Tamil Nadu - Erode   

Kangeyam bull breed facing extinction

R. Sundaram

Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Science University is preserving its germ plasm

DWINDLING NUMBERS: A Kangeyam bull maintained by Pattakar of Pazhayakottai in Erode. - Photo: M. Govarthan

Erode: When the Governor of Gujarat, Raj Singh, visited the Pazhayakottai some decades back, he presented a Sindhi cow to Pattakar. In turn, the Pattakar presented him with a sturdy Kangeyam bull. The Governor, immensely pleased with the bull, sent it to the cattle pound maintained by the Government there. Even now Kangeyam breed can be traced in Gujarat.

But the same were facing extinction in its hometown. The Kangeyam bull is noted for its sturdiness, majestic look and hard work. Even now it is the preferred variety for farmers.

An agriculturist C. Nallasami of Arachalure said that the Kangeyam variety bulls are now maintained in low numbers at Southern and South Eastern taluks of Erode and Coimbatore districts like Dharapuram, Udumalpet, Palladam and Pollachi.

If proper steps were not taken, the Kangeyam variety will become extinct. So Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Science University was preserving the germ plasm of the Kangeyam bulls and it can be used even after five decades, said the in-charge for Veterinary University Training and Research Centre, Erode, A. M. Ramasamy.

Kangeyam bull weighed about 450 kg to 500 kg. It was drought resistant and originally used for agriculture purpose. But because of mechanisation in the agriculture sector, the demand for Kangeyam variety had come down, he said.

Mr. Ramasamy said that Kangeyam bulls feed on kolukkattai grass seen in dry areas. It contains lot of protein and other contents. The Kangeyam cows will give only 500 gm to 600 gm of milk. But it contains 5 per cent to 6 per cent fat. In normal variety of cows, fat content is 4 per cent to 4.5 per cent. The maintenance cost is high as they consume more grass, cottonseed and cotton cake. The Kangeyam curd, butter and ghee are still in demand, as the flavour and taste are high.

The Pazhayakottai Pattakar family, which is responsible for the growth of the Kangeyam variety bulls and cows is maintaining some bulls and cows.

On the occasion of Mattu Pongal special care was taken on Kangeyam variety in some places.

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