Malnad Gidda
Malnad Gidda or Malenadu Gidda ( Kannada ಮಲೆನಾಡು ಗಿಡ್ಡ ) is a breed of dwarf cattle from the rainy mountainous country ( Malenadu ) of the Western Ghats in the southern Indian state of Karnataka .
description
The breed is native to the Shimoga , Chikmagalur , Udupi , Uttara Kannada districts and the Mangaluru city of Karnataka. The number of animals was estimated at 1 to 1.2 million in 2012.
The adult animals have a height at the withers of 81 to 88 cm, a length of 88 to 90 cm and a weight of between 80 and 120 kilograms. They have different fur colors (from white to reddish to deep black, or mixed). The tail is long and almost touches the ground. The very compact neck and the mostly short, often only stubby horns are characteristic. In terms of aspect, they are more similar to European domestic cattle than zebus . The animals are considered to be robust, resistant to diseases, adapted to the local climate ( monsoons , moist heat) and undemanding to keep. On average, they reach an age between 9 and 12 years. Despite their small size, they are described as relatively nimble and agile. The cattle are typically left outdoors during the day, where they graze in the mountain forests and spend the night in the barn. Milk, urine and dung are valued in traditional Indian medicine.
Malnad Gidda are kept for their dung, for milk production and as work animals. The manure is used as fertilizer or dried as fuel. The milk yield is around 1.5 to 3 liters per day and around 218 liters per calf. In an effort to increase milk yield, other breeds were sometimes crossed.
In July 2012, India's National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) recognized the Malnad Gidda breed as a Registered National Variety Status. The government of Karnataka announced its intention to support the preservation of the local breed of cattle and a corresponding pure-breeding program was launched in 2017. The project is supported by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).
Web links
- Malnad Gidda herd , YouTube video
- Indian Desi Cow Breed Malnad Gidda , YouTube video
Individual evidence
- ↑ CV Raghavendra Rao: Indigenous cattle Malnad Gidda gets national breed status. The Times of India, July 28, 2012, accessed September 15, 2017 .
- ↑ Malnad Gidda. http://saveindiancows.org , accessed on September 16, 2017 (English).
- ↑ DN Das, MK Rao, A. Obi Reddy: Malnad Gidda Cattle - A Valuable Native Breed of Karnataka. (PDF) (No longer available online.) Indian Dairy Association, archived from the original on September 16, 2017 ; accessed on September 16, 2017 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Select Species and Breed to View Data. Animal Genetic Resources of India, accessed September 16, 2017 .
- ↑ MALNAD GIDDA CATTLE. National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, accessed September 16, 2017 .
- ↑ BR Rohit: Karnataka govt launches project to preserve indigenous cattle. The Times of India, February 7, 2017, accessed July 30, 2017 .
- ↑ DETAILED PROJECT REPORT: Conservation and management of indigenous varieties of livestock (Cattle and Sheep) in the wake of climate change in Karnataka. (PDF) (No longer available online.) Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Government of Karnataka, March 2016, archived from the original on July 30, 2017 ; accessed on July 30, 2017 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
