In a heartwarming moment during the Makar Sankranti celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his care to the Punganur dwarf cows, feeding them at his official residence. In this piece we’ll delve into the unique qualities and significance of the Punganur breed of cows.
The Punganur Breed
The Punganur breed, indigenous to Andhra Pradesh, found itself on the brink of extinction due to extensive crossbreeding and evolving agricultural practices. Originating in Punganur town in Chittoor district, these dwarf cows boast distinctive characteristics that set them apart from other breeds.
Punganur cows are recognized for their diminutive stature, with an average height of 70-90cm (2.3-3 feet) and a weight ranging between 115-200kg, they are the shortest hump cattle in the world! Known for rich medicinal benefits, the milk of Punganur cows has a higher fat content, ranging from 5 to as high as 8 percent, making it particularly suitable for ghee production.
The breed’s average milk yield is 546 kg per lactation. Further, Punganur cows exhibit a variety of colors, including white, grey, light brown, dark brown, and red. Some individuals may display a combination of these colors.
Highly draught-resistant, they demonstrate remarkable adaptability to low-quality feed and adverse environmental conditions. Their robust nature makes them resistant to diseases prevalent in the South Indian environment.
Conservation Efforts and Hopeful Revival
The Punganur breed’s dwindling numbers, a result of changing dairy farming trends, prompted conservation initiatives. Launched in 2020 by the Andhra Pradesh government, Mission Punganur with an outlay of more than 69 crores aims to rescue and revive the breed through methods such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), focusing on increasing reproductive efficiency. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is also contributing to the efforts by rearing a group of the cattle.
These combined efforts by the state and central governments have reaped significant results. In the breed-specific analysis of the 20th Livestock Census carried out in 2019, the total count of Punganur cattle reached 13,275, which is a notable advancement from the figures reported in the 19th Livestock Census of 2012, where only 2,828 Punganur cattle were documented. Further, the Punganur which was earlier only found in Andhra Pradesh, today is found in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Telangana and Kerala.
As our nation strides towards sustainable agricultural practices, the conservation of indigenous breeds like Punganur becomes paramount. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with these cows not only symbolizes a commitment to heritage preservation but also serves as an inspiration for similar initiatives. The Punganur breed, once on the verge of extinction, now stands as a testament to the power of concerted conservation efforts and a reminder of the rich biodiversity embedded in India’s agricultural legacy!