Indian Indigenous Cattle

M. Vajaya Ram with his Sahiwal cow at Goshala near Tarakaturu village in Krishna district. Photo: T. Appala Naidu  In 2012, Mr. Ram had brought two Sahiwal cows from Haryana to Tarakaturu on the Vijayawada-Machilipatnam national highway. Despite the Sahiwal cow is a dairy farmer’s friend by yielding eight litres of milk per day, the humble conservator of the cow never runs for the yield. At a time when the National Dairy Development Board aims at increasing the number of pure breed Sahiwal cow population in the country, M. Vijaya Ram, a farmer who owns four Sahiwal cows, began developing pure breed Sahiwal cattle in Krishna district. It is being widely discussed in India that the number of the pure breed Sahiwal cow and bull, a risk-resistant and heat tolerant, has been dwindling in the country over the years. The Sahiwal, a breed of Zebu cattle, known for its high resistance to parasites both internal and external, was originated in the dry Punjab region t...

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Success Story Conservation of Beetal goat -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The project was implemented with objectives of maintenance of Beetal goats in its home tract in pure form, checking further decrease in Beetal population, production of quality and elite breeding stock and improvement of production potential for sustainable utilization at the farmers’ door. Achievements of the Project: The project was implemented in 41 villages in 92 farmers flocks. In the first phase 176 does were selected and registered for recording growth and production parameters. Out of these 100 elite does were finally selected based on growth, milk production and prolificacy. Male kids from these elite goats were registered and 50 bucks were reared at farmers’ door to maturity. Selection criterion for these males was ...

Kept off NBAGR register owing to dwindling population Kachaikatty sheep, the native breed of Madurai district, seen in herds at Kachaikatty villagenear Vadipatti.Photo: S. James The prospects of Katchakatti sheep of Madurai being recognised as an indigenous breed at the national level looks bleak. Owing to its shrinking population, this famous black sheep remains out of the register of indigenous breeds of the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR). Senior NBAGR officials said the chances of the Katchakatti sheep joining the list of registered indigenous breeds in the immediate future were dim because of multiple factors, and this was communicated to those who had applied for recognition. “We are unable to process the application for want of data and documentation. Unless stringent norms prescribed by us are followed, this breed cannot be registered. The dwindling population is one of the reasons for the delay in recognising the sheep,” Arjava ...

Bid to reclaim land for Umbalacherry breed The Hindu Umbalacherry cattle in its home tract at Thalainayar in Nagapattinam. Photo: B. Velankanni Raj TOPICS India Tamil Nadu agriculture livestock farming “When my cows die, I bury them like I would a family member. I can never sell them,” says Balashanmugam, distantly looking at his fenced cattle. For him, the possibility of sold cows changing hands to slaughter houses in Kerala is the biggest fear. Balashanmugam literally waits till the cows come home. The 68-year-old farmer, with a family strength of three, owns over 50 Umbalacherry cattle. And he waits for the cows to return from grazing. Like him, an entire panchayat waits for the cows to come home. Welcome to Umbalacherry panchayat — the home tract of Umbalacherry breed of cattle, here in Thalainayar. Often seen as the pride of Tamil Nadu, the draught cattle is a boon to marshy soils due to its sturdiness and ability to labou...

Breed is a boon in times of drought Umbalacherry cattle, on its home tract, at Umbalacherry, in Thalainayar, in Nagapattinam.FILE PHOTO: B. VELANKANNI RAJ A special cattle exhibition to promote Umbalacherry cattle breed, seen as the pride of Tamil Nadu, was organised here on its home turf in Umbalacherry in Thalainayar on Saturday. The draught cattle, known for its sturdiness, agility in marshy soil, and ability for long hours of labour, were widely seen as disease-resistant and farm-friendly in clayey areas of the delta. Here at Umbalacherry, each household owns not less than two cows. The exhibition was held with the objective of protecting the draught cattle from turning extinct and to urge farmers to take to Umbalacerry cattle breeding. The cattle with morphological features of white stockings; white diamond mark on the forehead and tufted tail end, mark it distinctly from the ordinary cattle. For the people of Umbalacherry, the breed is a boon in ti...

Exhibition of Umbalacherry bulls An exhibition of Umbalacherry bulls is proposed to be organised in the district in August. A special consultative meeting in this regard between officials of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Umbalacherry cattle breeders was organised by the district administration here on Wednesday. Underlining the need to protect the breed from slow extinction, the farmers wanted the Umbalacherry variety to be declared a national breed. Collector T. Munusamy said the exhibition was mooted by the Chief Minister to encourage cattle breeders to protect the special breed. The exhibition envisages awareness rallies and prizes for well-kept cattle. One first prize of Rs.10,000 for the best bred bull, followed by two second prizes of Rs. 3,000 each, and four third prizes of Rs. 2,000 each. The contest will also include six consolation prizes of Rs.1,000 each. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/exhibition-of-umbalacherry...