Kherigarh Cattle

Kherigarh

Origin

The Kherigarh cattle are closely tied to the Malvi breed. The breed is mostly found in the Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Though the horn formation is typical of the lyre-horned Malvi type, the animals of the breed are much lighter in general appearance than the Malvis.

Characteristics

The Kherigarh cattle are generally white or gray in color. The face is small and narrow. Horns are thin and upstanding and measure 12 to 18 inches in length in bulls; cows usually have smaller horns. The ears are small and the eyes bright. The neck is short and looks powerful. The hump is well-developed in bulls. The dewlap is thin and pendulous and starts from right under the chin and continues right down to the brisket. The barrel is broad and deep. The sheath is short and moderately tight. Limbs are light. The tail is long, ending in a white switch.

 The cattle of this breed are very active and thrive on grazing only. The bullocks are good for light draft and quick, light transport. The cows are poor milkers.

It is estimated that these cattle start work when they are about 4 years of age and weigh about 600 pounds. It is claimed that a pair of bullocks can haul about 1.5 tons of load in a cart to a distance of 30-35 miles in a day traveling at times 3 to 4 miles per hour.

Reference: 

Joshi, N.R., Phillips, R.W. (1953) Zebu Cattle of India and Pakistan, FAO Agriculture Studies No. 19, Publ. by FAO, Rome, 256 pp.