs come to the edges of forests and plains only to nibble grass. In most cases, they try to avoid open areas. Bulls feed on young grass, bamboo shoots and bush shoots.

Bulls are most active in the morning and evening, while the sun is not so hot. If there is a settlement nearby, then they try not to show themselves to humans and adapt to their nocturnal lifestyle.

These bulls need a nearby watering hole, where they can not only quench their thirst, but also take a swim. Unlike buffalos, they do not take mud baths.

These bulls are kept in small herds of 10-12 individuals, consisting mostly of females, young calves and teenagers. The herd also includes 1-2 adult bulls. Young bulls prefer to stay in separate groups. Older males live alone. The right to stay in the herd among males is determined during fights, which in very rare cases end in serious injuries.

These fights are more like demonstration performances, during which the Gaurs demonstrate themselves in all their glory. They do not attack with their foreheads, like many bulls, but with their sides, striking at the same time with one horn in the side of the enemy.

Their breeding season begins in November and ends in March-April. At this time, in the forests and on the plains you can hear an inviting roar, spreading over respectful distances.

Pregnancy lasts 270-280 days, after which one calf is born. Calving occurs in September. Up to 9 months, the female feeds the cub with milk, and then it switches to plant foods.

Gaurs have been successfully domesticated by humans. The domestic form of these bulls is called gayal or mithan. They are much smaller and weaker than the Gaurs, and are considered more docile. They are used as labor and a source of meat. The largest number of gayals are now found in Manipur, Nagaland and Myanmar.

These beautiful and powerful animals are in danger of extinction due to the reduction of areas of their natural habitat, the extermination of wild individuals for meat and infection by cow epidemics. The largest number of gaurs is observed in India, where about 90% of these animals now live, but in the countries of Southeast Asia the situation is critical. Therefore, these bulls were listed in the International Red Book.

Gaur is a rare artiodactyl animal, not known to wide circles of nature lovers. This infamy seems unfair, because the gaur, along with the bison, shares the title of the largest wild bull on the planet. But if the bison claims first place only due to its weight, then the gaur deserves the palm due to its size. From a systematic point of view, the closest relative of this ungulate is the banteng, and more distant relatives are bison, bison and buffalo.

Gaur (Bos frontalis).

When you first look at the gaur, you will be struck by its colossal dimensions: old males can reach a record 330 cm in length and 220 cm at the withers! The length of their tail reaches 1 m, the length of the horns is up to 115 cm, the weight can reach 1 ton, and according to some sources, even more. Females are about a quarter smaller. The most surprising thing is that with such a size, the gaur does not at all give the impression of an overweight and clumsy animal. His heavy, broad-browed head is compensated by a well-developed neck, high withers and sloping shoulders by strong and slender legs. In a word, Gaur looks like a real athlete.

The gaur's short fur emphasizes its prominent muscles.

The color of these bulls is brown, turning to almost black in the area of ​​the head, neck and upper legs. The lower part of the legs is white, the nasal planum is light. The horns diverge to the sides, and then bend upward and slightly back, while their lower part is dirty white and the ends are black. Sexual dimorphism comes down to only the indicated difference in size and thinner horns in females. By the way, this allows you to accurately distinguish gaurs from bantengs, in which the males are similarly colored, and the females, on the contrary, are bright red.

Old male on vacation.

The range of gaurs once covered the vast expanses of South and Southeast Asia: from the Hindustan Peninsula to the Indochina Peninsula, Malaysia, China, Nepal and Bhutan. Today, gaurs are still found in these territories, but their populations are very small and scattered, and in Sri Lanka this species has been completely destroyed. These bulls inhabit moist evergreen forests, and they prefer hilly areas with sparse trees and avoid impenetrable thickets. In the mountains, gaurs rise to a height of 2000-2800 m, but at the same time they regularly visit the valleys.

Female with young.

In search of such food, they can visit pastures, but never graze crops in the fields.

The diet of gaurs includes all kinds of grasses, bamboo shoots and branches of bushes.

Like domestic cattle, these animals require large amounts of minerals and water.

They satisfy their need for minerals by licking dirt, but, unlike Indian buffaloes, they do not like to wallow in puddles all day.

The character of the Gaurs matches their appearance. As befits strongmen who are aware of their power, these animals radiate indestructible calm, equanimity and... caution. The latter quality is explained, of course, not by cowardice, but simply by a reluctance to enter into conflicts that are not worth their attention.

In case of danger, gaurs simply move away with a quick step, and they move in the thick of the forest extremely quietly.

These animals show the same friendliness towards each other. Their herds consist of 8-11 females with calves, males stay alone. The herd is controlled by the old female matriarch; males join the herd only during mating. Individual herds adhere to a specific area, but can sometimes unite in groups of up to 50 individuals. It is noteworthy that on pastures these bulls can create mixed herds even with sambars (Indian deer).

Gaurs breed throughout the year, but mating occurs most often between November and April. Males roar loudly during the rut, but fights between them are rare. As a rule, applicants limit themselves to demonstrating serious intentions, lowering their heads low and pointing one horn in the direction of the opponent. Pregnancy lasts 270-280 days, usually one calf is born, twins are very rare. At the moment of giving birth, the female retreats into the thick of the bushes and returns to the herd with the baby. She feeds the calf with milk for up to 7-12 months (on average up to 9). Young become sexually mature at 2-3 years, and the maximum life expectancy of gaurs reaches 30 years.

Gaura bull in a characteristic pose of threat.

These giants have few enemies. The most terrible of them is man. People, firstly, displace gaurs from their habitats, developing lands, cutting down forests, and occupying the best watering places. Secondly, livestock infects gaurs with dangerous infections, and while domestic animals can get help from a veterinarian, wild bulls die. Young gaurs are sometimes attacked by crocodiles, leopards and tigers. By the way, the tiger is the only predator capable of killing an adult bull. Caution, sensitivity and strength help Gauras avoid danger. In case of danger, they snort loudly, and if the enemy is within sight, adults attack him with a special lateral movement. In this case, the predator has every chance of being impaled on the horn and thrown a considerable distance, which is often tantamount to death.

Even tigers prefer to bypass the mighty giants, and attack only when they fail to catch smaller prey.

Despite such impressive self-defense, gaurs have long been tamed. Their domesticated form, the gayal, is not very common compared to buffaloes. Gayals are distinguished by their smaller stature, more massive build, and short horns. They inherited calmness from their wild ancestors and are highly valued for this complaisance. They are used as draft power and a source of meat. But the fate of wild gaurs does not yet inspire optimism. The widespread erosion of the food supply and the destruction of suitable habitats lead to an inexorable decline in numbers throughout the entire range. That is why gaurs are included in the International Red Book, and these beauties can only be seen in some nature reserves and the largest zoos.

Appearance

The body length of the gaur reaches more than three meters. The height at the shoulders reaches 2.2 m, and its weight can reach 1200 kg, in some cases up to 1500 kg. A normal adult male weighs about 1000 kg. The coat is brown, with shades from reddish to black. The horns are on average 90 cm in length and curved upward in the shape of a crescent.

Spreading

The range of the gaur covers India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, southern Vietnam and Malaysia, Nepal, where the gaur lives in dense forests. Sometimes it goes to the edges of forests or clearings in search of food, but in most cases it avoids open areas.

Behavior

Gaurs are naturally active during the day, but near human settlements they often switch to a nocturnal lifestyle. They feed on grasses, but can also eat foliage. Herds of gaurs consist of ten to twelve animals, in some cases they can even reach forty individuals. They contain mainly females with young calves, accompanied by one male. Males often change the herd; the right to be the leader of the herd is won in fights, which, however, do not lead to injury. Young males, not yet able to challenge a mature opponent to a duel, form separate herds. Older males live alone.

Threats

Gaurs are considered an endangered animal. Due to hunting and cow epidemics, the gaur population has declined greatly. Today, about 20 thousand gaurs live in the wild, scattered across various limited areas. Development of the number of gaurs in different countries varies greatly: in India, populations have been able to increase slightly since the 1990s and today account for 90% of all gaurs. In the countries of Southeast Asia, the situation is critical; all populations are in danger of extinction.

Domestication

Gaurs are one of the five species of bulls that have been domesticated by humans. The domestic form of gaur is called gayal or mitan. Ghayal is considered more docile than gaur. It is noticeably smaller than its wild ancestor, possessing a wider forehead and thicker cone-shaped horns. It is used as a work animal and as a source of meat. Guyals are kept in the border regions of Myanmar, in Manipur and Nagaland. In other parts of its range, the gaur has never been domesticated. In some places, gayals have been successfully crossed with cows. Guyal-cow hybrids are used in many parts of India and have typical properties pet.

Taxonomy

Sometimes the Latin name is used for gaur Bos gaurus. Previously, this was the name of wild gaur, while gayal was called Bos frontalis. However, since both are the same species, the name applies to both Bos frontalis. The words gaur and gayal come from Hindi. In Southeast Asia they are sometimes also called by the Malay word "seladang".

Notes

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

• Wow, a talking fish!
• Who will tell a tall tale? (cartoon)

See what "Gaur" is in other dictionaries:

GAUR- A wild bull in India, considered a sacred animal among some tribes. Dictionary foreign words, included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. gaur (lat. bibos gaurus) is a large artiodactyl animal of the bovine genus, living in the mountain... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

gaur- Gaur. gaur (Bos gaurus), a mammal of the bovine genus. The body length of bulls is about 3 m, the height at the withers is up to 2.2 m. The horns are massive, up to 83 cm long. G. lives in India, Nepal, and the Indochina Peninsula. Lives in herds in mountain forests at an altitude of 600 x 1700 m... Agriculture. Large encyclopedic dictionary

GAUR- artiodactyl animal of the bovid family; wild bull. Height up to 2.2 m. Horns are especially large in males (length up to 83 cm). Lives in the forests of India, Nepal, Indochina Peninsula, Malacca Peninsula. In the past, the object of hunting (meat and skin). Mainly preserved... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

GAUR- (Bos gaurus), a mammal of the bovine genus. Sometimes they are classified with banteng and cuprey in the genus Bibos. Dl. body approx. 3 m, high. at the withers up to 2.2 m. The horns are massive, sickle-shaped, up to 83 cm long. Lives in India, Nepal, and the Indochina Peninsula. Lives in herds... ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary