CONNECTIVE TISSUE FIBER ARRANGEMENT OF SKIN IN RED KANDHARI COWS

For the present study fifteen female Red Kandhari cattle were used. The skin of the Red Kandhari cow consisted of epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. The dermis was enmeshed with collagen, elastic and reticular fibers. The collagen fibers were found thick, coarse and irregularly distributed in all the three body regions. These fibers were loosely arranged in the papillary layer but dense arrangement of large bundles of collagen fibers were commonly observed in the reticular layer of the dermis. The collagen fibers were more developed in lactating cow as compared to that of non lactating and pregnant Red Kandhari cow.