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The Damascus Cow—An Unexplored Source of Dairy Germ Plasma¹

College of Agriculture, University of Aleppo, Syria

ABSTRACT

Damascus cattle are an excellent indigenous breed, showing a high potential for milk production, longevity, heat tolerance, and disease resistance. All of these qualities make it highly desirable as a milk producer in areas with hot, arid, or subtropical climates.

In spite of many desirable qualities some important defects have crept in and are being accentuated, namely:

1. Short lactation period in some strains.
   
2. Disproportionate body depth to height.
   
3. High-set sacro-coccygeal articulation with the pelvis.
   
4. Narrow pelvic outlet.
   
5. Fine bone.
   

None of these defects are characteristic of the breed and a large number of animals are free from such defects.

Future development of breed will depend upon a planned and controlled breeding and selection program.

¹ Published with the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.