Kasargod Dwarf(Kullan) Cow(Pashu)
Indian desi (native) breeds of cattle are declining in numbers at a very rapid rate. There were nearly 75 breeds of cattle in India currently only 37 recognized breed of cattle remain in India as of today, most are endangered, most of them are reared by adivasis (indigen) or native people. Different breeds have their set of qualities to cope with the local habitat and weather. Basically cows, most animals and even humans living in hot and humid climate tend to become smaller.
This breed is found in Mangalore, Kasargod and some other parts of Karnataka. Coorg also host this type of cows. Some centuries back this type of cows were also found in Kannur and other northern parts of Kerala, it was know as (sahya pashu – sahyadri hill cows). However almost all the cows have vanished because of slaughter and mainly because of (AI)Artificial Insemination. AI is killing all our native breeds, slaughter houses are secondary AI has to be much feared.
Small cows are excellent milkers because their feed to milk ratio is high as compare to other hybrid cows. Kasargod cow in the picture below; during peak milking time gave 2.5 to 3 litres of milk in a day. Also all Indian breed of cows produce A2 milk where as western or hybrid produce A1 milk. No clear research papers are published but definitely A2 has better taste, flavour and is also healthy. A1 milk is associated with diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases.
Hump on the Indian cows help them to adjust the daily water requirement also the dewlaps(skin on the neck) helps them to cope with the extreme heat, keep most diseases away and also calve without any difficulty. On the other hand hybrid and western cows suffer horribly in Indian climate and in the long run they become non-sustainable and ultimately are send for slaughter(Common phenomena in Kerala). All the first generation hybrid cows born to native breeds are averagely healthy and good milkers however after two or three generation things become terrible, If mothers are not healthy then new born calf will definitely be in bad shape. Also in AI line breeding and inbreeding will be common because most semen are few years old, chances are mother and baby will get the same bull semen, which causes various complication.
Kasargod Cows are descent Milkers Compare to Feed Ratio and Body size
46 Replies to “Kasargod Dwarf(Kullan) Cow(Pashu)”
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Thank you Sisir for the comment.
Maintaining stud bull is a little difficult, not every one can manage it.
Well what I am saying here may not be practical in today’s lifestyle. Because every one talks in terms of money.
Most farmers in Indian today have lost their self esteem, people have made them feel poor and underprivileged(most want modern house instead of mud and dung floor; marry their daughter to a rich family).
Selling sick and unproductive animals is a excuse what the meat consuming people say. Cows, bulls, bullocks can never go unproductive till the time they take their last breath, COW DUNG IS A LIFE SAVER. fertilizer, fuel etc. (to understand cows importance you have to stay in a secluded village without any modern amenities)
Goshalas are meant for the sick and so called unproductive cows. Cows just need grass and hay, rest they manage if left freely, actually not very hay is required if left freely.
In my village(Kannur). 20 years back I have seen cows being buried after death. Very few people sold their cows, bulls were sold to people who tamed them.
Cows were not sold, instead mother cow was given to the buyer for a year. It was buyer responsibility to take care of the cow for a year and keep the born baby of that cow and later give back the mother cow to the owner after impregnating her.
Large scale beef consumption is a phenomena started few years back.
In 1960’s as you wrote “All bulls were castrated forcefully”. it is very true,The luckier ones were the Temple Bulls and the Market bulls roaming around the streets. We cannot just blame the Government and keep quiet. We all should think and work hard together to see that all the Native Indian Breeds should be protected by us and handed over to our next generation as our forefathers did.I am very happy to see that highly educated people are interested in farming and coming back to have a peaceful life. We should also have the right to keep stud bulls (native breeds) as the law was before 1960’s. I don’t believe that due to slaughtering, the animal becomes extinct. In fact, the farmer gets a good amount by selling his sick, aged or unwanted animal,thus he benefits, and this helps him to remain active in farming.
How could you make a statement that you sell the old ones for slaughter? will you do this with your old family members? Please start thinking as a human being that animals also have a right to life and it is not human beings who decide their life.
Yes you are correct. I feel slaughtering is one of the reason at least in Kerala for the decline of native breed. I am not sure if you are from Kerala. every village and town you find slaughter houses in Kerala.
Now all the native breeds are sold to Kerala or other parts of India where it can be legally or illegally slaughtered.
legally you cannot keep a stud bull in Kerala as per 60’s law. All bulls where castrated forcefully. Since they became useless most were send to slaughter. Some bulls were lucky, however as time passed most were killed. Most low milk yielding native cows were also send for slaughter. Most keralaties love eating beef.
slaughtering is not a main reason of ruin native species of cow. highbread production and vision less governments are the main reason of this phenomina ,