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Native cow varieties of India

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Contents
1 Why make this list?
2 Indigenous cattle varieties
3 Additional reads
4 References
5 Comments
6 More notes like this
7 Semantic tags

Why make this list?


A recent investigation by the Tehelka magazine[1] arrived at the conclusion that in 10 years, India will be forced to start
importing milk, and that Indian cow will cease to exist. Why? Due to several reasons:

1. India, over the past few decades, imported several exotic cow varieties to gain a boost in milk production. In Punjab,
for example, 80% of the state's one lakh stray cattle are exotic breeds. These breeds theoretically produce a lot of
milk, but are not well-adapted to Indian conditions.
2. 69% of Indian cows are owned by the economically poor strata of the society. These folks cannot afford to house
these exotic breeds in regulated climate conditions.
3. The government has significantly mismanaged cow breeding. The average milk yield per animal in India is just 3.2
kgs, compared to a global average of 6.6 kgs. The dairy policy and outlook is highly outdated and needs to be
replaced with modern, evidence-based thinking.

India has 37 pure cattle breeds. Five of these — Sahiwal, Gir, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar and Rathi — are known
for their milking prowess. A few others, such as Kankrej, Ongole and Hariana, belong to dual breeds that
have both milch and draught qualities; ie, they are good plough animals. The rest are pure draught breeds.

Source: Tehelka[1]

Indigenous cattle varieties


Data derived from the following sources:

Report on National Commission on Cattle[2]


List of cattle breeds Article on Wikipedia
Images were downloaded from various sources, primarily Wikimedia Commons and Gougram.org's Picasa page
(https://picasaweb.google.com/gougram.org/IndianCowBreeds#)
Average Geographical Description Other
Name Image
yield/lactation range (Source)[2] names
This breed produces
the highest yield of
milk amongst all
breeds in India. Has
Saurashtra,
Gir 2000-6000 kg been used extensively
Gujarat
to make hybrid
varieties, in India and
in other countries like
Brazil.
Punjab, Uttar The cow is easily
Sahiwal 2000-4000kg Pradesh, identifiable by its 200px
Haryana prominent red color

Originated in
Sindh,
Red Sindhi 2000-4000kg
Pakistan. Now
widespread.

Bikaner, Bos
Rajasthan, Type of a w:Zebu primigenius,
Rathi 1800-3500 kg
Haryana, cattle. Bos taurus,
Punjab Bos indicus

Sindh
Bullocks are slow Bos
(Pakistan),
workers. Cows are primigenius,
Tharparkar 1800-3500 kg Kutch,
good milkers. Same Bos taurus,
Jaisalmer,
species as Rathi. Bos indicus
Jodhpur

Marathwada,
Deoni
Maharashtra

Bullocks are useful for


Haryana, Uttar
ploughing and
Hariana 1000-2000 kg Pradesh, Bihar,
transport. Cows are
Rajasthan
good milkers.
Bullocks are strong
Bhuj, North
and hard-working.
Kankrej 1500-4000 kg Gujarat,
Among the largest
Rajasthan
cattle breeds in India

Bullocks are useful for


ploughing and
cart-work / transport.
Guntur, Ongole
Cows are fair milkers.
Ongole NA in Andhra 200px
Has natural
Pradesh
resistance to both foot
and mouth disease
and mad cow disease

Bullocks are good


Red Marathwada, draught animals.
NA
Kandhari Maharashtra. Cows are good
milkers.

This is a dual purpose


Khandwa, milk and draught
Nimari NA Madhya breed. Animals are
Pradesh copper colored, with
patches of white.

Madhya Bullocks are useful for


Malvi NA Pradesh, ploughing. Cows are
Rajasthan average milkers.

Especially good for


Western
Dangi heavy rainfall areas
Maharashtra
for draught purpose.

Southern
Bullocks are hardy
Khillari Maharashtra,
and well-known for
cattle Northern
being fast in work.
Karnataka
Bullocks are
1000-1200 kg well-known for
Amritmahal Karnataka
per lactation draught power and
endurance.

Draught breed both


used for road and field
agricultural
Hassan,
operations. Closely
Mysore, Tunkur
Hallikar related to Amrit
districts of
Mahal. However, are
Karnataka
much thinner and
produce low yields of
milk.

Bullocks are strong


Coimbatore, draught animals. Their
Kangayam
Tamil Nadu skin is very strong and
tight.

It is an excellent
Nagore, draught breed.
Nagori
Rajasthan Bullocks are good for
draught purposes.

Coimbatore, Bullocks are good


Baraguru
Tamil Nadu work animals.

Bullocks are small but


Banda, Uttar
fairly sturdy animals
Pradesh,
Kenkatha and good for
Madhya
cultivation in rocky
Pradesh.
areas.
This breed can stand
the rugged conditions
Hills around of the mountains very
Darjeeling and well. Bullocks are
Nublaung
Siri Sikkim. eagerly sought after
(Bhutanese)
Originally from for draught purposes
Bhutan. (ploughing and
transport) due to their
reputed great strength.

Bullocks are used for


Sitamarhi, draught purpose.
Bachaur
Bihar. Cows are poor
milkers.

The cattle of this


breed are very active
and thrive on grazing
Kheri, Uttar only. Bullocks are
Kherigarh
Pradesh. good for light draught
and quick light
transport. The cows
are poor milkers.
Mewati cattle are in
general sturdy,
powerful and docile
and are useful for
Mewati Rajasthan heavy ploughing,
carting and drawing
water from deep wells.
Cows are said to be
good milkers.
It is a draught breed of
the Zebu type, similiar
to Kangayam but
smaller. They are gray
with white spots. The
Thanjavur, bulls are used in the
Umblachery
Tamil Nadu sport of Jallikattu or
bull-taming, which is
different from the
Spanish custom of
matadors and
running of the bulls.
Southern Bullocks are powerful
border of and good for heavy
Krishna
Maharashtra ploughing and slower Krishna Tira
Valley
and Andhra draught purpose.
Pradesh Cows are fair milkers.

Draught purpose.
Pilbhit, Uttar
Ponwar Cows are poor
Pradesh
milkers.

Smallest cow breed in


the world! Bullocks
are mainly used for
draught purpose.
Cows are poor
Vechur Kerala milkers. In the image
alongside, the smaller
cow is a 16 year old
Vechur cow, while the
larger cow is a 6-year
old cross bred cow.

Coastal and
Malenadu
hilly areas of
Gidda
Karnataka

Kasaragod[3] Kerala

Additional reads
A Pastolral Elegy (http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?240290) Outlook Magazine. "Contrary to popular
belief, indigenous breeds are a sturdier option than disease-prone crossbreds"

References
1. ^ a b The Desi Cow, Almost Extinct (http://tehelka.com/the-desi-cow-almost-extinct/?singlepage=1) Published in Tehelka on
January 24, 2013.
2. ^ a b Report on National Commission on Cattle (http://www.dahd.nic.in/dahd/reports/report-of-the-national-commission-on-cattle
/chapter-vii.aspx#2) Chapter 2. Accessed: 26th January, 2013
3. ^ Kasaragod dwarf cattle may get native animal status (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-04/flora-
fauna/32536007_1_cattle-feed-vechur-cows-animal-breeding) Times of India, July 2012

Comments
21 Comments Project Brahma 1 Login

Recommend 8 Share Sort by Best

Join the discussion…

Kishore Moghe • 4 years ago


very informative.
1 • Reply • Share ›

Yazh VM • 2 months ago


Government should protect our native breeds...
• Reply • Share ›

B S HARIHARAN • 2 months ago


It is so disastrous to our country besides our future generations will be slave to foreign hands. Government
must come forward and see that our native breeds are preserved for ever.
• Reply • Share ›

Indian • 2 months ago


Very Informative, start campaign to preserve our native breeds like what happened in Tamil nadu...
• Reply • Share ›

Bhargav • 7 months ago


Where is ongole breed?
• Reply • Share ›

ramani • 8 months ago


any body say the full history of cow. Pls help me.If anybody knows pls say
• Reply • Share ›

Arjun Sharma • 9 months ago


Few questions (Please keep the answers objective):

1. Which is the best cow breed to start indigenous cow dairy farm in Bihar (Seemanchal Area, Nepal Border)?
2. Could Gir be an option with some changes in the habitat?
3. Which organisation is the best to get trained resources/manpower for panchagavya product productions?
4. Any professional organisation/agency which can help right from scratch to atleast 3-5 years of production?
• Reply • Share ›

kishor shine • 9 months ago


i want to start dairy framing , at satara which type cow will better for framing
• Reply • Share ›

Wolfgang A Barreto • a year ago


How can we import these cattle to the USA ?
• Reply • Share ›

Gaurav Wolfgang A Barreto • a year ago


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Article is on this Biodiversity Gaurav
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general topic data Moghe
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where study was Not noted Not noted Pan-India
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