The Punganur Dwarf Cattle, which is considered to be one of the world's smallest humped cattle breeds, originated from the Chitoor District of Andhra Pradesh in Southern India. This breed is known for its high-fat milk, which has a fat content of around 8%, compared to the average 3-3.5% in other cattle breeds.
The Punganur cattle are white or light gray in color, with a broad forehead and short horns. They have an average height of 70-90 cm and weight of 115-200 kg, and are known to have a daily milk yield of 3 to 5 liters, with a daily feed intake of 5 kg. These cattle are also highly drought-resistant, and can survive on dry fodder.
The breed is characterized by a downward-sloping back, a tail that touches the ground, and slight mobile horns that are almost flat along the back and are typically at different heights from each other. Unfortunately, the Punganur breed is on the verge of extinction, with only about 500 to 600 animals remaining, mainly due to the Indian government's objective of improving cattle breeds through the introduction of foreign breeds like Holstein-Friesian and Jersey cattle.
The remaining Punganur cattle are being reared mainly on the Livestock Research Station in Palamaner, Chittoor district, attached to the Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University. Additionally, a small group of private breeders is also working towards reviving the breed. However, due to the limited number of remaining animals, the Punganur breed is not officially recognized as a breed.
Content and photo source: Wikipedia.org
About Punganur Dwarf Cattle
