Nepal is rich in the diversity of genetic resources. Approximately, 30 indigenous breeds of domestic animals and poultry have been identified and characterized, the diversity of animal genetic resources in nepal is shrinking due to introduction of exotic breeds of different livestock species, neglecting indigenous germplasm as the study and also the development of local breeds have received low priority in the past.

Recently, nepal recognizes the domesticated and cultivated species as an important component of biological diversity after signing at the Earth summit in 1992. The convention calls for the development of national strategies for the conserving biological diversity of which livestock and poultry conservation activities must be a component. Convention also highlights the need to identify the component of biological diversity, monitoring their status and assessment of their impacts of activities that could affect biological diversity.

Terai cattle (found in terai) (Bos indicus)

•       Bright color (especially white and also red in color)

•       Used for draft and tillage as well as milk and manure

•   Adult weight 177 kg, body length 109 cm

Pahari Cattle represent major cattle population (in hills) (Bos Indicus)

•       Majority of cattle are black in color

•       Used for tillage purpose in hilly and terrace land

•       Can adopt the cool climate and are hardy

•       Can grow in limited management

•       Also used for milk and manure purpose

Khaila (Found in hill of far-west) (Bos indicus) (good draught breed)

•       Strongly built and used for draft and draught purpose

•       42% of Khaila are black and white and 64% cattle have upward projected straight horns (Kunwar et al., 1998)

•       They are not easily controlled by others except their master.

Yak and Nak (Bos grunniens) found in Himalayan area

•        Raised from 3000m to 5000m altitude.

•        The optimum temperature for maintaining yak is 0 to 10oC

•        Although yak can thrive far below the freezing point.

•        Maximum adult wt for Yak and Nak is 355 and 325 kg respectively.

•        Color varies from white, black, gray, brown

Lulu (Bos tauras) (humpless cattle) (raised from 3000 to 4000m altitude.)

•        Found Mustang and few places of Dolpa and Manang

•        Body color varies from black to white, black, brown, gray, white, spotted black and white.

•        Popular for its strength, resistance to harsh environment and capacity to produce milk in low input system

•        average adult weight is 125-150 kg, body length 99.4 cm and wither height 87 cm (Rana et al., 1996)

Achhami (Bos indicus) (world shortest cattle breed)

•       Raised from 1400m to 2000m altitude.

•       Found in Achham, Bajhang, Bajura and Doti district of Nepal

•       Body color varies from black to white i.e. black, brown, gray, white, spotted black and white.

•       Adult body weight averages 116kg. Body length is 91 cm ]

Siri (Bos indicus) (known for milk production 4.5 lit/day) (extinct)Big

•       Hill cattle raised from 1400m to 2000m altitude.

•       Body color varies from black to white.

•       Flat and wide forehead, small ear, front projected sharp horns.

•       Bigger than Black Pahari cattle.

•       Can grow in harsh environment giving production in low input.

Parkote: (is a high altitude water buffalo)

Mean body weight is 323 kg.

•       Generally black in color with few brown or light brown in color

•       Sword shaped horn projected backward

•       No any spot or stripe in their body, mouth is black

•       Average 2.77 lit milk/day with range of 2-4 lit/day

•       Bigger udder with clear veins seen.

Gaddi (found in far-western hills and named after an indigenous tribe here)

•       They are good milk yielder (3.5 lit/day)

•       Average adult wt: 452 kg

•       Generally brown or light brown in color

•       White round spot in forehead

•       Long and semi circled horns

•       Prominent veins in udder, is high milk yielder among indigenous breeds.

Lime (smallest among three indigenous breed)

•       Found in mid-hills of Nepal

•       Brownish or whitish hair stripe below chin and around chest

•       Below knee white or brown color make legs distinct

•       Sickle shaped horn turned towards neck

•       Low milk yield than other two indigenous breeds (average 2.5 lit/day)

•       Average weight is 311 kg

Khari (major breed of Nepal) (Hill goats, found in mid-hills of Nepal)

•       High potential of twinning

•       Short kidding interval, good adaptabililty

•       Pokharel and Neopane (2002) in his study found the six color (Dhobini, Ghorli, Khairi, Singari, Kali and Seti)

•       Meduium sized body, average wt 30 kg, average body length 63 cm

Terai goat (found in southern plain land)

•       Predominantly white and also black in color

•       Popular for meat

•       Pure form hardly exist due to cross with Indian breeds Jamunapari, Barbari and Beetal

•       Average adult weight 30 kg, average body length 60 cm

Sinhal (found in high hills and lower himalayan belt)

•        Large sized breed among the indigenous goat breeds

•        body color is variable from black, white, gray, mixed black and white color.

•        Average body weight 35 kg, average body length 69cm

•        Used for meat and draft purpose

•        potentially disease resistant and resistant to unfavorable environment

Chyangra (reared in himalayan region above 2500 meter above sea level.

•        They are suitable for meat, pack and pashmina production.

•         are hardy and disease resistant

•         color ranges from total black to total white and also in mixed color

•         average adult weight 30 kg; average body length 62 cm

•         has long and twisted horns

Reason for being endangered of rare breeds

·         The diversity of animal genetic resources in Nepal has been shrinking due to the introduction of exotic breeds (Jersey, HF, and Brown swiss breeds of cattle: Murrah breeds of buffalo: polwarth and border leicester breeds of sheep: Jamunapari, Barbari and sannel breeds of goat, Hampshire and Australop breeds of chicken)  and their cross breeding programme with indegenous breeds.

·         In the past, the genetic potential of the indigenous breed of livestock and poultry were not given the consideration for designing breeding program.

·         Selection programme in livestock and poultry has not been done in organised way and it has been felt that negative breeding has been practiced in the field. the lack of strategies for in suitable servation and genetic selection are the major limitations.