Origin
It is claimed that it has been developed
from a strain descended from the mixture of Gir,
Dangi and local cattle.
A contribution from the Gir type of cattle is quite evident in the
formation of the head and ears, and also of the horns to a certain
extent.
They also show a great similarity in general
conformation and ruggedness to the Dangi cattle of Bombay State,
an area which is not far from the Deoni cattle breeding area.
Characteristics
The Deoni is a medium-sized animal which
resembles the Gir in physical structure to a large extent. The body
color is usually spotted black and white. The face is also similarly
patchy and spotted with black and white.
The forehead is convex and bulging, though
breeders have not paid the same scrupulous attention to this trait
as the breeders of Gir cattle, and though the ears are long and
open forward they lack the leaflike structure and also the notch
at the tip of the ear that is typical of the Gir.
The horns in typical animals take a characteristic
outward and backward curve similar to that generally to be seen
in Gir cattle.
The skin is loose and of medium thickness. The dewlap is heavy
and the sheath is usually pendulous. The hair is soft and short.
The cows have a fairly well-developed udder.
The body is massive and upstanding with considerable
depth. The hooves are well-made and shapely and of a black color.
The body structure gives appearance of strength.
Reference:
Joshi, N.R., Phillips, R.W. (1953) Zebu
Cattle of India and Pakistan, FAO Agriculture Studies No. 19,
Publ. by FAO, Rome, 256 pp.
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