Importance of Economic Counts in Cattle Selection: Prioritize qualities that directly affect profitability, such as milk output, growth rate, and reproductive efficiency.

The importance of economic counts in cattle selection in the dairy business. India is important. In India, about 80 million rural households are engaged in milk production, with a high proportion comprising landless, small, and marginal farmers.

After independence, various efforts were made to bring a white revolution in the country, which gave us a lot of success today We produce 187.7 million metric tons of milk with an average consumption of 394 gm/day/capita, and the average annual milk production per cow has increased by 35% in the last 10 years. 

Importance of Economic counts  in cattle selection:

Along with development, the man started choosing different items according to his needs. For example, the farmer pays attention to the health and fitness of the bull at the time of purchase and selects it. Similarly, for the production of milk, the selection of good animals based on economic criteria is also necessary.

Remember that by selecting good animals, the calves of the good breed can be born and milk production can be increased. At the time of selection of milch animals, pay more attention to the qualities on which the income of the animal depends. These qualities are called economic qualities/economic counts. 

1) Economic counts in the Selection of cattle based on Body composition and growth rate; 

Physical growth potential in animals has been directly related to their productivity. In this, the body weight of the animal is measured at the mature stage, and because of it, we can often estimate how the animal’s production will be in the coming years. The physical growth potential and growth rate of each animal is more dependent on its genetics. Besides this, good nutrition and management are also necessary. In addition to body weight, the design of the animal’s body also affects its production. Milk animals should appear healthy and fit at first sight. The importance of economic traits in cattle selection based on body composition and growth rate is as follows:.

• The body should be such that when viewed from above, the body looks like a triangle.
•  The necks of high-yielding animals should also be lean and nicely connected to the body. The area of the belly should be larger than the area of the chest. If we see a triangle form between the shoulder and the belly.
• The skin of a good milch animal should be thin and soft, and a cow-buffalo with more fat usually gives less milk and has more reproductive disorders. 
• The udder of the animal should be large, and the four teats of the cattle should be large and equally spaced.

2) Importance of Reproductive Economic Counts in Cattle Selection:

  Relative benefits from milch animals are possible only when their reproductive economic properties are quite good. Reproductive traits reflect the reproductive capacity of an animal collectively or individually. These include…

• The age of the animal at the time of first reproduction and how many times it is conceived after mating, the age at the first point, the interval between the two vistas, etc. Choose a milch animal that is regularly fed and possesses the qualities of motherhood.
• At a time of animal selection, we must consider that a good milking capability animal should not possess the problem of the ovary, fallopian tube, or uterus, and this type of animal is sold at a low price, which later on becomes a burden for the purchaser.
• Confirm well before purchasing the animal whether it has a healthy vagina and uterus; if you find any doubt, then be well checked by a veterinary doctor. There is more possibility of an animal having a problem with pregnancy if she becomes older
• Age at the first point of the animal affects its life and production. Always choose animals whose age at the first point is less.
• Similarly, reducing the time between two passages will also be beneficial.
• The difference between different animals has also been found at the time of re-conception after calving.
• Many animals conceive only once or twice, while many animals do not become pregnant even after repeated pregnancies for a long time. Even with good management and nutrition, this time can be reduced. Therefore, for optimum breeding, always choose an animal whose age is low at the first calving and who becomes pregnant twice after a short period.

3) Economic Counts in Cattle Selection based on Milk Production; 

Milk is one of the most important economic products of animals, on which the economic strength of the dairy industry depends. Therefore…

•  Pay special attention to its milk production capacity at the time of animal selection.
• The dairy cow’s potential for milking is noticed during the first five lactations. So generally, selection should be carried out during the first or second lactation and a month after calving.
• Farmer brothers often do not keep records of milk production.  So while selecting an animal, try to milk it at least three times. 
• Pay attention to the quantity of milk as well as its composition. Milk structure contains fat, protein, and fat-free solids. 
• Always choose an animal that gives more milk and a greater amount of ghee in milk. Many animals eat less and give more milk, and many continue to give milk till the last days of pregnancy. These are considered good qualities of milch animals.

4)  Economic Counts in Cattle Selection based on Health-related Qualities;  

Make sure that at the time of the selection of milch animals…

• They do not have any genetic or infectious disease that affects the economics of Indian dairy animals. 
• Similarly, reproductive disorders reduce the reproductive capacity of an animal and affect it, reproductive disorders reduce the reproductive capacity of an animal and affect its benefits. Therefore, always choose an animal that has the power to tolerate disease and does not have any genetic disease. 
• If there is any suspicion that the milk may contain antibiotic residue, do not put the milk in the vat, and consider taking samples for antibiotic testing 

• The more power an animal has to fight diseases, the more useful it is to its owner.

Therefore, it is requested of the peasant brothers to give due attention to their economic qualities while selecting their milch animals. Only then can animals get more profit, and in the coming time, more milk production will happen in the country.