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Punganur cow

Punganur is a critically endangered dwarf indigenous (Bos indicus) cattle breed of Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, formally registered by the ICAR National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) at Karnal. It is among the smallest humped cattle breeds in the world and has become emblematic of indigenous-breed conservation in southern India.

Origin and distribution

The breeding tract centres on Punganur town in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, and adjoining mandals. The population had fallen to a few hundred animals by the early 2000s and is now being rebuilt under Rashtriya Gokul Mission conservation projects, with state-supported farms at Palamaner and Chintaladevi multiplying numbers through natural service, artificial insemination (Artificial Insemination Cattle) and in-vitro fertilisation.

Morphology

Punganur is a dwarf breed: animals stand 70-90 cm at the withers and weigh 115-200 kg as adults. The breed has a broad forehead, short crescent-shaped horns curving forward and upward, a small hump and a loose dewlap. Coat colour varies — white, grey, dun and red-brown predominate, often with mixed markings. Within the breed, a smaller miniature line below 60 cm has been multiplied in private farms.

Performance

Daily milk yield is modest at 1-3 litres per day, but with a high fat percentage of approximately 8% and the A2 beta-casein profile that has become the basis of premium milk retail in urban India. Lactation length and total yield per lactation are correspondingly low. The breed's economic positioning is therefore not on volume but on conservation value, A2 milk premium, ceremonial roles, and natural-farming-input supply (Desi Cow Natural Farming).

Management

Feed and housing requirements are markedly lower than for larger indigenous breeds such as Ongole (Ongole Cattle) or Sahiwal (Sahiwal Cow) — daily feed intake is a fraction of an HF crossbred (Holstein Friesian Crossbred Cow) cow's requirement — which suits backyard urban and peri-urban dairying. Conservation programmes pair Punganur breeding with crossbreeding restraint: the breed is not used as a recipient in mainstream HF and Jersey (Jersey Crossbred Cow) crossing programmes because of its very small size.

See also: Milk Fat Snf Pricing.

References

  1. Punganur. Dairy Knowledge Portal, NDDB.
  2. Punganur and Vechur Dwarf Cattle Breeds. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences (TNVAS).