Kochi | The Periyar cattle, which was once facing extinction, has received a major boost with the ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources approving its registration as a new indigenous breed from Keralam, officials said on Thursday.
The Director of the ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources communicated the approval to the Director of the Animal Husbandry Department in a letter dated August 18.
A meeting of the ICAR Breed Registration Committee held on August 8 approved the registration of Periyar cattle as a new indigenous breed from Keralam, the letter said.
Farmers rearing the breed welcomed the decision, which came after an eight-year-long effort to get it officially recognised.
Farmers said the decision on Periyar cattle, locally known as 'Periyar Kullan' (Periyar dwarf) is a significant development that would help strengthen and popularise the local breed, similar to the Vechur dwarf cattle, another indigenous breed from the state.
They said the recognition would also encourage further research into the breed and help farmers secure greater government support for its conservation.
Cose Kurien, a resident of Kodanad village who began efforts to conserve the cattle by forming a group of farmers, told PTI that 'Periyar Kullan' is a small-sized cow known for producing nutritious milk with medicinal properties.
"The breed is found on the banks of the Periyar river close to the forest areas in Idukki and Ernakulam districts. Following our efforts, there are currently around 2,500 cattle in the region. These cattle graze in forest areas and have greater immunity and produce high-quality milk," he said.
Kurien said the conservation effort began after students from a school where he worked presented a report on the indigenous cow as part of an exhibition in 2017.
"After that I started rearing the Periyar breed. Currently, I have 80 cows. We have a community conservation group, though it is not registered, and farmers under it are rearing the breed," he said.
As farmers began rearing the breed, authorities took notice and research was initiated.
Studies were conducted by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources from 2018 with the support of Kerala Veterinary University, following which this was recognised as an indigenous breed, he said.
Unlike hybrid breeds, Periyar cows produce only around two to three litres of milk a day on average, Kurien said.
"However, as its milk is considered to have medicinal properties, it is locally procured by people for Rs 100 to Rs 120 per litre. It grazes close to the forest and feeds on grass. We don't need cattle sheds like those required for other breeds, and its immunity is higher," Kurien said.
As part of conservation efforts, the Kerala Biodiversity Board has collected semen from bulls, he said.
"For local conservation, we provide young cattle to farmers at a low cost. As it has now been approved as an indigenous breed, more farmers will start rearing them," he added.
