German team impressed with Kangayam cattle

Swaying rides on the carts pulled by sturdy Kangayam bulls and the pristine flora and fauna of villages under the Kangayam cattle tract, provided an enthralling experience to the 25-member German group of lecturers and students who spent the Sunday in the district.

The group members, who pursue their specialised studies in the spheres of sociology and management in the State of Bavaria in the south-east of Germany, came here to learn more about the Kangayam cattle breed and understand how the ‘in situ breeding and conservation’ takes place.

“Family-involved cattle farming activities here are fascinating than the factory-based farming as seen in Germany,” observed some of the team members.

Another notable aspect that impressed the Germans was the ecological impact of livestock keeping from what they observed at Korangadu, a unique silviculture pasture grazing system comprising around 30 types of shrubs and trees.

“Though Korangadu is a species specific grazing expanse for Kangayam cattle, the trees and shrubs in it are providing abode and resting place for 73 types of birds,” pointed out Karthikeya Sivasenapathy, managing trustee of Senaapathy Kanagyam Cattle Research Foundation (SKCRF). For the Germans, there was a surprise that came in the form of a sumptuous lunch with dishes made only of organic vegetables made from the farm maintained by trustees of SKCRF.

“We use the organic manure prepared from the dung and urine of the Kangayam cattle to grow vegetables and fruits,” said Mr. Karthikeya.

Before leaving, the Germans learned a few lessons from the Kangayam cattle farmers on the composition of the value-added products and manures prepared out of the dung and urine of the breed.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/german-team-impressed-with-kangayam-cattle/article6392633.ece