Indian Indigenous Cattle

From 90,000 in the year 1995, the population of the breed in Madurai region has come down to 21,225 in 2012 Survival of the fittest:The Pulikulam cattle being grazed on a dry tank at Tirupparankundram in Madurai.— Photos: R. Ashok    Pulikulam cattle, an indigenous breed with distinct characteristics and known for its valour in ‘jallikattu’ (bull-taming sports), is on the verge of extinction. Only last year, thanks to the persistent efforts of Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Voluntary Action (SEVA), this breed received recognition from the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal, Haryana, thereby making it the 35th registered indigenous cattle breed in the country. As per a survey, the population of Pulikulam cattle in and around Madurai has drastically come down from 90,000 in the year 1995 to 45,000 in 2006 to 21,225 in 2012. The number of places where the cattle was reared is also shrinking. A workshop conducte...

    Scientists and veterinarians from Bhutan with genetically pure Kangayam cattle during a visit to Kangayam in Tirupur district.    The Kangayam region, home of renowned Kangayam cattle breed, had 14 surprise visitors from Bhutan a few days ago. Sent by the Bhutanese government, they were livestock scientists and veterinarians from National Biodiversity Centre and from Department of Livestock and Agriculture, both under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests of Royal Government of Bhutan. Purpose of the visit was to understand the breeding techniques of the elegant native Kangayam cattle and to study more about its dung and urine, which possess immense properties as organic fertiliser, considering that Bhutan is one of the profound propagators of organic farming practices in the world. For that the entourage visited Senaapathy Kangayam Cattle Research Foundation (SKCRF) in Kangayam, the organisation involved in in-situ cons...

Efforts to save endangered wild animals like the tiger, are afoot today by enacting stringent laws for protecting them. “Even the house sparrow has attracted attention in bringing about a conservation movement. But sadly, for the livestock sector in Tamil Nadu not much attention is being paid to conserve its native cattle breeds,” says Mr.Karthikeya Sivasenapathy, Managing Trustee, Senaapathy Kangayam Cattle Research Foundation, Kuttapalayam, Erode. The foundation is situated in Kuttapalayam village, Palayakottai in the Kangayam taluk of Tirupur District (formerly Erode District), Tamil Nadu, and is ideal for cattle breeding.  Origin The Kangeyam breed derives it's name from Kangayam division of the taluk spreading from Erode, Karur, Namakkal and Dindigul districts where this breed has been in existence for a long time. The animals are medium in build although a few large specimens can be found. Considered to be a good draught breed in South India, the...

Despite the prevailing drought conditions and the resultant slump in the general demand for cattle because of lack in adequate fodder, the just concluded Kannapuram Kangayam cattle mela attracted 15,000 oxen, cows, and bulls of genetically pure Kangayam cattle breed. The almost 1,000-year-old mela is historically used by farmers and breeders to display and trade pure Kangayam cattle.  The event coincides with the annual temple car festival of the 11th century Vikramacholeesvara temple and the three-century-old Arulmigu Mariamman temple near Kangayam.  K.S.M. Karthikeya, managing trustee of Senaapathy Kangayam Cattle Research Foundation, which is involved in ‘in-situ conservation and breeding’ of genetically pure Kangayam cattle breed for almost six decades, told The Hindu that it was indeed heart-warming that around 60 per cent of the cattle brought by the farmers/breeders to the mela found buyers even in the midst of drought-dominated farming seas...