Nitya Puja Support

Monthly Support for Patasalas across Tamilnadu

15 veda patasala support - Rig, Sama Vedam, Krishna & Shukla Yajur Vedam - following are few from them

Tiruvanaikka Patasala
Rig Veda Patasala in Chidambaram
Melattur Patasala
Coimbatore Patasala – Sai to give the exact name
Shri Subramanya Veda Vedanga Patasala, Telangana

Agama Patashala support

Buying material for patasalas like samith etc

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Sponsoring Veda Parayanams / Vaideeka Sambhavanai

Sivan Sar Aradhana Vaideeka sambhavanai
Mahaperiyava Jayanthi/Aradhana vaideeka Sambhavanai
Varna Krama Parayanam - monthly 6 days @Chidambaram
Paksha Parayanam @Chidambaram
Veda Parayanam for all kumbabishekams conducted by mami
Orikkai Manimandapam Samhitai Parayanam with vidyarthis
Few Jata parayanams in a year for different religious days

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Support for existing Temples by paying salary

Monthly support for 3 Gurukkal + 1 bhattacharya support
Support for gurukkal @Vilangudi
Nithya puja for Kodimangalam Sivan Kovil
Kanchi Matam Temple support
Monthly salary for few Sri Matam Puja Room staff

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Renovations

Partnered with Smt Mahalakshmi mami for several temple renovations - following are few to name
- Tirumeyachur
- Lakshmeeswarar & Karkeeswarar Temple near Kanchi
- Tiruvanaikovil Akilandeswari Temple
- Tirupunavasal kumbabishekam
- Several pushkaranams starting from 2020
Nagainallur Temple Renovation
Ekambareswarar & Akilandeswari Temple Thaer (car)
Renovating an ancient temple near Sarva Theertha Kulam, Kanchi

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Building new temples

Shed for more than 100 Vanam Paratha Sivalingam were constructed so far & Sivarathri/Deepawali abishekam for them

Sri Seshadri Swamigal Mani Mandapam, Vazhur
Nandavanam for many temples
Building a new Sivan Kovil in Dandalam

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We have two WhatsApp groups - one for people located in India and the other for people located internationally. This is as done to get around the WhatsApp limitation on group member count.

Here are the links -

India Group :
Click To Join Group

International Group :
Click To Join Group

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A1 VS A2

Protein Types

Milk contains approximately 3.5% protein of which 80% are casein proteins and 20% whey proteins. Caseins have been classified as Alpha/Beta/Kapa-Caseins. Whey contains β-lactoglobulin, α-lactalbumin and several minor proteins.

Protein converted to Amino Acids

Amino acids play a very important role in our health.Proteins in milk are converted into peptides, which later take the form of amino acids. The amino acid released by A1 protein is called histidine, while the amino acid released by A2 protein is called proline.

BCM-7 - Devil in the Milk

BCM-7 is a peptide that when released in our body can lead to indigestion and also many modern day diseases. It is for this reason that A2 Milk has been recommended by health care professionals to be a healthier milk option.

Proline Blocks BCM-7

Beta-Casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) is an opioid peptide that is found in both A1 & A2 protein milk. The Proline amino acid formed by A2 milk has a natural property to block this BCM-7 from going into our body. The Histidine amino acid formed by A1 milk, on the other hand does not block this BCM-7, which subsequently enters our body and later dissolves in the blood.

It is for this reason that A2 Milk has been recommended by health care professionals to be a healthier milk option

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Vechur is a small-sized, rare breed, originating in the Vechur village in Kottayam district of Kerala and is generally found in the Kottayam-Ernakulam–Alapuzha belt. It is also prevalent in the Kasargod district of Kerala.

The Vechur breed is docile, short, disease-resistant and easy to maintain with low food requirement as compared to other crossbred species. These cattle are intelligent, hearty, clean and adapted to high heat conditions. It has an exceptionally small, manageable size (about the size of a large goat breed), a pleasant disposition and a long, productive life span. The Vechur cattle are resistant to Mastitis (blockage of teats in the udder), foot and mouth diseases, and respiratory infections and require almost no veterinary care.

This breed calves easily. The age at first calving is 36 to 42 months and the calving interval is generally 15 to 16 months. “Infant Mortality” is practically absent in this breed and new born calves are robust and strong. With an average length of 124 cm, average height of 87 cm, and average weight of 130 kilograms.

Utility of the Breed and Milk:-

The utility of this breed is immense. It is popular for the larger amount of milk produced in comparison to quantity of food intake and also for the high qualitative content of its milk. The adult females give 2.5 to 3.5 liters of milk per day with a high fat content of 4.5 to 5 per cent. Also, it has more of the beta Casein variety A2 and is said to have extraordinary medicinal properties. The medicinal property of its milk has been accepted by Ayurveda too. Since the Vechur cow milk has got higher proportion of smaller fat globules and saturated fatty acids, it would be therapeutically useful in malabsorption syndrome. It is also considered to be the ideal food for children and convalescents.

Characteristics:-

They are extremely small in size with a compact body.
The average height of the males is 85-95 cm while that of the females is about 80-90 cm. The average length is about 124 cm.
The average weight is about 130 kilograms.
They are mostly light red, black and white in color.
The head is long with narrow face; the legs are short.
The tail is long and tapering, almost touching the ground.
The horns are small, thin, curving forward and downward. At times, the horns are extremely small and hardly visible.
There is a small hump on the back, prominently so in the males.
The sheath is generally small and tucked up with the body.
The udder is well-developed with squarely placed small tapering teat.
The milk vein is well-developed and body skin is smooth and glossy.

Vechur in Kerala

The Vechur cow was extremely popular in Kerala until the 1960s, but became rare when the native cattle were crossbred due to the state policy of aggressive cross breeding by using exotic germ-plasm on the local female cattle. As per current estimates, about 200 cows of this breed exist today. (Source: Wikipedia)

It is indeed heartening to note that the Vechur breed of cattle was saved from extinction by the conservation efforts initiated and conducted since 1989 by Ms. Sosamma Iype – the then Director of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Animal Breeding, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), along with her team of students.

Conservation Efforts

The Vechur cow has now attracted international recognition. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has listed the Vechur cattle among the Indian breeds in their Domestic Animal Diversity Information System under the category of Critical Breeds, meaning nearly extinct.

Our efforts to revive this breed continue. With a view to popularize the Vechur breed, the Center for Advanced Studies in Animal Genetics & Breeding (CASAGB) of the KAU has been conducting extensive research on the Vechur breed of cattle. A vigorous breeding programme is underway to produce as many pure Vechur cattle as possible.

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Kankrej

The Kankrej are a Indian breed of cattle originating from the district of Kankrej in North Gujarat. They are also known by various other names – Bannai, Nagar, Talabda, Vaghiyar, Wagad, Waged, Wadhiar, Wadhir, and Wadial.

The Kankrej are dual purpose breed of Gujarat, highly prized as fast, powerful draught cattle and are also fair producers of milk. This breed is resistant to tick fever and shows very little incidence of diseases. Considered to be one of the heaviest of the Indian breeds of cattle, they are also very active and strong. Agricultural operations and road transport in the villages are mainly carried out by bullocks of this breed.

It is relevant to note that the animals of this breed have been exported to Brazil, certain Latin American countries and also to the southern states of the USA . The Guzerat breed of cattle that has been developed from the Kankrej cattle in Brazil are very similar but darker, bigger and have longer horns than the Kankrej. They also have good heat tolerance and pest resistance.

Characteristics :-

They have broad foreheads, slightly dished in the centre with large, pendulous and open ears.
They have strong lyre-shaped horns, covered with skin to a higher point than found in other breeds.
Their colours vary from silver to gray to iron gray or steel black.
Their forequarters, humps and hindquarters are darker than their barrels, especially in the males.
Their hair is soft and short and the switch of their tail is black.
They have short faces with the slightly upturned noses.
Their legs are shapely, balanced with small, round and durable feet.
Their skin is of medium thickness, has dark pigmentation and is slightly loose.
The males have well-developed humps though not as firm as found in some of the other breeds.
The dewlap [folded skin in the neck region] is thin but pendulous and the males also have pendulous sheaths.

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Sahiwal

Sahiwal is a medium heavy type of dual-purpose breed, indigenous to Pakistan and India. This breed originated from the Sahiwal district of Pakistan, in the dry Punjab region that lies along the India-Pakistan border. In India, it is mostly found in Rohtak, Karnal, Hissar, Gurgaon district of Haryana, the Union Territory of Delhi and in West Uttar Pradesh. Amongst all the breeds, Sahiwal is found to produce the largest quantity of milk and hence is primarily used for diary production.

Characteristics:-

These animals have small heads with long and narrow faces from which emerge short and almost horizontal horns. In the bullocks, the horns grow longer and curve upwards and inwards.
Their ears are long and drooping and set behind and in level with the eyes.
They are heavily built with sturdy and long legs and well-shaped hoofs.
Their barrel is long and compact and their tail is thin and short.
Their colors range from reddish brown to more predominant red, with varying amounts of white on the neck and the underline. In males, the color darkens towards the extremities, such as towards the head, legs and tail.
As oxen, they are generally docile and lethargic, making them more useful for slow work.
The males have big humps with an average height of 136cms at the withers while the females have an average height of 120 cm at the withers.
These cattle are tick-resistant because their skins naturally keep quivering. They are also parasite resistant, heat-tolerant and are known to be drought-resistant.
They are heavy milk producers and have well developed udders.
Milk yield is 1500-2200 litres per lactation with a fat content of only 4.5 % and average lactation length is 235 days.
Adult males weigh 400-500 kg, while females weigh 300 to 350 kg. Males having body weight of more than 1000 kg have also been documented.
They have an ability to sire small, fast-growing calves.
They are known for their good temperament and their hardiness under unfavorable climatic conditions.
Their average age at first calving is 45 months, service period is 155 days and dry period is 205 days.
Their average calving interval is 440 days and gestation period is 285 days.

Conservation Efforts

The Sahiwal breed’s adaptability is also well documented in several ecological zones of Africa where they have been crossed with other exotic breeds. On account of its distinguished characteristics, this breed is exported to a wide range of countries and regions like the Caribbean, Africa and other Asian countries.

Over the years, the number of pure bred Sahiwal cattle has been dwindling. The Punjab Government has formed the “Sahiwal Cattle Society” to propagate the native breed of Punjab “Sahiwal.” The society is firm in its motto of propagating Sahiwal Cattle Breed.

Let us also align ourselves towards this noble cause of conservation and propagation of our “desi” breeds of cows.

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Rathi

Rathi is an important dual purpose Indian cattle breed whose home tract lies in the heart of Thar desert. These animals are particularly concentrated in Loonkaransar Tehsil of Bikaner district, also known as the Rathi tract.

In addition, Rathi is also found in Ganganagar & Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan and in Fazilka & Abhror district of Punjab, adjoining Rajasthan. Farmers of this region, use this breed as a major source of livelihood.

The breed takes its name from a pastoral tribe called Raths who are Muslims of Rajput extraction and lead a nomadic life. Rathi cattle originates from the mixture of Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar and Dhanni breeds apparently with a predominance of the Sahiwal blood.

Characteristics:-

These animals are of medium size with a symmetrical body and short and smooth body coat.
Colour is generally brown with white patches all over the body though at times completely brown or animals with black coat and white patches are also found. Lower body parts are generally lighter in colour as compared to the rest of body.
Face is broad between the eyes and slightly dished while the ears are of medium size.
Forehead is lean and of medium size.
Horns range from short to medium, curving outwards, upwards and inwards.
Dewlap is fine, loose and voluminous.
It has large naval flap and loose skin with fine short hair.
Tail is long, fine and tapering to a good black or white switch well below the hock.
Udder and teat are well developed with a prominent milk vein.
Average lactation milk yield is 1500 kg, ranging from 1050 kg to 2000 kg.
Average age at first calving ranges from 45 – 57 months and inter calving period from 13 – 15 months.
Females are docile and good milkers (1325 to 2093 kg per lactation).
Age at Maturity is 36-48 months.
Body Weight for Male is 350-400Kg and Female is 280-300 kg.

Nomads own and breed these animails, generally move with their herds from one place to another depending on availability of water and grazing pasture. Wheat straw, pala leaves and chaffed sewan grasses are fed to animals. At times, chaffed sorghum and pearl millets are also substituted for grasses and leaves. Dry stalks of sorghum and pearl millet are fed in the lean season. Lactating animals are provided with concentrate mixture in proportion to their production. Shelter is not provided for these animals except during extreme weather.

Conservation Efforts

Like other native animals, Rathi breed is well-adapted to a hot climate , resistant to many diseases and hence they are used for crossbreeding in other countries. In India the number of pure-bred cattle including the Rathi breed is declining drastically.

Efforts to save these animals has been stepped up. Breeding farms are established for this breed at Bikaner and Hanumangarh. The Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Rajasthan is currently engaged in breed improvement and veterinary health care & disease control programmes.

May the Rathi breed, as also the other pure Indian breeds, flourish.

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Tharparkar

Tharparkar is an important dual-purpose breed originating from the THAR desert of Rajasthan. The home tract of this breed is in the Tharparkar district of southeast Sindh in present day Pakistan. In India, these animals are now found along the Indo-Pak border covering western Rajasthan and up to the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

Tharparkar is a lyre-horned type of zebu cattle and seems to have originated from a mixture of the Kankrej, Red Sindhi, Gir and Nagori breeds. Tharparkar cattle are usually kept in herds of 50 to 300 animals by professional breeders as they require daily contact with people to prevent them from becoming shy and wild.

Characteristics :-

These animals are generally deep, strongly built, medium-sized, with straight limbs and good feet, and with an alert and springy carriage.
Their average height is 138 cm and average weight is 408 kgs.
The average body weight of a female is approximately 350 kgs.
Their color is generally white or gray but black, red or combinations of same are also found. Neck, hump, hind quarters are black and backbone has light gray stripe. Their color deepens during winter months and also when the cows get pregnant.
Their forehead is broad and flat and slightly convex above the eyes.
Their head is of medium size and front of the horns and face is on one plane.
Their skin between the eyes often has perpendicular wrinkles.
Their eyes are full and bright with black eyelashes.
Their ears are long, broad and semi-pendulous and face forwards.
The horns are set well apart curving gradually upwards and outwards. Males have thicker, shorter and straighter horns as compared to the females.
The hump in the males is moderately well developed and firm.
The dewlap is of medium size and their skin is fine and mellow.
The sheath in the males is of moderate length, and is semi-pendulous.
The navel flap in the females is prominent and the size is variable.
The shoulders are light and the legs are in proportion but comparatively short.
The hooves are hard and black and of moderate size.
They are said to be very hardy and resistant to several tropical diseases.
Their average age at maturity is 36 months.
Average age at first calving is 45 months
Average calving interval is 410 days
Average milk yield is 2000kg

Conservation Efforts

It is interesting to note that a move has begun to popularize the Tharparkar breed. Sixty Tharparkar cattle heads, including fifty cows, from the desert belt of Jaisalmer has been dispatched to the drought-prone districts of Tamil Nadu. These have been bought by the State Animal Husbandry Department at Jaisalmer and are being raised at the cattle farm at Chettinad. The animals, known for their drought resistance, have adapted to the dry climatic condition of Chettinad.

“Even in the extreme dry condition at Thar desert in Rajasthan, the cows look hale and healthy and yield an average of 7 to 8 litres of milk per day. The climatic condition in Tamil Nadu is better than Rajasthan. The cattle are hardy and resistant to many diseases and they can withstand the heat in summer too,” says K.S. Vijaya Kumar, Assistant Veterinary Surgeon, Animal Diseases Intelligence Unit, Sivaganga.

This new initiative is part of the National Agriculture Development Programme to increase the population of Tharparkar cows in a fast manner.

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Ongole

The Ongole breed of cattle, also known as Nellore, originated from the coastal districts of Guntur, Prakasham and Nellore of Andhra Pradesh. The districts of Kurnool, Cuddapan and part of Mahabubnagar form the rearing tracts where bull calves after weaning are taken and reared till maturity and trained for farm work. This breed has been developed in the deltas of the rivers Penna, Krishna and Godawari, under the patronage of farmers in these areas. Ongole is a dual-purpose breed. They are efficiently used in their native home for both work and milk production. The cows are docile while the bulls are very powerful and suitable for ploughing and cart pulling.

Characteristics:-

They are large-sized animals with loosely knit frames.
They have long bodies and short necks and their limbs are long and muscular.
The skin is of medium thickness, mellow and elastic and often shows black mottled markings.
The coat colour is glossy white but some males have grey markings on their hump and on their back quarters.
The forehead is broad between the eyes and slightly prominent.
The eyes are elliptical in shape with black eyelashes and a ring of black skin about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide around the eyes.
The chest is deep and wide and broad between the fore arms.
The legs are strong, clean and medium in length, set well apart, firmly and squarely, under the body, with toes pointing straight.
The tail is short while the tail head is sloping, deeply cast and not coarse.
Ears are moderately long and slightly drooping.
Horns are short and stumpy, growing outwards and backwards, thick at the base and firm without cracks.
The dewlap is large and fleshy and hangs in folds, extending to the navel flap.
The sheath is slightly pendulous.
The hump in the males is well-developed and erect and filled up on both sides.
The bulls weigh approximately half a ton with 1.5 meters height, body length of 1.6 meters and girth measuring 2 meters. Weight of the female is 432 to 455 kg.
Milk yield is 600 kg to 2518 kg with a butter-fat content of over five percent.
Lactation period is 279 days resulting in large, well-nourished calves with considerable growth by the time of weaning.

Conservation Efforts

The Ongole are known for their toughness, rapid growth rate, and natural tolerance to tropical heat and disease resistance. This was the first Indian breed of cattle to gain worldwide recognition. The animals of this breed have been transported to many tropical countries of America, West Indies, South East Asia and Australia and have earned recognition for its better survival and performance on tropical pastures.

The hardy and disease-resistant Ongole breed saved the South American country when the “mad cow disease” wiped out all the other American and European breeds.

Ongole cattle have now become an international breed, spread across the Americas, a few countries in Africa, the Far East and Australia. However, on the Indian soil, the pure Ongole breed bull has become an endangered species. The majority of Indian farmers have dumped the much sought after bull in favour of the tractors. The Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has therefore embarked upon a mission of conservation of pure Ongole breed bull.

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Deoni is a popular dual purpose cattle breed originating from the Marathwada region of Maharashtra as well as found in adjoining parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Variedly known as Dongari, Dongarpati, Surti or Deccani, As a matter of fact, this breed has evolved during the last two hundred years and is claimed to have been developed from a strain descended from the mixture of Gir, Dangi and the local cattle.

Erstwhile Nizam Kingdom considered Deoni to be the best milking variety. Deoni is not only tough and resistant,in addition constitutes an important cattle genetic resource of India. The bullocks are good for heavy work and consequently suitable for intensive cultivation.

Empirical studies show that one pair of bullocks can pull the medium plough for about seven to eight hours a day and can plough about half an acre of land.

Characteristics:-

Generally it has three colour variations viz. Wannera (clear white with black colour at the sides of the face), Balankya (clear white with black spots on the lower side of the body) and Shevera (white body with irregular black spots).
The head is masculine, alert, broad and slightly convex. The colour of the head is black and white in Wannera and Shevera and completely white in the Balankya strain.
Limbs are clean, straight and powerful with black symmetrical hooves.
Forehead is prominent, broad, slightly bulged and white in all the strains.
Ears are long, drooping with slightly curved tips and hair is soft and short.
Horns are medium, thick, and apart, emerging from the sides with blunt tips.
Eyes are prominent, bright and alert with black eyebrows and eyelashes.
Hump is massive and well developed in males and small in females.
Neck is short, strong and well developed and the chest is deep and wide.
Dewlap is thick, pendulous, and muscular with folds, moreso in males than in females while the skin is thick and loosely attached to the body.
Switch of the tail is black and white reaching below the lower leg joint.
Udder is medium-size, with black, cylindrical and rounded teats.
The bulls are characterized by blackish scrotum of a good size.
Body weight averages –Bulls: 620 to 680 kg; Cows: 432 to 485 kg.
Approx. length and height – Bulls: 129 and 134cms; Cows: 120 and 122cms
Milk yield ranges between 880 and 1580 kgs in a lactation period of 300 days.
Average fat content in the milk is approximately 4.3 percent.
Average age at first calving is approximately 46 months.
Service period and inter-calving period averaged 170 and 447 days.

Conservation Efforts

The Deoni cattle are reared through grazing in fallow lands, dry lands or bunds of the farms. During the night, they are housed either in separate houses or in a part of the owner’s residence.

The males of this breed are separated after 20 months of age and trained for agriculture operations. The calf and adult mortality of this breed is negligible and it is hardy and well adapted to tropical drought-prone areas.

Some time ago, the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU), established a livestock research and information centre at Bidar, equipped with qualified human resource and infrastructure.

One of its aims is to breed and popularise the Deoni cattle breed. KVAFSU conducts genetic improvement through selective breeding in accordance with the national cattle breeding policy.

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Amrit Mahal breed of cattle belongs to the State of Mysore in Karnataka. Amrit Mahal has a majestic appearance. People refer them as the mighty Amrit Mahal with swords for horns. They originate from the Hallikar breed which was cross-bred with Hagalavadi and Chithradurg.

In mid 1800,the rulers of the erstwhile Mysore State developed Amrit Mahal breed. The breed was to suit the local area. The bullocks were classified as gun bullocks, pack bullocks, etc. to transport war equipment. Amrit Mahal means the department of milk. Unfortunately these cows being poor milk-yielders, are instead classified as draught breed.

Characteristics:

Amrit Mahal cattle has a color of various shades of gray. These shades vary from white to black with white-gray markings on the face and dewalp. The muzzle, feet and tail switch are generally black, but lighter in older animals.
A well shaped head which is long and tapering towards the muzzle.
The forehead bulges out slightly and is narrow and furrowed in the middle.
The horns emerge from the top of the head. The horns are fairly close together in an upward and backward direction. They terminate in sharp black points.
The eyes have bloodshot appearance.
The ears are small, in horizontal position, yellow inside and taper to a point.
The dewlap is thin and does not extend very far.
The sheath and navel flap are very small and close to the body.
The hump is well-developed and shapely in the bulls, with about 8 inches height.
The body is compact and muscular with well-formed shoulders and hindquarters.
The neck is strong and fairly long, back is level, with broad loins and level rump.
The legs are of medium length and well-proportioned.
The fetlocks are short and the hooves are hard, close together and small.
The skin is thin, mellow and jet black in colour, with short glossy hair.
The average height of this breed is 50 to 52 inches.
The average lactation yield is approximately 1000-1200 kilograms.
The average calving interval is approximately 600 days.

Conservation Efforts

Well-to-do cultivators and large breeders generally own Amrit Mahal cattle. and maintain herds in the vicinity of the hills with ample pastures for grazing. During the 19th Century, they grew popular on account of their great endurance and speed. These cattle show a wild disposition and are dangerous at times as they are maintained in the pasture areas without restrictions and handling. Once trained, they are extremely fine bullocks, and used particularly for quick transportation.

Bullocks have a working life of 7 to 8 years. Even though Amrit Mahal cattle has poor milking qualities, recently some attention has been paid to systematically milk these animals. The breed popular during the reign of Mysore rulers, is now on the verge of extinction. Small groups formed in villages protect this breed. Farmers farm the Kaval land to rear this breed of cattle.

Amrit Mahal cattle stand a class apart from the rest of the cattle for they maintain their stamina and health even after consuming meagre amount of food and also never express tiredness. Animal Husbandry Department has taken steps to preserve these varieties and unfortunately it has not proved to be of great help.

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Punganur cattle originated from Punganur in Chittoor district, situated at the south-eastern tip of the Deccan Plateau in Andhra Pradesh, India. This breed was developed by the Rajas of Punganur and was used for milking and other light agricultural operations.

Punganur is perhaps the world’s smallest humped cattle breed. It is widely known as an efficient milch breed. It is also drought resistant and able to survive exclusively on dry fodder. The Punganur cow is said to have the grace of a deer and a beautiful walking style.

It is considered auspicious to have this cow. These cows are said to receive cosmic energy at a higher magnitude and disseminate it all around.

Characteristics:-

This is a popular dwarf cattle breed.
They have compact build, comparatively tight skin and extensively hanging dewlap.
They are generally white, grey or light brown to dark brown in colour. White mixed with red or black colour are also available.
The skin, muzzle, eyelids and hooves are black and they have concave and broad forehead.
They have black, small and crescent shaped horns, slightly mobile and almost flat along the back which are normally at different heights from each other.
Horns are stumpy in males and longer in females; horn length ranges from 10 to 15 cms.
The back slopes downwards from front to the hind quarters.
They have short legs and long body with well sprung ribs.
They have tails that touch the ground; humps of small size in females and medium but drooping in males.
The average height is about 70-90 cms and weight is around 115-200 kgs.
The lactation milk yield is approximately 540 litres and lactation length is 260 days.
The average milk fat content is 5 to 8 %.
Their average daily feed intake is 5 kg.
The bulls are more docile than the females.

Conservation Efforts

It is a sad fact that this breed is on the verge of extinction. The decline of this pure Indian breed is mainly due to an earlier policy decision taken by the Government to “better” Indian cattle breeds by cross-breeding the Punganur with the Holstein-Friesian and Jersey cattle while banning the rearing of native bull breeds. The Punganur cattle are now being reared mainly on the Government Livestock Farm, Palamaner, Chittoor district, while a small informal group of private breeders are also working on reviving this revered species.

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Umblachery cattle is native of Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts of Tamil Nadu, India. This breed gets its name from the place of its origin – the Umblachery village in Nagapattinam district of Tamilnadu. It is variedly known as Jathi madu/ Mottai madu/ Molai madu/ Therkathi madu.

Umblachery is a draught breed of the zebu type, similar to Kangayam but smaller, and used for agricultural work. The males generally find use in ploughing, carting, thrashing and paddling. This breed is capable of doing continuous work for six to seven hours under the hot sun and is suitable for ploughing in marshy paddy fields because of its medium size.

The practice of dehorning of bullocks is peculiar in the Umblachery cattle. Dehorning of male calves is at about 10-12 months of age. During dehorning, there is a practive of pruning of ears. Umblachery breeds by natural mating and artificial insemination in few animals.

This is a medium-sized, docile cattle breed.
The calves are generally red or brown at birth but change to grey during the growing period. The bullocks are dark grey with black extremities whereas the cows are grey with light dark grey colour in the face, neck and hip regions.
They have white markings on face, limb and tail; markings on legs resemble socks.
The forehead is slightly broad with a shallow groove in the middle and a white star.
The ears are short and erect and horizontally placed.
The eyelids and the muzzle are black in colour.
The naval flap is inconspicuous and the penal sheath in males is well tucked up.
The dewlap is short, thin and extends up to the sternum.
The teats are small and set well apart.
The udder is not well developed; it is bowl shaped and tucked up with the abdomen.
The hump is fairly developed and medium in size in bullocks, well developed in bulls and small in cows.
The hooves are strong, small, black in colour or partly or wholly white in colour.
The horns are black in colour, medium in thickness, short and pointed.
The tail is long and tapers gradually below the hock.
The switch of the tail is white or partially white.
Body weight of males vary between 268 – 297 kg and females weigh about 219 kg.
Height at withers for males is 112.2cm to 116.8 cm and for females about 105 cm.
Average heart girth for males is approx. 150 cm and for females approx. 135 cm.
The age at first calving is approx. 52.4 months.
The lactation period is about 245 days and the milk production per lactation is approx. 494 kgs and average milk fat is 4.94%.

Conservation Efforts

As per the 1998 estimate, a total of 2.83 lakhs of Umblachery cattle were available in the breeding tract. However, the breeding tract has shrunken over the years. Introduction of crossbreeding and lack of concerted efforts for improvement and conservation have deteriorated the status of this breed. There has been a decline in Umblachery cattle population and also a dilution of the germplasm.

The Government of Tamilnadu had established a farm in 1954 at Orathanadu (near Thanjavur) to develop this breed. A new farm was later started in Korukkai, near Umblachery village, especially to conserve Umblachery breed in its home region. Though the Government of Tamil Nadu has launched various initiatives in the Animal Husbandary Department, further efforts to conserve this rare breed is much required.

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Khillari cattle originated from the Satara district of Maharashtra and is also a native of the districts of Ahmednagar, Sangli, Kolhapur & Solapur. This breed bears a close resemblance to the Hallikar breed of Karnataka and found in Bijapur, Dharwar and Belgaum districts of Karnataka. The Khillari has about nine subspecies and these has names after their places of origin and qualities, viz: Atpadi, Mhaswad, Pandharpuri, Kosa, Harnya, Daphlya, Bramhani, Dhangiri, Nakli.

The popularity of the bulls of this breed due to good farm use, racing and transportation. The bulls adapt well to the tropical and drought-prone conditions. Classification of Khillari is “medium fast draft” cattle and is famous for its speed, strength and attractiveness. However, there has been a steady decline in its numbers, due to the low milk yield, which is an alternate source of income for farmers.

In the districts of Sholapur and Satara, cultivators breed Khillari since the herd size is small. In Satpura ranges, there are professional breeders called Thillaris who undertake the breeding activity. Government of Mahararashtra selectively breeds Khillari at Hingoli, Jath and Junoni and Government of Karnataka at Bankapur.

Colour:

The Khillari has compact build with a lean and long face, tight drawn skin and clear features. The hairs are fine, short and glossy.

The colour varies according to its types and is generally described as grey-white.Mhaswad and Atpadi Mahal types are grayish white in colour with males having deeper colour over the forequarters and hindquarters and peculiar gray and white spots on the face. Tapti type is white with carroty nose and hooves. Nakali type is gray with tawny or brick-dust colour over the forequarters. New calves have rust-red coloured heads, but this colour disappears soon after birth.

Characteristics:

The head is long and narrow with long horns sweeping back and upwards in a distinctive bow, and tapering to a fine point. Black colored horns is typical although pink colored horns are common.
The forehead is long and narrow with a gradual convex bulge toward the horns.
A groove runs in the center of the forehead from the nasal bridge to center of the head.
The eyes are set in elongated fashion and are small, prominent and a little bulging. The surrounding thick, wavy skin folds give the eyes a dull appearance.
The ears are pale yellow colored inside, small, pointed and always held sideways.
The height is between 4.5 to 5.5 feet and weight is between 350 to 450 kilograms.
The legs are stout, strong, round and straight with black hooves. The hindquarters are well muscled and the gait is quick and spirited.
The ribs are well sprung and give the trunk a barrel shape.
The neck is rather short and the dewlap is light with very little fold.
The hump in males is firm fleshed and of moderate size.
The shoulders have tight muscles, well set in and merge smoothly with the body.
The navel flap, as well as the sheath, is tight and close to the abdomen and the tail almost touches the hock joint.

Conservation Efforts

Government launched a new initiative called Rashtriya Gokul Mission to promote the conservation and development of our Indian breeds of cattle. State Implementing Agency, viz: the Livestock Development Boards (LDBs) implements this initiative.

The scheme allots funds for establishment of Integrated Indigenous Cattle Centre, Gokul Gram. Khillari breed is also a part of this initiative.

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Kangayam cattle belongs to the Kangeyam taluka which includes Erode, Karur, Namakkal and Dindigul districts in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. This breed is also known as “Kanganad” or “Kongu”. Generally, these cattle are of medium-build though some large-build type are also found.

Kangayam, Dharampuram, Udmalpet, Pollachi, Paddadam and Erode subdivisions has smaller variety, while areas of Karur, Aravakurchi and Dindigul subdivisions has larger variety. Pattagar of Palayakottai breed the purest form of Kangayam in large herds.

The Kangayam cattle conform to the Southern Indian Mysore type, though there also appears a mixture of the gray-white Ongole cattle. These cattle are draft animals with adaptability to poor nutritional conditions.

The milk yield of the Kangayam cows is generally considered to be of secondary importance. It is noteworthy that although the cows yield a sufficient quantity of milk (18 to 20 litres during the peak milking period), and the milk is also found to contain high nutrition value with no bad fat, nevertheless the breed is generally considered to be poor milkers.

Characteristics:

The cattle have compact bodies, are active and powerful with short and stout legs, strong hooves and well sprung ribs.
The color of the males are generally gray with black or very dark gray coloring on the head, neck, hump and quarters. Castrated males, show fading of the color.
The cows are white and gray with deep markings on the knees and just above the fetlocks on all four legs.
The colour of the calves are generally red at birth but change to white or gray, three or four months after birth.
The skin is very strong and tight.
The head is of moderate size and proportionate to the body with a prominent forehead; humps are well-developed and firm.
The udder which has a fine and soft texture, is not well developed.
The teats are fairly small and set apart, though the milk veins are not prominent.
The tail is of moderate length with a black switch reaching well below the hocks.
The horns in the smaller variety spread apart, straight and curve backwards, while in the larger variety, horns are long, curve outwards and backwards and almost complete a circle at the tips.
The ears are small, erect and pointed and the eyes are dark and prominent with black rings around them.
The neck is short and thick, while the back is short, broad and level.
The dewlap is thin and extends up to the sternum while the sheath is well tucked into body.
The hair is fine and short with skin dark in pigment and fine in texture.

Conservation Efforts

Many of these natural robust native breeds are becoming extinct due to the government policy of introducing cross bred animals.

The Senapathy Kangayam Cattle Research Foundation situated in the Kangayam taluk of former Erode District, Tamil Nadu, has taken up the cause of this pure cattle breed of India.

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Red Kandhari or Lal Kandhari has habitat in Maharashtra, in the Kanpur and Nanded districts, in some pockets of Ahmedpur and Parli districts, Hingoli tehsil of Latur district and in Beed and Parbhani districts of the Marathwada region. This breed also habitats Bidar District in Karnataka.

Pure form of this breed habitats Nanded district which is its breeding tract as climate is dry and semi-arid. It is a medium-sized, good-looking and robust animal. The cows are good milkers. The bullocks are good draught animals. They are useful for heavy agricultural work like ploughing and carting, as well as for transportation.

Characteristics:-

The body is compact and built square with well proportionate limbs.
The color is generally a uniform, dark red though, at times it varies from a dull red to almost dark brown. The breeding bulls are darker than other animals.
The forehead is broad between the eyes and bulging, with long ears dropping sidewise. Horns are even, curved and medium sized.
The ears are long, dropping side wise with rounded tips.
The eyes are shining and having black colored rings around it.
The navel flap is tiny in the cows and the sheath tucks into the body.
The tail is well set on the body, broad, tapering, moderate long with a black switch which extends below the hocks.
The skin is drawn tight over the body with small short glossy hair.
The udder is small and tucked up and the teats are small but placed in squares.
The dewlap is moderate and so also is the hump.
Body length of males is about 118cms while that of females is about 110 cms.
The height at the withers for males is 131 cms and for females about 128 cms.
The age at first calving ranges from 30 to 45 months.
The lactation period is about 280 days.
The milk production per lactation ranges from 400 to 600 kgs per lactation.
The carving interval ranges from 360 to 700 days.
The average milk fat is 4.6 % while the daily milk yield ranges from 1.5 to 4 kgs.

Conservation Efforts

Studies conducted in Maharashtra during 2011-12, highlighted constraints faced by cattle-rearers in respect of shortage of fodder and grazing land. Improvement to milk yield and draught ability requires immediate attention. Necessary efforts are put in place.

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Dangi is a cattle breed belonging to the Dangs Ghat – the hilly regions of Maharashtra. It habitats Thane district, Sinner and Igatpuri taluka of Nasik district and in Akola taluka of Ahmednagar district. It originates from the hilly tracts of the Dang district of Gujarat where the rainfall is very heavy and the agricultural economy is very poor. Generally these animals occur near the hilly tracts where forests are available in the ranges of Sahyadri.
This breed is similar to the Deoni and appears to fit into the group of cattle represented by Gir, Red Sindhi and Sahiwal. The breed is also known as the “Kanadi”. The total estimated population of Dangi ranges from 2 lakhs to 2.5 lakhs in numbers.

The Dangi are in essence a medium-slow draft breed, known by and large for its hardy nature and ability to work in heavy rainfall areas, rice fields and hilly tracts. These animals subsist to a large extent on grazing. They animals are useful for ploughing and other field operations, and also for carting timber from forest areas. They are notable to carry heavy timber, at the rate of 2 to 3 miles per hour, depending upon the type of terrain and can thus cover a distance of 20 to 24 miles at ease per day. Cows of this breed are poor milkers, though attempts are made to improve their milking capabilities.

Types:-

There are six different strains of the Dangi animals which are set apart as per the coar colour and are known by their local names. “Para” is completely white with a few black spots and males of this type are held valuable. “Bahala” is a combination of white and black – when white colour is relatively more, it is familiar as “Pandhara Bahala” and when black is relatively more, it is familiar as “Kala Bahala”.
“Maneri” means complete black with few white spots. These strains of animals are found in the Ahmadanagar and Nashik district and the Dangs district.
“Lal” means more of red colour with few white spots while “Lal Bhahala” is a combination of red and white. These are found mostly in Dangs and Nashik district.

Characteristics:

The cattle are medium to large in size, with deep bodies and a ponderous build.
They have powerful hind and forequarters with a short back.
The legs are short and stout and the hooves are black, flint-like and hardy.
The skin is of medium thickness and secretes an oil element that enables them to tolerate heavy rains.
The head is of moderate size and proportionate to the body while the ears are small.
The forehead is protrudes a but, the muzzle is large.
The hump is medium-sized and firm; the dewlap is a bit pendulous.
The horns are short and thick with lateral pointing tips. Animals with inward and also downward pointing horn tips are also found in sizeable numbers.
The sheath is loose but not pendulous by an excess. The height behind the hump ranges from about 45 to 50 inches while the heart girth measures from about 58 to 60 inches, on the average.
The average weight for males is 310-330 kgs and for females 220-250 kgs.
The age at first calving is 46 -56 months and calving interval is about 17- 21 months.
The milk yield averages about 530 kg (range 32 to 1,228 kg) in an average lactation period of 269 days (range 100 to 396 days). The fat percentage in the milk ranges from 3.8 – 4.5 %.

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Nagori is a cattle breed belonging to the Nagaur District of Rajasthan and the breeding tracts are in Bikaner, Jodhpur and Nagaur districts of Rajasthan.

It is a draught breed and is mainly used for agricultural purposes such as plowing, cultivation drawing water from wells and transportation of field produce to the markets. This breed is also famous as trotters. The animals are harnessed to light iron-wheeled carts for enabling quick transportation all over Rajputana.

The Nagori cattle bear resemblance to the Hariana and Kankrej breed of cattle. Due to the proximity of native tracts of the Hariana breed in the north and northeast, and the Kankrej breed in the south and southwest, coupled with the frequency of famines in its native home, there has been extensive movements of the cattle to other regions in search of fodder, leading to frequent intermixture.

Characteristics:

The cattle are fine, big and erect, active yet docile and have white and gray color.
They have long, deep and powerful frames, and are long-limbed with light bones.
They have straight backs with well-developed quarters.
The legs are straight with the hooves compact, strong and small.
They are agile and have strong feet and great ease of movement.
The face is long and narrow with a flat forehead which is not so prominent.
The eyelids are heavy and overhanging and the eyes are small, clear and bright.
The ears are large and pendulous. The neck is short, fine and looks powerful.
The horns are moderate in size. They emerge from outer angles of the poll in an outward direction, with a gentle curve upwards and turning inwards at the points.
The dewlap is small and fine. The skin is fine and slightly loose.
The hump in the bulls is well-developed, not very firm and mostly hangs over.
The shoulders and forearms look muscular and powerful.
The tail is moderately long, ending in a tuft of black hair just below the hocks.
The sheath is small and the cows have well-developed udders with large teats.
Average milk yield per lactation is 603 kg with an average milk fat of 5.8%. The lactation yield ranges from 479 to 905 kg.

The Nagori cattle are agile yet powerful and possess great endurance. Let us all endeavour to preserve our sturdy Indian breed of cattle.

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Mewati or Mehwati, is a dual-purpose indigenous cattle breed belonging to the Alwar and Bharatpur districts of Rajasthan, Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, and Faridabad and Gurgaon districts of Haryana. Mewati cattle are mostly found in the Mewat tract, but the breed is sometimes called Kosi, due to the large numbers of this breed being sold from the market at Kosi, a small town in the district of Mathura.

Mewati cattle are known to have the Hariana and Gir blood in their composition. There are traces of influence of the Kankrej and Malvi breeds too. Also since the native habitats of the Rath and Nagori cattle are adjacent to Mewat, these two breeds are also said to have contributed to the formation of the Mewati.

The Mewati are generally sturdy, powerful and docile. The bulls are known for their strength and endurance and are hence used for agricultural and carting purposes as well as for drawing water from deep wells. The cows are said to be good milkers.

Characteristics:

The cattle are almost universally white in colour with the rare occurrence of brown shades. Their neck, shoulders and quarters are of a darker shade while the muzzle is pitch black in colour.
The face is long and narrow with the forehead slightly bulging.
The horns are small to medium in size. They emerge from the outer angles of the poll, and turn backwards at the points. The tips are pointed.
The eyes are very prominent and are surrounded by dark rims.
The ears are pendulous but not so long.
The muzzle is wide and square and the upper lip thick and overhanging, giving the upper part of the nose a contracted appearance.
The head and neck show an upright carriage.
The neck and the whole frame are strong though the limbs are light.
The chest is deep, though the ribs are flat.
The legs are fine and round with strong, somewhat large hooves, well-rounded in shape. They are relatively long giving the body-frame a loosely built appearance.
The sheath is loose though not pendulous.
The dewlap is hanging but not very loose.
The tail is long, the tuft nearly reaching the heels.
The cows usually have well-developed udders.
The milk production per latation is 958 kgs while daily yield is 5 kgs per day.

Like the other Indian breeds the Mewati have good adaptability to extreme climatic conditions and can easily withstand environmental stress or diseases. However, in the recent years, the population of all this breed has gone down considerably and the situation is alarming.

As is the case in all other Indian breeds, the primary factors contributing to this sharp decline are adoption of crossbreeding for enhanced milk productivity, mechanization of agricultural operations diminishing the utility of bullocks, shrinking of common grazing land and several other factors.

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Gaolao is a dual purpose breed of cattle, known for its agility, native to the regions of Wardha district in Maharashtra, Balaghat district and Chindwara Districts in Madhya Pradesh and Rajnandgaon district in Chhattisgarh state. This breed is also known as “Arvi” and “Gaulgani”.

There is a close similarity between the Ongole and the Gaolao except that the latter are much lighter and have greater agility. The breeding tract of the breed includes Balaghat, Chhindwara, Seoni districts of Madhya Pradesh; Durg and Rajnandgaon districts of Chattisgarh and Wardha and Nagpur districts of Maharashtra.

Characteristics:

These animal are white or light-gray in color. The females are usually white while the males are gray over the neck, hump and quarters.
They have slightly convex faces and long coffin-shaped skulls.
These are of medium height, or rather light build and tend to be narrow and long.
The head is markedly long and narrow with a straight profile usually tapering towards the muzzle and somewhat broader at the base of the horns.
The forehead is usually flat, though it appears to recede at the top, giving a slightly convex appearance.
The eyes are almond-shaped and placed slightly at angles.
The ears are of medium size and are carried high.
The horns are short and stumpy, blunt at the points and commonly slope slightly backwards. It originated in the he cattle are large and well built in size, and usually are of white to gray complexions.
The neck is short, with a moderately well-developed hump, which is usually loose and hangs on one side.
The hind quarters are slightly drooping and the limbs are straight and muscular.
Hooves are of medium size, hard and durable, and suited to hard road and hillside work.
The dewlap is large but the sheath is only moderately developed.
The skin is thin but loose.
The tail is comparatively short, reaching only a little below the hocks.
The milk yield is low with an average of 604 kg per lactation and with 4.32% fat (ranges between 470 to 725 kg per lactation).

Gaolao is suitable for transportation in the hilly areas. It is said that the Marathas developed had specifically developed this breed and it was used mainly for military purposes by the Maratha army when invading the local Gond Kingdom.

It is a sad fact that this breed of cattle which is known for its capacity to carry load and give quality milk, is on the verge of extinction.

According to experts, the population of this breed is only about 3,000 in numbers, of which less than half are of the pure breed. Also, the pure type bulls are said to be a mere 150 in number. The only saving factor here is that our government agencies are now taking a keen interest in the preservation of this worthy breed of cattle.

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Hallikar is a native breed of cattle that has originated from the former princely state of Vijayanagar, a part of Karnataka. This breed is predominantly found in Mysore, Mandya, Hassan, Bangalore, Kolar, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts of Karnataka.

These are also known as the Mysore breed. It is said to be one of the best draught breeds of South India. Most of the current breeds found in South India have originated from the Hallikar, including the Amrit Mahal breed of cattle.

Characteristics:

This breed is best known for its draught capacity and its trotting ability.
The colour of this breed range from gray to dark gray with deep shadings on the fore and hind quarters. They also sport light gray markings on the face, dewlap and under the body.
These animals are medium sized and muscular, and have prominent and seemingly bulging foreheads.
Their bodies are long and compact with long and slender legs.
Their faces are long and taper towards the muzzle, the colour of which ranges from grey to black.
They have long, vertical and backward bending horns.
The males have comparatively large humps.
These animals have thin and moderately developed dewlaps.
The sheath is very small and tucked up with the body.
The tail is fine with a black switch reaching a little below the hocks.
The adult males and females weight around 340 and 227 kgs respectively.
The age at first calving ranges from 915 to 1,800 days.
The lactation milk yield averages to around 540 kgs and the fat content averages to about 5.7%.
The length of lactation averages to about 285 days and the average calving interval is around 600 days.

These cattle are bred both by professional breeders and cultivators. A few families in each village have been breeding these cattle for generations. In order to develop this breed, the State of Karnataka has undertaken a policy of selective breeding.

In Turuvekere (in Hassan District), the Government farm has a herd of Hallikar bulls and cows. Also in Hesaraghatta, the Government has maintained nearly 15 Hallikar bulls. The cattle are maintained in a semi-intensive management system by professional breeders.

It is note-worthy that in the year 2000, the Government of India – Department of Posts commemorated the Hallikar breed of cattle by releasing a postage stamp in its name.

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The Kapila breed of cattle is a rare Indian breed, native to Dakshina Karnataka and Kasargod.

It is said that this breed was reared by Kapila Rishi – a great Vedic Sage and hence derived its name from him. It is also believed that the Kapila breed of cows are the offsprings of the divine cow, Surabhi, revered and praised since the Vedic times.

In the Mahabharata ten varieties of Kapila have been described viz:

“Suvarn Kapila ( Golden yellow); Gour Pingala (white and yellow coloured); Arakta Pingakshi (red tail and yellow·eyed ) ; Gal Pingala (neck with yellow hair); Eabhru Varnabha (whole body with yellow colour); Shveta Pingala (whitish yellow); Rakta Pingakshi (reddish yellow eyed); Khur Pingala (Yellow coloured feet); Patala (Light red); Puccha Pingala (tail yellow coloured)” [Mahabharat- Ashvamedh, 102./7-8].

Characteristics:

The colour of the Kapila breed have been variously described as black, brown, red or yellow. Certain Ayurvedic doctors are of the opinion that its colour is a blend of white, yellow, red and black and due to this mixed colour, it absorbs the Sun’s rays more intensively, making its milk superior and richer.

The Kapila breed of cattle is small in stature with an average height of 80 to 85 cms. This breed has an inherent resistance to diseases and has not been known to suffer from any fatal diseases. The milk produced by the Kapila cows though meagre in quantity has immense therapeutic value and abundant healing properties. A variant of this breed is the golden kapila, which has golden eyes, nose and golden skin.

The Kapila breed is to be found only in India with a meager population of approximately 500 or so. Our Surabhivana houses around 40 numbers of the golden variant of the Kapila breed. The ghee produced from milk of our Kapila cows appear almost like liquid gold. This breed is immensely strong and disease-free. Kapila calf is up on its feet within eight hours of its birth. This breed is perhaps the strongest amongst the Indian breed of cattle.

The Kapila breed produces a substance in its horns which has high medicinal properties. The substance is called “Gorochana”. The “Gorochana” present within its horns is used for medicinal purposes. The dung and urine of the Kapila breed are well known for their cancer curing properties. This breed is highly revered for its spiritual value.

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Nimari, is a native Indian cattle breed found in the Nimari tract of Narmada valley, comprising the districts of Barwani, Khargon, Khandwa and parts of Harda in the State of Madhya Pradesh. The border of Kharone district towards Khandwa, Indore & Dewas also has a thin population of the Nimari cattle. Some of these animals are also found in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra.

Nimari is a dual purpose breed and is considered as the “Biological Engine of Nimari”. It is an active breed, primarily used in draught work and agricultural operations. They are occasionally used for the purpose of transportation. The cows of this breed are known to be average milk yielders.

Characteristics:

They are red in colour with splashes of white on various parts of the body.
In the Khamgaon strain the color is occasionally black or light red and white while in the Khamla strain, it is red with a violet tinge and white or yellow and white.
The animals are well-proportioned, compact, medium sized and muscular.
The head is moderately long with a slight bulging forehead.
They carry the head alertly, giving them a graceful appearance.
They have a long body with a straight back and generally prominent hips
The ribs are moderately arched and the quarters drooping to some extent.
They possess hardiness and agility and are aggressive in temperament.
The horns usually emerge in a backward direction from the outer angles of the poll, turning upward, outward and finally inward.
At times, the horns are copper-coloured and pointed.
The ears are moderately long and wide.
The muzzle in many of the animals is either copper or amber in colour.
The average body length is 127 cm in males and 113 cm in females.
The average body height is 132 cm in males and 114 cm in females.
The average body weight is 390 kgs in males and 339 kgs in females.
The skin is fine and slightly loose.
The tail is long and thin with the black switch reaching to the ground.
The hooves are strong and can stand rough wear on stony ground.
The hump in the bulls is well developed and sometimes hangs over.
The dewlap and sheath are moderately developed, though the sheath has the tendency to be pendulous.
The cows of this breed usually have well-developed udder.
The average milk yield is 767 Kg per lactation and average milk fat is 4.9%.

With the launch of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, the Union Government has focused its attention on the conservation and development of the ‘Desi’ breeds which includes the Nimari breed of cattle. Also, noteworthy establishments are:

The National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB) which focuses on Field Artificial Insemination (Al) Net work with the objective of conservation of the indigenous breeds through establishment of breeders’ associations and societies.
The National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) which focuses on development of infrastructure at grassroots by providing financial and technical assistance for production, procurement, processing and marketing by milk unions/federations.

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Hariana, is a native Indian cattle breed used for draft purposes in the northern parts of India. This breed originated from from Rohtak, Hisar, Jind and Gurgaon districts of Haryana.

Besides the distribution of this breed in its traditional breeding tract and other adjoining areas, these animals were also reared in the erstwhile princely States of Nabha, Patiala, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Alwar, Loharu and Bharatpur, Meerut, Bulandshahar and Aligarh districts of Western Uttar Pradesh.

Characteristics:

They have strong, proportionate bodies and are compact and graceful.
The body colour is generally white or light grey; the bullocks are dark grey coloured.
The head is long and comparatively thin and is carried high.
The forehead is flat and bony with prominence in the centre of poll.
The face is long and narrow with black, bright eyes and black muzzle.
The ears are small and sharp, and close to body.
The neck is long and slender.
The dewlap is present in this breed while the naval flap is absent.
The males have larger shoulder hump is and short penis.
The horns are glossy and smooth and somewhat horizontal, growing longer, curving upwards and inwards in the bullocks.
The tail is thin, short, and tapering towards the end with a black switch reaching just below the hocks.
The limbs are sturdy, moderately long and thin and hooves black and shaped.
The pin bone is prominent and far apart in females but close in males.
The females have prominent teats and the udder is well developed, capacious, extended well forward; and the veins over udder are prominent.
Average body weight of male is 430 kgs while that of female is 310 kgs.
The height at withers of a male is 132 – 155 cm and a female is 127 – 140 cm.
Average body length of a male is 141.02 cm and of a female is 139.2 cm.
Average heart girth of a male is 173.96 cm while that of a female is 169.8 cm.
Age at first calving is 40 – 61 months and inter-calving period is 13 – 18 months with a gestation period of 290 days while lactation period averages to 272 days.
Milk production per lactation is 1400 – 2300 Kg and average milk fat: 4.3 – 5.3%.

Hariana breed is said to have been evolved by combining several native breeds and is a dual purpose breed. It is well suited for transport as it can pull a one ton load at 2 miles per hour and can cover 20 miles a day. The females are primarily meant for breeding of oxen, but they are also milked.

This indigenous breed of cattle is alarmingly close to extinction due to the trend for cross-breeding cattle for high yield of milk and inclination towards rearing buffalos. Pedigree herds are maintained at some Government farms. There are Goshalas which are rearing the abandoned, culled cows. At present, the estimated population of this breed is around 16.5 lakhs.

Initiatives taken by HLDB to implement Hariana Pedigree Selection project have developed much interest among the farmers and they have started appreciating the efforts of HLDB for improving the indigenous breeds of cattle. The government would provide quality bulls of these breeds to farmers at highly subsidized rates.

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Gangatiri is a native Indian breed, found around river Ganga in the eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh, in the Chandauli, Ghazipur and Ballia districts. This breed is also found in adjacent areas of Bhabua, Buxar, Arrah and Chhapra in the state of Bihar.

This breed is also known as Eastern Hariana or Shahabadi. Its breeding tracts include Varanasi, Mirzapur, Ballia and Ghazipur districts of Uttar Pradesh, and Bhojpur, Rohtas and Shahbad districts of Bihar.

These cattle are generally kept in the open or in thatched housing near the farmers’ houses. They are grazed for almost six to eight hours per day. They are generally kept in herd sizes varying from 2 to 150 numbers. Large herds are maintained purely on grazing, in the ‘Diyara’ – the area adjacent to the river Ganga. The current population of this breed is estimated to be around 3 to 4 lakhs, of which almost 67000 are found in the breeding tracts.

Characteristics:

These animals have moderate bodies with coat colours that are either complete white (Dhawar) or Grey (Sokan).
The horns are medium sized and emerge from side of the poll behind and above eyes in outward and curving upwards and inwards ending with pointed tips.
The face is narrow with short ears; the forehead is prominent, straight and broad with a shallow groove in the middle.
The eyelids, muzzle, hooves and tail switch are generally black in colour.
The average weight of a male is 340 kgs, and of a female is 235 kgs.
The height at withers of a male is 142 cm, and of a female is 124 cm.
Average body length of a male is 121 cm and of a female is 110 cm.
Average chest girth of a male is 168 cm while that of a female is 153 cm.
The age at first calving is around 48 months, varying between 27 – 82 months while the inter-calving period is 14 – 24 months with a gestation period of 290.
The lactation length is 150 – 250 days and the average milk yield in a lactation is around 1050 Kg, varying from 900 to 1200 Kg.
These cattle are well adapted to low to medium input production system and produce about 2.5 to 8.0 Kg milk a day with an average fat percentage ranging from 4.1 to 5.2 %.

The Gangatiri is an important dual-purpose breed, which is used for milk production as well as for agricultural operations. This is a robust and resilient breed which contributes significantly towards the livelihood of people of the region.

Of the 40 registered native cattle breeds of India, Gangatiri is one of the most recently recognised one. [Source: National Dairy Development Board]

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The Krishna Valley Cattle breed originated from the areas drained by the rivers – Krishna, Ghatapraba and Malaprabha–in the Bijapur, Bagalkot and Belgaum districts of Karnataka. They are bred in the southwestern part of Hyderabad also. In the past, the distribution of the Krishna Valley cattle was wide and included the Satara, Sangali and Solapur districts of Maharashtra as well asthe Belgaum, Bijapur and Raichur districts of Karnataka. However, now there has been a distinct shift in the breeding tracts -tothe northern parts of Karnataka.

This is a dual-purpose breed of recent origin with an inherent ability to toil in extremely hot and humid climatic conditions. They are a draught breed and are mainly used for agricultural purposes. The cows are moderate milk producers while the bulls are known for their strength and endurance. It is said that this breed has evolved from various cattle breeds belonging to various states, such as Gir and Kankrej from Gujarat, Ongole from Andhra Pradesh and other cattle types of Mysore.

The Kings of Sangli had contributed substantially towards developing and producing this hybrid breed of cattle from the mentioned ‘desi’ strains of cattle. Though it was considered a very important breed, the importance was subsequently lost due to limited use of draught power and the choice of the farmers for high milk producing cattle breeds. Also, due to the softness of the hooves of the animals and also their heavy weight, these animals are not generally appreciated by the cultivators in areas other than in their native homes.

Characteristics:

Since this breed is an admixture of various ‘Desi’ breeds from various states, it generally shows a variety of characteristics. However, certain characteristics were emphasized by the original breeders.

The animals of this breed are docile and friendly.
They have massive form and deep broad chest, but are loosely built.
The body is short whereas the barrel is large and well-developed.
The legs are short and thick, and look powerful while the hooves are said to be soft.
The average height of a male is 145 cm, and that of a female is 122 cm.
The average body length of a male is 153 cm and that of a female is 132 cm.
The average chest girth of a male is 196 cm while that of a female is 168 cm.
The average weight of a male is 550 kgs, and of a female is 325 kgs.
The color is mostly gray-white with the males having dark shades on the forequarters and hindquarters. The females look more white.
Also,these animals are often found with brown and white, black and white and mottled colours.
The face is narrow with broad and bulging forehead and a shallow groove in the middle.
The forehead is surmounted with small curved horns of varied shapes and sizes.
The horns are medium sized and emerge from the side of the poll behind and above the eyes in outward and curving upwards and inwards ending with pointed tips.
The ears are small and pointed while the neck is short and thick.
The dewlap is well-developed and pendulous and the sheath is also slightly pendulous.
The average milk yield is between 900-1200 kg in a lactation of more than 300 days.

The Krishna Valley has decreased substantially (almost 90%, as per some estimates) and efforts to preserve this breed have been taken up on an earnest basis. The National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) has now started projects in the native tract for conservation of this breed. Various programs have been organized to create awareness amongst the people. With joint efforts from BAIF(Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation) and NGAGR, more than 2500 Krishna Valley cattle are now seen in its native tract.

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Bargur is a dual-purpose cattle breed, found around the Bargur hills in Anthiyur Taluka of Erode district in Western Tamil Nadu. This breed has been generally raised in herds, exclusively by the Kannada speaking Lingayats of the Bargur region. The Bargur cattle are raised especially for carrying out agricultural operations in the hilly terrain and are well-known for speed, endurance and their trotting ability. These are very hardy animals and are known to be aggressive and fiery in their disposition. They are also cautious in behaviour and tend to remain away from strangers.

This small and fiesty animal is also known as Semmarai in Tamil Nadu, and is a favourite during the “Jallikattu” – bull taming tradition played in Tamil Nadu, as part of the Pongal celebrations (Harvesting Festival).

The cows are not very good ‘milkers’ but their milk is known to have high nutritive and medicinal value. Possibilities are being explored for enhancing the milk yield of these cows through scientific means. Researchers are carrying out extensive plans for the selective breeding of the cattle, in order to double the milk yield from the present 2 to 3 litres per day.

Characteristics:

Bargur cattle are of medium size with compactly built body and tight body skin.
The cows and bulls are usually red coloured with white patches. Full white and reddish brown complexions are also found at times.
The coat colour varies from cherry red to light red and the skin is red in colour.
The hair is short, straight and fine and the hair colour is brown and white.
The muzzle and eyelashes are mostly brown in colour.
The head is well-shaped and long and tapering towards the muzzle.
The forehead is moderately broad and slightly prominent.
The ears are short and horizontal while the horns are thin.
The horns are light brown in colour, emerge closer at the root and are inclined backward, outward and upward with a forward curve that is sharp at the tip.
The hump is moderate-sized and the ribs well-arched.
The dewlap is well-marked, short and extends up to the sternum.
The sheath is fairly tight and tucked up to the body.
The legs are medium in length while the tail is rather short with a brown switch.
The hooves are brown in colour. Also, black coloured hooves are also found amongst the animals.
The udder is small and closely attached to the teat.
The teats are small, cylindrical in shape and well set apart with pointed tips.
There is a tight navel flap, almost inconspicuous in the cows.
The average height at withers of a male is 126 cm and a female is 116 cm.
The average body length of a male is 126 cm and of a female is 115 cm.
The average chest girth of a male is 139 cm while that of a female is 124 cm.
The milk yield of the Bargur cows does not exceed two to three litres a day.
Average milk production of the cows is 350 kgs per lactation and ranges from 250 to 1300 kg per lactation.

These cattle are most often maintained in extensive management system, being raised in forest areas in semi-wild conditions. They are usually housed in enclosures called ‘Pattys’ in groups of 50 to 200 animals. This hill cattle survive under almost zero-input conditions since they are mostly reared inside the forest areas.

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The Bachaur breed of cattle is found in the Bachaur Pargana that includes the districts of Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur and Muzaffarpur in the state of Bihar. While the Madhubani, Darbhanga and Sitamarhi districts form the native tract of this breed, it is reported that due to the shrinking of the original breeding tract, the Bachaur cattle are now concentrated in areas adjacent to the Nepal border which also include Bachaur and Koilpur subdivisions of Sitamarhi.

This cattle is known for its draught qualities and also its ability to thrive on poor fodder resources. Despite being a draught breed, the cows prove to be better milk yielders as compared to other Indian draught breeds. The bullocks can work for long periods without any break. They are used for transport and also for agricultural operations. These cattle were very popular in Bihar in the early 19th century, during the rule of the East India Company in India.

This breed is maintained by the Koir and Ahir communities and the cattle are grazed in the nearby grassland areas. A cow having a male calf is not milked at all, and the calf is allowed to take all the milk. The male animals are castrated at the time of eruption of horns – at about one to one and a half years of age. This breed fulfilled the livelihood requirement of cattle farmers in the breeding tract by its draught power and to some extent by milk and dung.

Characteristics:

The animals are white to gray in color with black muzzle, and eyelids.
The body is compact and small in size with firm and medium-sized hump.
The face is short, forehead broad and flat or slightly convex.
They have large and prominent eyes, and medium-sized and drooping ears.
They have black or brown muzzle and black or white eyelids. Eyelids are black for animals having black muzzle and white for animals having brown muzzle.
The horns are small and stumpy, curving outward, upward and downward.
They have straight back, well rounded barrel, muscular shoulders and short neck.
They have medium sized dewlap, and small trough-shaped udder.
They have short and thin legs, soft hooves with well-shaped and strong feet.
The sheath and navel flap are light and close to the body.
The tail is short and thick, with a black or white switch reaching up to the hock.
The average height of a male is 120 cm, and that of a female is 112 cm.
The average body length of a male is 116 cm and that of a female is 110 cm.
The average chest girth of a male is 150 cm while that of a female is 140 cm.
The average weight of a male is 245 kgs, and of a female is 200 kgs.
The average milk yield is between 225-630 kg in a lactation of more than 254 days with an average milk fat of 5%.

The Bachaur cattle are managed under extensive management system. These bullocks are engaged for agricultural operations and are apparently indispensable to the farmers. This draught animal power is the only appropriate, everlasting and environment friendly source of energy for majority of farmers in the breeding tract.

However, there has been a continuous decline in the population of this breed and conservation measures need be taken immediately in order to save this breed.

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Kenkatha or Kenwariya breed hails from the provinces of Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh, along the banks of the river Ken and the Vindhya ranges in Madhya Pradesh. This breed is named after the river Ken. Its breeding tract lies along the banks of river Ken in Panna, Chhatarpur and Tikamgarh districts of Madhya Pradesh and in the Lalitpur, Hamirpur and Banda districts of Uttar Pradesh.

This is a breed which is known for its ability to survive in rough environments. Due to the hilly nature of the region and poor feed resources, only animals that can cover long distances and have strong feet can thrive in this region. The bullocks are small but sturdy and are good for cultivation in rocky areas. They are also popular for light draught on road. Nevertheless, the Kenkatha cow is seen to be good enough for meeting consumption requirements of small families.

These cattle are maintained under the extensive management system. Cows and the young stock are maintained only on grazing while bullocks are usually fed good quality straws. They are known for their ability to thrive on poor feed resources. Animals have to cover long distances in search of grazing pastures. Straws and husks from crops are utilized as cattle feed. Only few animals are maintained by each cultivator. Pasture is scanty and generally consists of coarse grasses of cow nutritive value.

Characteristics:

These animals are small but compactly built, with sturdy and powerful bodies.
The complexions contain various shades of grey and black, and rarely, white, ranging from grey on the barrel to dark grey on the rest of the body.
The head is short and broad and the forehead is dished.
The ears are sharply pointed and do not droop.
The horns emerge from the outer angles of the poll in forward direction and end in sharp points.
The back is straight but the quarters are drooping.
The limbs are short but powerful and the feet are hard.
The hump is well developed.
The sheath is somewhat pendulous and ends with a black tip.
The dewlap is moderately heavy.
The tail is of medium length with a black switch reaching below the hocks.
Average body height at withers of a male is 127 cms and a female is 120 cms.
Average body length of a male is 119 cms and of a female is 114 cms.
The average chest girth of a male is 178 cms while that of a female is 168 cms.
The average weight of a male is 350 kgs while that of a female is 300 kgs.
The daily milk yield ranges from 1.0 to 3.0 kg. o to three litres a day.
The average production of the cows is 500-600 kg of milk in a lactation of 6-8 months.

There has been unrestricted interbreeding of the Kenkatha with other non–descript cattle and as a result, the breed has been diluted and its population is waning rapidly. Immediate steps are required to be taken in order to conserve and improve this indigenous breed of cattle.

To make a start, a breed society needs to be formed, which should be trained and supported for the immense task of safeguarding and upgrading of this breed in order to make it economically sustainable in the present scenario of the country

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Kerigarh cattle is named after the Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh from where it originated. This breed is also found in the adjoining Pilibhit district. It is closely related to the Malvi breed in appearance. Its lyre-shaped horn formation is typical of the Malvi breed though the Kerigarh are much lighter in appearance. The Kerigarh bullocks are fast trotters and are extensively used for draught purposes. Though very poor milkers, this breed is considered as one of the foremost amongst the draught animals of India. The cattle start work when they are about 4 years old with a weight of approx. 270 kgs. It is said that a pair of bullocks can pull about 1.5 tons of load trotting to a distance of about 50 to 55 kms per day at a speed of 5 to 6 kms per hour.

These animals are small in build but are extremely active with light limbs.
They have a white coat colour though some animal sport grey colour distributed all over their bodies especially on their faces.
They have small and narrow face with bright eyes and small ears.
They sport a short and powerful looking neck.
Their horns are lyre-shaped – thin and upstanding, curving outward and upwards. These are medium in size and thick at the base.
The cows usually have smaller horns.
The back is straight but the quarters are drooping.
The sheath is short and moderately tight.
The hump is well developed in the bulls.
The dewlap is thin and pendulous and starts right from under the chin and continues down to the lower chest.
The tail is extremely long and ends in a switch.
Average body height at withers of a male is 131 cms and a female is 122 cms.
Average body length of a male is 114 cms and of a female is 149 cms.
The average chest girth of a male is 163 cms while that of a female is 168 cms.
The average weight of a male is 476 kgs while that of a female is 318 kgs.

Management Conditions:

The Kheri region has an abundance of coarse grasses and therefore the animals are maintained mostly on grazing, with no requirement of additional fodder or concentrate.
The animals are mostly housed in the open areas of this region.
The bulls are castrated at about 42 months of age and are used for draught work.
The calves are reared mostly on milk. In some cases, the cows are not milked at all.

According to the Breed Survey 2013 conducted by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Government of India, the population of the Kerigarh is estimated at around 75000 numbers. The Uttar Pradesh Government has been allocated funds for the development and protection of the indigenous breeds under National Gokul Mission and accordingly the establishment of Gokul Gram and bull-cow farms are being carried out.

The challenges faced in carrying out the national movement of conserving our native breed need to be addressed promptly and adequately to bring in rapid improvement in cattle population.

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The Malvi cattle breed is one of the most beautiful cattle breeds of India, found in the large area comprising Indore, Dewas, Ujjain, Shajapur, and Mandsaur districts of Madhya Pradesh. This breed of zebu cattle originated from the Malwa plateau of western Madhya Pradesh.

It’s breeding tract includes Rajgarh, Ratlam, Shajapur and Ujjain districts of Madhya Pradesh and is also bred in the north-eastern section of Hyderabad, where it is popularly used as medium and light draft on the roads, and for cultivation purposes.

This breed is also known as Manthani, Malavi or Mahadeopuri. This breed has developed into different strains such as light, medium and heavy in size, based on the soil conditions they are bred in. Also, it is said to resemble the Kankrej breed in many ways. Though the Malvi is primarily known as a draught animal, the cows produce little but very good quality milk.

Characteristics:

Malvi are generally small in build with short, deep and compact bodies. However, in parts adjoining Rajputana, the type bred is
larger in size.
They are generally white or greyish white in colour, and eventually with age their colour turns into pure white.
The colour on the neck, shoulders, hump and quarters is greyish-black.
The hair around the eye-sockets and eye membranes are black in colour.
They have a short and broad head with a dished forehead.
Their muzzle is broad, dark coloured and slightly upturned.
They have short but powerful legs with strong black hooves.
They have horns that emerge from the outer angles of the poll in an outward and upward direction.
They have short and pointed ears that do not drop.
They have drooping hindquarters and straight backs.
They have beautiful well-developed and moderately pendulous sheath.
Tails are of moderate length, with the black switch reaching upto fetlock.
Average height of a male is 134 cms and that of a female is 120 cms.
Average body length of a male is 132 cms and of a female is 118 cms.
Average weight of a male is 500 kgs. while that of a female is 340 kgs.
Average chest girth of a male is 175 cms and that of a female is 152 cms.
The average milk production of this breed is about 900 kgs, ranging between 600 to 1200 kgs of milk per lactation.
The milk produced is rich with about 4.3 % fat content.

These cattle are well adapted to native climatic conditions, and show great endurance and ability to carry heavy loads on rough roads.

The bullocks are known to trot very fast and hence are used for quick transportation. They are able to carry heavy loads on rough roads. The bullocks work well in the black cotton soil.

Significantly, in the past three decades, a substantial amount of work has been done in several states through gaushalas and cooperatives, to conserve the indigenous breeds.

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The Ponwar cattle is an indigenous breed of India and is named after the place from where it has originated, viz: Ponwar in Puranpur Taluk in the Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh. Its breeding tract lies in the Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh. Its breeding tract is a plain area with majority of land area covered with forests. A few of this cattle are also found in the Lakhimpur-Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh.

Ponwar is mainly a draught breed and is carting and agricultural operations. The bullocks of this breed are quick and strong and are well suited for such operations. They are mostly used for light ploughing and carting. The bullocks can easily transport 800 to 100 kgs of load upto 10 kms and can plough one acre of land in six to eight hours.

This breed is also known as Purnea or Kabri (mixture of colours) and is said to have evolved from a mix of hilly cattle (Morang – Nepalese hill cattle) and plain land cattle. The animals are excellent at foraging, and excel under free grazing conditions. This breed is maintained by the Pasi and Yadav communities of Uttar Pradesh, while the Tharu tribe is mainly involved in rearing the pure breed Ponwar.

These animals are of a sturdy kind with rare occurrence of diseases amongst them. A peculiar characteristic of this breed is that they generally move in groups with their heads down, in between each other, due to fear from predators. They have a fiery disposition and are known to be very active and aggressive. They have remarkable speed and stamina.

These animals are maintained under the extensive management system, without provision of sheds. They are relatively tough to control. They are raised entirely on forest-land without any feed supplementation. These animals have been found to mature late. The cows of this breed are said to be fair milkers and the calves are allowed suckle the cows.

Characteristics:

The Ponwar have small, compact and non-fleshy bodies with tight skin.
They exhibit dual coloured complexion of intermixed black and white colours. The coat colour is brown or black with white patches in varying proportions, but with no particular pattern.
The colour of the muzzle, eyelids and hoofs is generally black.
They have small and narrow face, with slightly concave and narrow forehead.
They have small to medium sized horns that curve inwards with pointed tips.
These animals have small ears with pointed tips, and big bright eyes.
They have short, powerful necks and moderately long barrels.
The sheath is short and tight while the dewlap is light and thin.
The tail is long and tapering with white switch in black animals, and black switch in the ones having a greater proportion of white patches.
They have a small hump in females and developed humps in the males.
The cows have small udders and teats and the milk veins are small.
Average height of a male is 117 cms and that of a female is 109 cms.
Average body length of a male is 101 cms and of a female is 94 cms.
Average weight of a male is 318 kgs. while that of a female is 295 kgs.
Average chest girth of a male is 150 cms and that of a female is 142 cms.
The average milk production of this breed is about 460 kgs per lactation.
The milk produced is rich with about 4.3 % fat content.
Age at first calving is 40 to 60 months with inter-calving period of 12 months.

The population of this cattle breed has shrunk to less than 10,000 numbers in the entire breeding tract, mainly due to unplanned and unsystematic breeding. The current situation demands an urgent need for genetic management and conservation. The castration and selling of male calves of 6 to 12 months age, for use in agricultural operations and transportation should be stopped immediately. Active planning and systematic breeding operations should commence without further delay so that this sturdy and locally adaptable draft breed can flourish.

The substantial amount of work done in most states through gaushalas and cooperatives must be promoted further in order to conserve our native breeds. Surabhivana continues its engagement with the movement of conserving the Indian breed of cattle.

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The Red Sindhi is an indigenous milch cattle breed with a reputation of being heat tolerant. It is the most popular of all Zebu dairy breeds. This breed originated in the mountainous region called `Mahal Kohistan’, spread over parts of Karachi, Thattha and Dadu districts in Sindh. Though the original breeding tract is in Pakistan (formerly India), some organised herds are available in Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Kerala and Assam.

This breed has a high genetic potential for milk production and are largely maintained for this purpose, across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

These cattle are also hardy, with a high degree of resistance to heat and ticks. They adapt themselves well to stressful environments, and are docile and quiet. The bullocks are steady workers, and are therefore, well suited for road and field work.

This breed is considered to have originated from Las Bela cattle found in the state of Bela, Baluchistan. This breed is also known as “Malir”, “Red Karachi” and “Sindhi”.

The home-tract of this breed extends to the irrigated areas of Hyderabad (Sindh) and the arid plains of Lasbella district in Balochistan.

Due to its hardiness, its heat resistance and high milk yields, this breed has been promoted to many parts of India, and also to other parts of the world – including at least 33 countries in Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Americas.

Characteristics:

The Red Sindhi cattle have medium-sized, well-proportioned, and compact bodies.
The body colour is mostly deep red, but also varies from a deep reddish brown to a yellowish red. Occasionally, small white patches are seen in the dewlap and forehead. In the males, the colour is darker on the shoulders and thighs.
Their head is of a moderate size, well-proportioned with clear-cut outlines.
The forehead is broad between the eyes and flat or slightly protruding, with a short crop of hair.
The face is of medium length, gradually tapering into a square and they have an intelligent facial expression.
They have a well-developed black muzzle with wide nostrils and muscular lips.
The crest line is wide between the horns, and the poll is slightly protruding at the centre.
They have thick, short, curved, horns that emerge laterally and end in blunt tips. These are thick and stumpy in males but thin in the females.
The hind quarters are round and drooping, and the tail switch is black.
The ears are of medium size, fine, clean-cut, and are carried at an angle. The skin inside is generally coloured butter yellow, with a dark fringe along the edge.
The hump is well-devThe Red Sindhi cattle have medium-sized, well-proportioned, and compact bodies.
The body colour is mostly deep red, but also varies from a deep reddish brown to a yellowish red. Occasionally, small white patches are seen in the dewlap and forehead. In the males, the colour is darker on the shoulders and thighs.
Their head is of a moderate size, well-proportioned with clear-cut outlines.
The forehead is broad between the eyes and flat or slightly protruding, with a short crop of hair.
The face is of medium length, gradually tapering into a square and they have an intelligent facial expression.
They have a well-developed black muzzle with wide nostrils and muscular lips.
The crest line is wide between the horns, and the poll is slightly protruding at the centre.
They have thick, short, curved, horns that emerge laterally and end in blunt tips. These are thick and stumpy in males but thin in the femaleeloped in males.
The females have capacious and pendulous udder with medium sized teats.
The eyes are fairly large, clear and well set apart, with eyebrows rather light.
The neck is generally short and fairly thick at the junction of the head and evenly joined at the shoulders.
The navel flap is of moderate size, thin and clear-cut.
The sheath is pendulous in males, but nominal in females.
The dewlap is rather abundant both in males and females, but thin and hangs well in nice folds, with a soft mellow feel.
The jaws are strong with the dewlap extending well underneath the lower jaw.
Average height of a male is 130 cms and that of a female is 120 cms.
Average body length of a male is 140 cms and that of a female is 140 cms.
Average weight of a male is 450 kgs. and that of a female is 320 kgs.
Average chest girth of a male is 180 cms and that of a female is 140 cms.
The milk yield of the cattle ranges from 1100 to 2600 kg per lactation with an average yield of 1840 kg per lactation. However, yields as high as 5,450 kg in a lactation period of 300 days have also been recorded.
The average lactation length is 265 days.
Fat percentage in the milk varies from 4 to 5.2% with an average of 4.5%.
Age at first calving ranges from 30 to 50 months with an inter-calving period of 12 to 18 months.

The population of this cattle breed has shrunk to even less than 70,000 numbers, according to the year 2013 census. The prevalent situation calls for an urgent need for genetic management and conservation of this breed.

In view of the status and performance of this breed, all organized herds in our country should be declared as conservation units. Attempts should be made to multiply the germplasm of this breed at a faster pace.

An improvement programme incorporating all organized herds (Associated Herd Progeny Testing) should be planned on a priority, for improvement of this breed.

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The Siri is a small-sized indigenous Zebu draught breed, and found in the hill tracts around Darjeeling in Bengal, India and also in Sikkim and Bhutan. Siri is also known as “Trahbum”. This breed is said to be the native of Bhutan where it is known as “Nublang”. Its breeding tract includes Darjeeling, Gyalshing, Namchi, Gangtok, and Sikkim. The males are mainly reared in the hilly area, for draught purposes, and sometimes they are the only source of draught power for the region.

The Siri bullocks are good workers while the cows are fair milkers. These animals graze on the steep slopes of the hilly forests, and are mostly housed in open houses on the slopes. The Siri cattle can survive very well in the mountains, due to their long and powerful legs. The bulls are very valuable as they are one of the strongest amongst the native breeds and are well suited for the purpose of carting. They can carry about 350 to 400 kgs of weight, over the hills. They are also used for agricultural work such as ploughing, cultivating, threshing, etc.

Siri cattle are allowed to graze throughout the year despite the scanty pastures during most of the year. Dry animals and young stock are taken for pasturing in the government reserved forests at higher altitudes during summer months.

Characteristics:

The Siri cattle are small to medium-sized animals, yet large in comparison with the other types of Zebu cattle breeds.
This breed is either black or brown with white patches, though totally black or brown animals are also found.
The white patches are characteristically on the face, legs, tail, under the body and the medial surface of the quarters. There are also white stripes from the withers to the dorsal vertebral column.
They generally have a thick coat of long hair throughout the year.
The head is generally small with square-cut, wide and flat forehead.
The muzzle is usually black.
The ears are of medium size and horizontal; and the eyes have black eyelids.
The bulls and cows, both usually have horns. And their horns are long and sharp and usually covered with a tuft of long coarse hair.
The horns are medium sized and curved outward, forward and slightly upward with sharp and pointed tips.
The hump is placed slightly forward with a tuft of hair upon it. This is the only Indian cattle breed with the cervico-thoracic type of hump.
They have strong legs and feet which are well suited for the ploughing fields.
The hooves of the animals are broad but strong.
The sheath in the male is tight.
The dewlap is moderately developed.
The udders of the cows are well-developed.
The teats are centrally placed and cylindrical in shape with rounded tips.
Height of the male varies between 138 and 141 cms., and that of the female varies between 121 and 124 cms.
Body length of the male varies between 108 and 111 cms., and that of the female varies between 98 and 101 cms.
Body weight of the male varies between 260 and 360 kgs., and that of the female varies between 212 and 307 kgs.
Average chest girth of a male is 170 cms and that of the female is 152 cms.
The cows are poor milkers and the milk yield ranges from 2 to 6 kg per day with an average yield of 425 kg per lactation.
The average lactation length is about 7 to 9 months.
Fat percentage in the milk varies from 2.8% to 5.5%.
It has an inter-calving period of 420 to 490 days.

The milking cows and bullocks are stall-fed, and receive rice straw, maize stover or hay along with green grass. Concentrated feed is given in minimal quantities. The population of the Siri cattle has been found to be declining fast, on account of their crossbreeding with Jersey cattle.

In most of the states, either the crossbreds are fast replacing the indigenous cattle or the growth of the crossbreds are far ahead of that of indigenous cattle. This situation needs to be addressed urgently.

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Binjharpuri is a dual-purpose breed, indigenous to the Binjharpur area in the Jajpur district of Orissa. This breed is also known as “Deshi”. These cattle are mainly found in the Binjharpur, Bari, Sujanpur and Dasarathpur area of Jajpur District. They are also found in the adjoining Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts of Orissa where the region is mainly coastal plain and some saline zones.

These cattle are maintained for milk and manure, and also for draught purposes. These cattle are heat and drought tolerant. They are excellent draught animals, and are very active in agricultural operations. Maximum number of small and also landless farmers in Orissa maintain these cattle on account of their unique utility value.

These cattle are housed in sheds made of thatched roof with ‘kutcha’ floor. The walls of the shed are made of bamboo sticks, palm or coconut leaves, thus making the sheds well ventilated.

Characteristics:

This is a medium-sized, compact and strong breed with a good posture.
Cows are proportionate and graceful while the bulls are vigorous and majestic.
These cattle are found in white, grey, black and brown colours, with white markings on forehead, limbs and tail.
Eyelids, neck, muzzle and hooves are black in colour. Irrespective of colour of coat, the hump, neck and certain areas of face and back, are black in males.
Calves with light brown or grey colour develop to white colour at adult age.
Head is upright and medium in size.
Face is narrow with straight forehead and tight skin.
Ears are short and horizontal.
Horns are medium in size, and curved upward and inward.
Muzzle, eyelids, tail switch, and hooves are black in colour .
Tail is long, almost touching the ground, tapering towards the tip, and has a voluminous switch.
The bulls have well-developed hump, penis, navel flap and dewlap.
The hump is large in males and small in females, and so also the dewlap.
The pin bones (posterior bones) are distinct and wide apart.
The udder is bowl-shaped and medium in size, with cylindrical shaped teat.
The milk vein is prominent but medium in appearance.
Height of the male averages at 124 cms., and that of the female at 107 cms.
Body length of the male averages at 126 cms., and of the female at 115 cms.
Body weight of the male averages at 255 kgs., and that of the female at 207 kgs.
Average chest girth of a male is 144 cms and that of the female is 136 cms.
The milk yield per lactation ranges from 915 kgs to -1350 kgs.
The milk fat ranges from 4.3% – 4.4%.
Average age at first calving is 3 to 3.5 years.
Calving interval of this breed is 1 to 1.25 years.

The study on “Survey, evaluation and characterization of the Binjharpuri breed, made by Orissa Livestock Resources Development Society(OLRDS), strongly advocates for improvement of this breed through selective breeding for the benefit of the farmers. This effort happens to be the first of its kind in the country towards practical conservation and improvement of newly registered native cattle germ-plasm.

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The Pulikulam is a popular draught and game breed of Tamil Nadu. The cattle originated from Pulikulam, a village located in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu. Though named after its village of origin, it is also known as Palingu maadu, Mani maadu, Jallikattu maadu, Mattu maadu and Kilakattu maadu.

It breeding tracts are found in the Madurai, Sivaganga and Virudhunagar districts of Tamil Nadu. The bulls are used for breeding for up to 10 years of age. Life span of the animals is around 20 years, with a total calving of 8-10. Milking is usually done only in 10-15% lactating cows in a herd, so as to meet the home consumption of herdsmen.

Characteristics:

These are small in size, with compact, strong and active body and short legs.
The face is narrow with a dark head, and tight skin.
Males are dark grey while females are generally white or grey.
White markings can be found on the forehead, limbs and tail.
The forehead is broad and prominent with a groove at the centre.
They have extended horns that are curved outward, upward, backwards and then inward, ending with sharp pointed tips spaced wide apart.
The ears are small and pointed.
The muzzle, eyelids, tail switch and hooves are black.
The hump is dark, large in males and small in females.
The dewlap is thick.
The penis sheath flap is very small.
They have strong legs and feet and are trained for running events.
The udder of the cow is not well-developed.
Height of the male averages at 117 cms., and that of the female at 112 cms.
Body length of the male averages at 119 cms., and of the female at 114 cms.
Body weight of the male averages at 259 kgs., and that of the female at 208 kgs.
Average chest girth of a male is 150 cms and that of the female is 139 cms.
Cows are poor milkers; and milk yield ranges from 0.5 to 3 kg per day with an average yield of about 1.25 kg per day.
Average age at first calving is 4 to 4.5 years.
Calving interval of 1.5 to 2 years.

The Pulikulam breed of cattle are maintained as migratory herds, and its draught and manure capabilities play a significant role in the rural livelihood of the communities rearing them for draught and organic agricultural production. Almost ninety-nine per cent of the Pulikulam cattle is bred and maintained by the traditional cowherds – mainly the Konar and Thevar communities.

There has been an alarming decrease in the population of this breed. The year 2006 figures show a population of about 45000 whereas the year 2013 figures show a population of about 7500. Efforts to conserve this Indian breed should be stepped up though SEVA (Sustainable agriculture and Environmental Voluntary Action) – an institution specialising in conservation of native cattle breeds – in Madurai has been striving over the years for the protection of our native cattle breeds.

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Khariar is a breed that is named after the place of its origin. This breed is local to Khariar, Komna, Sinapalli and Boden areas of the Nuapada district of Orissa. Its breeding tracts comprises the Nuapada, Kalahandi and Bolangir Districts of Orissa. Like the Binjharpuri cattle of Orissa, the Khariar is also known by the synonym of ‘Deshi’. In appearance, they resemble the Motu breed of Orissa.

Khariar is basically a draft breed. The bullocks are used for agricultural operations and for transportation. These are docile, small-sized, strong animals, heat and drought tolerant, and have a very low incidence of diseases. These are bred around their hilly and undulated, native tracts.

This is a docile, small-sized, yet strong breed with a coat colour which ranges from light brown to grey, with unique orientation of the horn.
The hump, neck, and some regions of face and back, are dark in colour.
Horns are straight, emerging upward and inward, and are black in colour.
The forehead is straight, and the head is proportionate to body size.
The eyelids are black, muzzle is black grey.
The ears are horizontal with a length of 18 cms.
The navel flap is small, and also the penis sheath flap is small.
The tail is mainly black and sometimes grey while the hooves are black.
The dewlap is medium in males and small in females.
The hump is medium in size
The udder is small, bowl-shaped medium sized milk vein.
The teats are cylindrical in shape with round teat tips.
Height of the male averages at 106 cms., and that of the female at 102 cms.
Body length of the male averages at 114 cms., and of the female at 106 cms.
Body weight of the male averages at 196 kgs., and that of the female at 156 kgs.
Average chest girth of a male is 114 cms and that of the female is 123 cms.
The milk yield per lactation ranges from 300 kgs to 450 kgs.
Average milk fat ranges from 4 % – 5 % and daily milk yield is around 1.8 kgs.
Average age at first calving is around 4 years
The lactation period is aroud 270 to 290 days.
Calving interval of this breed is 1.25 to 1.5 years.

Usually, the cattle of entire village are taken together for during cropping season in order to avoid damage to crops. Though the Khariar is basically a draft breed, the cows of this breed produce considerable quantities of milk, which is mostly used for family consumption, and at times marketed.

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Ghumusari is a breed that is local to Bhanjanagar (Ghumusari) sub-division of Ganjam and adjoining areas of Phulbani district of Orissa. Ghumusari breed has derived its name from the place of its origin, the Ghumusur region.

It’s breeding tracts include the western parts of Ganjam district, with heavy concentration in the Bhanjanagar, Sorada and Aksa areas. Like the Binjharpuri and Khariar cattle of Orissa, the Ghumusari is also known by the name ‘Deshi’.

This breed is mainly a draught cattle breed, though sometimes these are also maintained for milk, manure and fuel.

These cattle are fast declining in numbers, mainly due to non-availability of quality bulls in the native tract. Efforts are being made to stop this decline, and conserve the breed.

The present population of Ghumusari is less than 10,000 in its native tract and is decreasing at a faster rate. Conservation and improvement activities have already been taken up by the Orissa Government in its native tracts with the involvement of the local farming community.

Characteristics:

This is a small-sized, strong breed with a coat colour which is mostly white, though at times the coat colour has shades of silver grey.
The head is small and flat with broad forehead, depressed between the eyes.
The hump is medium sized but well-developed and limbs are medium in size.
Tail is thin with black switch; hooves are well-proportioned, black and round.
The horns are short to medium-sized, curved outward, upward and inward, though some of the cattle have straight horns also.
The ears are medium-sized and tubular.
The navel flap is small, and also the penis sheath flap is small.
The dewlap is thin, medium-sized in males and small-sized in females.
The udder is small with less prominent medium milk veins.
The teats are small in size, cylindrical in shape and with round teat tip.
Height of the male averages at 108 cms., and that of the female at 103 cms.
Body length of the male averages at 116 cms., and of the female at 107 cms.
Body weight of the male averages at 208 kgs., and that of the female at 168 kgs.
Average chest girth of a male is 136 cms and that of the female is 126 cms.
The milk yield per lactation ranges from 450 kgs to 650 kgs.
Average milk fat ranges from 4.8% – 5 %.
Average age at first calving is around 42 months.
The lactation period is around 270 to 290 days.
Calving interval of this breed is around 13 months.

Selective breeding can bring about sustained development in the productivity of ‘Desi’ cattle. Orchestrated efforts by the locals as well as by the various State Governments will definitely see a rise in numbers of our sturdy, disease-resistant Indian breeds of cattle.

The cows are generally docile by nature. Since the breed is chiefly a draught cattle breed, very few animals are maintained for milk, manure and fuel. The lactating cows and bullocks are fed with straw, rice bran and kitchen waste.

The Ghumusari cattle are maintained in the semi-intensive management system, and are rarely fed any concentrate. These cattle are heat tolerant, and have a very low incidence of diseases. These can sustain on very low-quality feed intake.

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Kosali is a ‘desi’ cattle breed predominantly found in the central plains of Chattisgarh. The ancient name of this region was Kowshal, named after the maternal uncle of Lord Sri Ram, and hence the name Kosali. The breeding tracts lie in the areas of Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur and Janjgir districts. This breed has evolved over the generations, surviving mainly due to its adaptability to harsh climatic conditions and resistance to diseases. The Yadava and Rawuth community of farmers belonging to this region have been maintaining this breed since generations.

These cattle are maintained under the extensive management system. They are provided with a ‘kaccha’ type of housing that shelters the animals from cold, rain and storm. These cattle are allowed to graze during the day and are tied up during the night. They are fed in groups or individually. They are generally allowed to graze for their feed. They are also provided with locally-grown fodder by the farmers. The lactating and heavily pregnant animals are fed with concentrates for additional nourishment.

Characteristics:

This is a small-sized yet sturdy breed.
The coat colour of two-thirds of the cattle is found to be light red, while one-third is whitish grey in colour. Very few of them are also found to have coats with black colour or with red and white patches of colour.
The head is broad, while the forehead is flat and straight.
The hump is small to medium in size.
The legs are straight, short and strong, and also the fetlock joints are strong.
The hooves are hard and strong, and black in colour.
The horns are stumpy, emerging straight, then curved outward, upward and inward from the polls.
The udder is small and bowl-shaped.
The muzzle, eyelids, and tail switch are black in colour.
Height of the male averages at 121 cms., and that of the female at 103 cms.
Body length of the male averages at 126 cms., and of the female at 102 cms.
Body weight of the male averages at 260 kgs., and that of the female at 160 kgs.
Average chest girth of a male is 152 cms and that of the female is 125 cms.
Average milk yield per lactation is 210 kgs.
Average milk fat ranges from 3% – 4.5 %.

According to latest records, the estimated population of this breed is about 32 lakhs in numbers. Breeding strategies, management and conservation models designed for the overall improvement of this breed, have proved to be effective.

With the objectives of development and conservation, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has initiated programmes for genetic improvement of these indigenous dairy breeds. Thus, the future holds promise for improvement in the productivity of our indigenous breeds of cattle.

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Belahi is a ‘desi’ breed of cattle and are also known as Morni or Desi. It is a dual type cattle breed, reared for milk and draught by the Gujjar community in the foothills of Haryana.

Belahi cow produces about 3.25 Kg milk per day. This breed is named after the term ‘Belaha’ – a term used to describe a mixture of colours. The breeding tract of Belahi lies in the foothills of Shivalik in Haryana State and includes Ambala, Panchkula, Yamunanagar districts of Haryana and Chandigarh.These are hardy, enduring cattle, resistant to endo-ectoparasites and other contagious diseases and mastitis.

These cattle are housed in the open during migration. During winter months when the cattle do not migrate, they are housed mostly in pucca houses. These cattle are exclusively kept on grazing. Only some of the milch cows are provided with concentrate feed at the time of milking.

These cattle are kept in herds of hundreds of females with two to three bulls which are replaced every 3-4 years. The young calves are usually sold for agricultural purpose. Females, though kept in herd, are never sold. Because of high replacement of this cattle, its livestock strength is increases year after year.

Characteristics:

The cattle are medium-sized, symmetrical in stature, with a soft and tight skin.
These have a uniform but distinct body colour pattern and are generally found in reddish brown, grey or white colours.
The face and extremities are white and different degrees of white colour can be seen on ventral part of body.
The head is straight, with slender face, broad forehead and a prominent poll.
The horns are sickle shaped, curving upwards and inwards.
The muzzle is black, and the dewlap is white and well-developed.
The hump is small to medium in size and is more prominent in males as compared to females.
The tail is long and fine with a black switch.
The hooves are black or greyish in colour.
The udder is medium, round shaped, properly placed with prominent milk vein.
Height of the male averages at 131 cms., and that of the female at 120 cms.
Body length of the male averages at 125 cms., and of the female at 117 cms.
Body weight of the male averages at 305 kgs., and that of the female at 267 kgs.
Average chest girth of a male is 163 cms and that of the female is 157 cms.
Average milk yield per lactation is 1014 kgs.
Average milk fat is around 5.25 %.

According to the last count, there are more than 20,000 cattle heads in the breeding tract where this breed needs conservation due to the continuous decline in pastures and water bodies in its native tract. The breed is under threat due to stray bulls of the breed particularly the exotic cow bulls during migration and non-resident halts. Nevertheless, the breeders are constantly maintaining the pure-bred animals.

The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Haryana has launched the scheme for conservation and development of indigenous cattle (Gausamvardhan) 2017-18. The three-pronged purpose of the scheme is to identify top quality germplasm for sustainable genetic improvement, procurement of pedigreed young indigenous male calves for further supply in the State or Country and encouraging the farmer to rear better yielding Belahi cattle.

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Alambadi cattle is a wonderful indigenous breed that derives its name from a village called Alambadi on the banks of river Kaveri, in the Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. In this tract, there are plenty of uncultivated forest lands that allow the cattle an abundant pasture and unrestricted roaming grounds. Alambadi cattle are also found in the Erode district of Tamil Nadu. Raised on the hilly regions of Tamil Nadu, the breed survives on the grazing in the forest regions. The Alambadi cattle in the North are said to be the descendants of the Hallikar breed of Mysore.

Alambadi is mostly bred by Konga Vellalas, Lingayats, Vanniyars and Vokkaligas of the region, in the hilly forest areas of the upper Kaveri basin Mettur (Salem dt.) Pennagaram, Dharmapuri (both in Dharmapuri dt.) Kollegal, Bangalore rural (both in Karnataka state). It is considered to be one of the rarest of breeds in the world. Alambadi is capable of existing even in extremely hot temperatures and its disease resistance capacity is remarkable. Today, this breed has become almost extinct.

The cattle are brought back to villages during harvest times when the harvested fields provide pasture for some time, and the cattle supply the necessary manure for the fields. This breed of cattle mostly exist on grazing and dry fodder only.

Characteristics:

The cattle are medium or large sized with fairly deep but compact body.
The frame is loose with well-arched ribs, heavy shoulders and tight skin.
The colours of the body vary in grey, dark grey, black and fawn shades. Some are flesh-coloured while others have dark coloured skin with black muzzle.
They have white markings on the forehead, limbs and tail.
The head is dark and moderately long with a narrow face.
They have sweeping horns that curve backwards and end in sharp points.
The forehead is prominent and bulging.
The neck is short and thick.
The dewlap is broad and thick.
The ears are small and pointed.
The hump is fairly large and well-developed.
The penis sheath is generally small to medium.
The tail is medium long and tapering to a black switch.
The legs are short but strong.
The feet are large and hard with prominent coronary band.
The hind quarters are narrow and sloping from the croup to the tail.
Height averages at 124 cms. for males and 115 cms. for females.
Body length averages at 134 cms. for males and 124 cms. for females.
Body weight averages at 347 kgs. for males and 282 kgs. for females.
Average chest girth is 167 cms. for males and 155 cms. for females.
The calving interval varies from 16 to 24 months.

Like the other Indian breeds the Mewati have good adaptability to extreme climatic conditions and can easily withstand environmental stress or diseases. However, in the recent years, the population of all this breed has gone down considerably and the situation is alarming.

As is the case in all other Indian breeds, the primary factors contributing to this sharp decline are adoption of crossbreeding for enhanced milk productivity, mechanization of agricultural operations diminishing the utility of bullocks, shrinking of common grazing land and several other factors.

These cows can produce good amount of milk though the quality of milk needs to be improved upon. However, since these are mostly considered as poor milkers, they are used only for draught purposes. The cattle mostly live in a semi-wild state in the forests most of the year, especially from the month of July to January, when they are kept in pens during the night.

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Kasaragod dwarf or Kullan is one amongst the three prime dwarf cattle in India, the other two being Malnad Gidda and Vechur breed of cattle. Kasaragod dwarf is mostly found in Kasargod, the northern-most district of Kerala, flanked by a vast coastal area in the West, plains in the South and hilly tracts towards the North. The breed is also found in Mangalore, Coorg and some other parts of Karnataka. Some centuries ago, this breed of cattle was known as Sahya Pashu (Sahyadri Hill Cows) and was also found in Kannur and other parts of Kerala.

This breed is small-sized, friendly and understanding, and is well adapted to the hot and humid climate of Kerala. It possesses high heat tolerance and disease resistance, and can survive on kitchen scraps and jungle forage. This breed is also less susceptible to mastitis, a common udder infection.

Kasaragod Dwarf breed is in much demand due to the popularity of zero-budget farming. Those who know this breed are confident that conservation of these cattle could actually help the agrarian communities to deal with their problem of sustainable progress, and could also play a vital role in the growth and development of rural areas.

This breed has not been included in the list of India’s 41 native cattle breeds that have been documented by the National Bureau for Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) Karnal, Haryana though moves have already begun to get this breed included in the list of native cattle breed of Kerala.

Characteristics:

The cattle are diminutive yet well-proportioned. .
They are usually dark-skinned, with a uniform coat of black or varied shades of chocolate, brown, or white. Spotted ones are also seen.
The muzzle colour is black for majority of the cattle.
The eyelids, tail switch, hoofs, and horns are mostly black.
The horns are mostly short or medium sized, curved upward and outward with variations is the horn length and shape.
The forehead is straight.
The ears are medium in length with horizontal orientation.
The udder is bowl shaped and small.
The teat colour is mostly pink though black teats are seen in black cows.
The tail is long and almost touching the ground. The tail switch is mostly black in colour, though brown and white colours are also noticed.
Height averages at 107.3 cms. for males and 95.83 cms. for females.
Body length averages at 134 cms. for males and 124 cms. for females.
Body weight averages at 194.3 kgs. for males and 147.7 kgs for females.
Average chest girth is 133.1 cms. for males and 124.4 cms. for females.
The calving interval varies from 15 to 18 months.
It requires about 2 kgs of feed per day while its average milk yield is aroung 1 litre per day. The calves weigh only 10.5 kg at birth.

The Kasargod Dwarf Conservation Society was established in 2010 with objective of improving Kasargod dwarf breed. Currently more than 200 breeders and organic farmers are associated with this initiative.

Organic farmers in north Kerala are determined to conserve and popularise this dimunitive breed of cattle. A positive development is that Bela Cattle Farm in Badiadukka panchayat in Kerala is now being developed as a research centre under the Central Veterinary University to study, research and popularise this rare breed of Kasaragod Dwarf.

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Red Purnea or Purnea cattle is a distinct indigenous breed, distributed in the entire district of Purnea and the adjoining Araria and Katihar districts of Bihar. Most of its breeding tract has sandy soil deficient in micro-nutrients, with water logging condition. These cattle are naturally bred, and are resistant to diseases.

These cattle which exist in grey and red varieties, are not listed amongst the recognised breeds of cattle in India. Its estimated population is about 2.5 lakhs.

These cattle are small to medium-sized animals. These are low milk yielders, and are extensively useful in agricultural operations and pulling loads. On an average, they work 7 to 8 hours a day and a pair of bullocks can plough an acre of land in approximately six hours.

This breed is mostly provided housing sheds, or are kept in front of the farmer’s house or under shades of nearby trees. Almost 70% of the cattle are stall-fed with straws from paddy, wheat and maize that are cultivated locally. These are rarely fed with green fodder or any type of concentrate. The remaining 30% are allowed for community grazing.

Characteristics:

These are small to medium-sized, with compact body.
They exist in two different varieties – red coat colour and also light to dark grey coat colour. The red coat colour is throughout the body with varying red colour while the grey coat colour has dark grey to black colour coat in head, neck and shoulder regions while the remaining areas are light grey in colour.
The horns are small to medium in size, oriented laterally and slightly forward.
The body trunk is diminutive in length, and legs compactly fit with the body.
The forehead is slightly concave; the muzzle, eyelashes and hooves are black.
The nasal bridge is flat and the face is medium to long in length.
The dewlap is small in females and medium-sized in males.
The hump is small in females and medium to large-sized in males.
The tail is long with a black switch.
The udder is small and round in shape.
The teats are short and tube-shaped.
These are low milk-yielders with the average peak yield of 2.9 litres.
Height averages at 130 cms. for males and 108 cms. for females.
Body length averages at 118 cms. for males and 102 cms. for females.
Body weight averages at 247 kgs. for males and 180 kgs. for females.
Average chest girth is 154 cms. for males and 140 cms. for females.
Age at first calving is about 42 months and calving interval about 15 months.
Daily milk yield is around 2 ltrs. with lactation length of 8 months.

Selective breeding may be the best tool for genetic improvement of this breed of cattle.

There is considerable variation in the milk production among Red Purnea cows which could be exploited for further development of the cattle in order to enhance the milk productivity. Strategies for genetic improvement of the cattle are being undertaken. However so far, this breed has not been registered under the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).

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Hissar is a hybrid ‘desi’ breed developed in course of over a century with the crossing of the several native breeds including the Hariana breed. Currently, the population of this breed is very low, since the present government policy is to develop the Hariana breed. Hissar cattle have their origin from Indian state “Hissar” but are found in fair number in areas adjoining Indian border including districts of Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The home of this breed is Hansi tehsil of Hissar district, and these cattle are present in the Hissar and Hansi districts. These are also found abundantly in Punjab, and is generally found to be white coloured. It was observed that farmers of certain areas of Punjab had a special liking for white and others for the dark grey colour of these cattle. The herd was, therefore, divided on these lines and this made the breed more popular in the region. This breed is famous for its draught power capacity, endurance and agility at work. These are seen in cattle fairs at Hansi, Hissar, Bhiwani, Sirsa, Rewari and Singar.

Characteristics:

These cattle are of moderately dark gray color with even darker color around neck, shoulders, and hump.
The head is moderated with a flat and broad forehead.
It has and small or medium-sized horns which emerge laterally and curved upwards in the form of an arch.
It has larger and more pendulous ears than the Haryana breed.
It has a short tail and a black switch.
The bullocks have great stamina and serve as excellent draught animals.
The cows serve as excellent milkers.

Not much details are available about the Hissar cattle. More so, since the Hariana cattle have been considered as an alternative to the Hissar cattle.

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Ladakhi breed is found in the high-altitude desert region where the main source of water is the winter snowfall on the mountains. These cattle are native to the Leh-Ladakh region of Jammu & Kashmir, and have their breeding tracts in and around the Leh and Kargil districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakhi cattle is a unique germplasm having excellent adaptation to high atmospheric conditions.

The regions on the north flank of the Himalayas experience heavy snowfall and remain virtually cut off from the rest of the country for several months in the year, while summers are short but long enough to grow crops. The proportion of oxygen is comparatively less due to a lack of vegetation. Nevertheless, these are well adapted to the extreme cold climatic and hypoxic (decreased oxygen supply) conditions.

This breed like the other native breeds are known for their resistance to diseases and their ability to thrive on low input system.

These cattle are reared under the extensive system for milk, draft and manure purposes. This cow is a great source of A2 milk. In spite of extreme climatic conditions, subsistence on poor quality feed and low availability of water, it produces around 2 to 5 kg of milk per day.

Milk of this breed serves as an important protein source for local people, particularly during lean winter periods. Since its milk has a high fat percentage, it is used for producing butter and churpi – an important part of the local diet.

Characteristics:

These are compact, small-sized and short-statured cattle with short limbs.
They are mostly black-coloured cattle, but brown coloured ones are also seen.
The horns are curved slightly, upward and forward, ending with pointed tips.
The forehead is straight, small and hairy with a slightly long face.
The udder is small in size and bowl-shaped.
Body length of both male and female averages at 88 to 89 cms.
Height of both males and females averages at 93 cms.
Chest girth of both males and females averages between 117 to 119 cms.
Parturition period averages to about 350 days.
Age at first calving averages at 48 months.
The milk yield is around 2 to 5 Kgs. per day.
Milk fat averages at 4.6 % and daily milk yield ranges from 1.5 to 4 kgs.

Incidentally, a technical bulletin “Ladakhi Cattle: A Unique Animal Genetic Resource Adapted to High Altitute of Leh-Ladakh” released by ICAR provides insight into the research conducted by scientists and researchers.

It is very important to take up measures for the improvement, protection and conservation of this breed of cattle. Necessary efforts are being put in place.

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Konkan Kapila is a native breed distributed along the Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa. This breed has been recently registered with the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, India.

The Kapila is an exceptional and revered breed in terms of its spiritual quotient, and has inherited its name from the ancient sage Kapila who is said to have tended this cattle breed. Kapila is native to the regions of Dakshina Karnataka and Kasaragod in Kerala. This breed is easy to maintain as it is not labour-intensive. It can survive on jungle forage and minimal added fodder. Its food comprises highly diverse forest flora, including many of the wild medicinal plants.

The Kapila breed has excellent tolerance to diseases. Its products are regarded as the holiest among all cow products, and are used extensively for performing rituals. Its milk, dung and urine are utilised for the curing of cancer. The milk produced by these cows contain immense medicinal properties and healing capabilities. Due to its small stature, Kapila bulls and cows can easily ingest small-sized grass, plants etc. and these are highly nutritious. The nutritional values are naturally passed on to its milk, dung and urine.

Characteristics:

These are small to medium-sized cattle with a compact body.
They have varied coats colours, the predominant being reddish brown or black. White, grey, mixed, and in few animals brown or fawn coat colour is also seen. Its golden variety has golden hide of shining texture, golden eyes, and nose.
The cattle have straight face, small to medium sized hump and dewlap.
The horns are generally straight and small-sized, emerging from the side of the head, behind and above the eyes. They go outward, upward and backward, ending in pointed tips.
It has horizontal ears and straight forehead.
Eyelids, muzzle, hoof and tail switch are generally black.
Body length of male averages at 109 cms and that of female at 101 cms.
Height of male averages at 107 cms and that of female at 101 cms.
Chest girth of male averages at 147 cms and that of female at 134 cms.
Weight of male averages at 240 kgs. and that of female at 225 kgs.
The milk yield is around 2.25 Kgs per day and the milk fat average’s at 4.6%.

Swarna Kapila has golden-coloured nose, skin and eyes. This breed produces a substance called “Go-rochana” in its horns that are shed once in two years. Go-rochana has great therapeutic value. It eases off fever and weakness, is effective against skin problems, and is an antidote to poison. It is a spiritual product, and wards off negativities, promotes clear thoughts, etc.

Males of this breed possess good draft ability. They are best suited to hilly terrain and hot, humid climate- as found in its native tract. It possesses a high level of heat tolerance. It can survive on scanty grazing, even in sloppy forest areas, without any fatigue.

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If a cow cannot stand up, then it is usually only a matter of time before it will give up the will to live and pass away. When a cow is down, the critical step to take is to help it stand up. This is important so that its own body weight doesn’t put pressure on its organs, and to ensure it is able to receive proper veterinary care. The process of lifting up a downed cow and holding it in that position is very difficult and requires people and resources. People who care about cows go to all sorts of lengths to hire laborers, buy materials and take turns trying to rehabilitate the cow while its condition improves. Others sell the cows to slaughterhouses.

The bottom line is – the sooner we help the cow stand up, the greater its chances of recovery. This is where Cow Lifting Equipment have proved to be invaluable miracle aid. These machines enable people to act quickly to help a downed cow stand up and be tended to, without the need for additional labor or supplies, immensely improving and almost guaranteeing its chance of recovery. More importantly, these machines become life-savers for cows in surrounding areas.

By Mahaperiyava’s grace and overwhelming support from donors, we have donated Cow Lifting Equipment so far that are stationed in key locations across Tamil Nadu, and routinely help at least cows every week in their surrounding areas.

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Monthly Support for Patasalas across Tamilnadu

Sponsoring Veda Parayanams / Vaideeka Sambhavanai

Support for existing Temples by paying salary

Renovations

Building new temples

pop-gir

A1 VS A2

Protein Types

Protein converted to Amino Acids

BCM-7 - Devil in the Milk

Proline Blocks BCM-7

It is for this reason that A2 Milk has been recommended by health care professionals to be a healthier milk option

10 Fun Facts

Vechur

Kankrej

Sahiwal

Rathi

Tharparkar

Ongole

Deoni

Amrut Mahal

Punganur

Umbalchery

Khillari

Kangkeyam

Characteristics: