The Tharparkar a Bos indicus breed used for milk production and as draft animals. Tharparkar are of the lyrehorned type of zebu cattle. The Tharparkar came into prominence during the first World War when some animals were taken to supply milk for the Near East army camps. Here their capacity for production under rigorous feeding and unfavorable environmental conditions at once became apparent. Since then many breeding herds have been assembled in India and Pakistan. When left on arid pasture the milk production is approximately 1135 kg per lactation, while those animals maintained in the villages average 1980 kg.
In India and abroad, these cattle are known as Tharparkar since they come from the district of that name in the Province of Sind. The Tharparkar is, however, known differently in its own region. In its native tract and the areas neighboring on it, the breed is called Thari, after the desert of Thar; and it is also occasionally known as Cutchi, because the breed is also found on the borders of Cutch which adjoins Tharparkar to the south. Then again, in the past these cattle have been known as White or Gray Sindhi, since they are native to the Province of Sind and similar in size the Red Sindhi: this name, however, is no longer used. The Thari is not a homogeneous breed, but that it has the influence of the Kankrej, Red Sindhi, Gir and Nagori breeds.
It is observed that the typical Thari cattle are found in the areas in the vicinity of Umarkot, Naukot, Dhoro Naro, Chhor, Mithi, Islamkot and Khari Ghulam Shah. They are also produced in the adjoining Indian States of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Cutch.
Tharparkars are usually kept in herds of 50 to 300 animals by professional breeders called Maldars. They require daily contact with people to prevent them from becoming shy and wild. Tharparkar cows average 138 cm in height and an average weight of 408 kg.
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