Punganur cattle - Misplaced Pages

Indian breed of cattle

Traits

Conservation status	FAO (2007): critical DAD-IS (2024): not at risk
Country of origin	India
Distribution	Chitoor District, Andhra Pradesh
Weight	Male: 240 kg Female: 170 kg
Height	Male: 107 cm Female: 97 cm
Coat	white, grey, brown, red, rarely black
Horn status	small and crescent-shaped
Cattle Bos (primigenius) indicus

The Punganur is an Indian breed of small zebuine cattle. It is found in the hill country of Chitoor District, in Andhra Pradesh in southern India, and is among the smallest of all zebu breeds.

History

The Punganur is a traditional breed of the Chitoor District of Andhra Pradesh in southern India. The breed name may derive from its association in the past with the Rajahs of Punganur, or from the name of the town itself. It is reared mainly in hill country, at up to 1500 m above sea level.

It has in the past been an endangered breed. An attempt was made in the 1950s to form a government conservation herd, but without success. Its conservation status was listed by the FAO as "critical" in 2007. In 2016 there was a herd of no more than 30 head on a government farm. In 2022 a population of 9876–13275 was reported to DAD-IS, and in 2024 the conservation status of the breed was listed as "not at risk".

Characteristics

It is among the smallest of zebuine cattle breeds: bulls stand some 107 cm and weigh about 240 kg, cows average 97 cm in height and 170 kg in weight. The coat may be white, grey, brown, red, or rarely black. The horns are small and of crescent shape.

Use

The cattle are used for draught power and for milk production. Milk yields and milk composition are highly variable; on average, cows give 546 kg of milk in a lactation of 263 days, or approximately 2.07 kg per day, with an average fat content of 5%.

References

^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
^ Breed data sheet: Punganur / India (Cattle). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed September 2024.
^ Valerie Porter, Ian Lauder Mason (2002). Mason's World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types, and Varieties (fifth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 085199430X.
^ Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.

v t e Cattle breeds of India
These are the cattle breeds considered in India to be wholly or partly of Indian origin. Inclusion here does not necessarily imply that a breed is predominantly or exclusively Indian.
Alambadi Amrit Mahal Bachaur Badri Bargur Belahi Bengali Binjharpuri Brownsind Cutchi Dangi Deoni Devarakota Devni Frieswal Gangatiri Gaolao Ghumusari Gyr Goomsur Gujamavu Hallikar Hariana Hissar Jellicut Jersind Kangayam Kankrej Kappiliyan Karan Fries Karan Swiss Kasaragod Dwarf Kenkatha Khamala Khariar Khasi Kherigarh Khillari Kosali Krishnagiri Krishna Valley Kumauni Ladakhi Malnad Gidda Malvi Mampati Manapari Mewati Mhaswad Motu Nagori Nakali Nimari Ongole Ponwar Pulikulam Punganur Purnea Ramgarhi Rathi Red Kandhari Red Sindhi Sahiwal Sanchori Shahabadi Siri Son Valley Sunandini Tarai Taylor Tharparkar Tho Tho Umblachery Vechur

Cattle breeds of India

These are the cattle breeds considered in India to be wholly or partly of Indian origin. Inclusion here does not necessarily imply that a breed is predominantly or exclusively Indian.

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