SUBSECONDARY CODING FOR INDIVIDUAL IDENTIFICATION OF CATTLE THROUGH DERMATOGLYPHICS OF MUZZLE

An investigation was carried out in 6 breeds of cattle (602), viz. Sah iwal, Karan Swiss, Karan Fries, German Red and White and German Black and White to develop subsecondary classification to strengthen the cod ing system through muzzle printing using modified cyclostyle ink proce dure for individual identification. An alphabetic code index was devel oped for pattern ridge ranging from 0 degrees to 180 degrees angles. T he final code for subsecondary classification was developed by combini ng the alphabetic code of the pattern ridges of base sector combinatio n of extended pattern ridge angles and number of beads present in midd le sector and Latin alphabets for upper sector. The code for the patte rns of special category were developed by combining the pattern abbrev iation and print number. The final code so developed was most effectiv e to uniquely identify 89.70% animals based on pattern ridges, 5.80% a nimals based on distributed ridges and beads together 3.82% animals ba sed on distribution of beads only and 0.67% animals belonging to patte rns of special catgory. Thus, subsecondary classification gave a compa ct and unique coding system through muzzle printing for individual ide ntification of cattle.