Indigenous Cattle Malnad Gidda – A Day at SRS of NDRI, Bangalore

Formally I want to start with thank-you note to Vedavathi MK (Technical Scientist, Dairy Chemistry) for giving me an opportunity to visit Southern Regional Station (SRS) of National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Adugodi, Bangalore, Karnataka, India office. Moreover she is my mother’s third younger sister. Also last but not the least Dr. KP Ramesha, Principal Investigator & Principal Scientist, SRS of NDRI, Bangalore.

Purpose of Visit:

To know more details about Indigenous Cattle Farming & Breeding in Karnataka.

This day it was more informative session with Dr. KP Ramesha, Principal Investigator & Principal Scientist, SRS of NDRI, Bangalore, to better understand Indigenous Cattle (especially Malnad Gidda, which is recognized and registered as a distinct breed with Accession Number “INDIA_CATTLE-0800MALNADGIDDA-0303”).

Malnad Gidda cattle are distinctive dwarf (small sized) cattle of Malnad region, which receive heavy rainfall areas of Western Ghats in Karnataka.

The word “Malnad” means place receiving heavy rainfall and “Gidda” means dwarf. These cattle are small in size with short, sturdy legs and short horns, which usually seen in brown, red and black skin coat colors. They are very will adoptive to hot humid and hilly regions, which make them generally let for grazing on their own in forests and open areas. However they are rare, very mild and friendly and have more religious significance. These cattle are highly resistant to diseases and have the ability to withstand stressful environmental conditions. They have explicit character of giving birth to one calf every year and milking up to nine months, which is also called as “Varshagandhi’.

By recent survey lead by Dr. KP Ramesha it has been identified that it can yield upto 6-7kgs of milk. Team could identify more than 50 cows giving more than 4kgs of milk per day under low input, mostly on grazing. Survey also indicated that there is a huge demand for Malnad Gidda cow milk (A2 type) and other by-products, especially ghee usage in Ayurvedic medicine preparation.

They play a unique role in farming system of Malnad & Coastal regions of Karnataka. The estimated population of Malnad Gidda cattle is around 14 lakhs (Source: The Hindu, Feb 16, 2007), frequently seen around adjacent costal districts of Karnataka (i.e. Shimoga, Chikamagalur, Udupi, Mangalore and North Canara and few parts of Hassan and Kodagu (Coorg) districts).

I know very well that this information is not sufficient in taking any decisive role, but I think this will be a good start to know this rare breed called "Malnad Gidda"

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