A STUDY ON USE OF MUZZLE BEADED RIDGE TO IDENTIFY AND DETERMINE AGE IN CROSSBRED ANIMALS

The muzzle print of crossbred animals of livestock farm Jabalpur were taken for determining age and possible use in identifying animals. 71 crossbred animals within the age of 6 to 42 months were selected. The square of 2.5 cm dimension was drawn and further divided into A1, A2 a nd B1, B2 in the upper and lower sector, respectively on the muzzle pr int. The total number of beaded ridge in each sector were counted and averages were ranging between 2.14 to 6.30 in the 6-42 months age of a nimals. The number of beaded ridge were not significantly different be tween the animals of Al and A2 sector but were significantly different in B1 and b2 sectors (P<0.01). The correlation coefficient between ag e of the crossbred cattle and the total number of beaded ridge were ne gative (-0.798, -0.697, 0.950, -0.944*), and highly significant in B1 and B2 sectors. The regression equations were prepared sectorwise, us ing the beaded ridge as independent variable and age (6-42) as depende nt variable.