Community Conservation of loCal livestoCk breedsviii Community Conservation of Local Livestock...

Community Conservation of loCal livestoCk breeds

understanding Constraints and Creating awareness in preventing erosion of livestoCk diversity in tamil nadu

P. Vivekanandan V. Alagumalai

SEVAHoneybee NetworkNABARD

nabard supported projeCt report towards CapaCity building of livestoCk keepers for Conserving 10 loCal breeds in tamil nadu.

© Copyright : SEVA January 2013

All Rights Reserved

Published by Sustainable-agriculture & Environmental Voluntary Action (SEVA) 45, TPM Nagar, Virattipathu, Madurai - 625 010. Tamilnadu, India. Ph : 0452-2380082, 2380943 e-mail : [email protected] web : www.sevango.in

Printed with financial support fromNABARD, Regional Office, Chennai.

Printed by Vaigai Achagam, Madurai.

FOREWORD

We are grateful to NABARD’s Tamil Nadu Regional Office at Chennai for extending grant support under Farmers Technology Transfer

Fund (FTTF) for studying the current status of 10 local livestock breeds in Tamil Nadu thereby giving fillip to community based conservation efforts. We especially thank Sri. R. ShankarNarayan, AGM(DD), NABARD, Madurai who supported us all the way by providing constant follow-up and guidance for the smooth implementation of the project. He was instrumental in involving the District Administration and the then District Collector of Madurai Sri U. Sagayam, IAS thereby affording an opportunity to the community to air their long pending issues. NABARD, Madurai’s co-ordination with the AGMs (DD) in Nagapattinam, Nilgiris and Erode enabled positive response from the respective District Administration and participation of District Collectors in these districts. We thank Sri D. Ganesan, AGM, NABARD, Nagapattinam District, Sri.Inigo Arulselvan, AGM, NABARD, Nilgiris District and Sri. G. Santhanam, AGM, NABARD, Erode District for their valuable guidance for successful implementation of the FTTF project.

We are also thankful to Prof. Thanga Tamilvanan, Dr. N. Kumaravelu, Livestock Production & Management Department of Madras Veterinary College, Prof. A. Thiruvenkadan, Dept. of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Veterinary College, Orathanadu for assisting us in taking animal measurements, survey of breeds in the breeding tracts and going through our report.

We are thankful to Project Monitoring Committee (PMC) comprising of AGM, NABARD, Madurai, Dr. P. Muruganandam, TANUVAS, Madurai, Dr. Abdul Razack, Retd. Deputy Director-AH, Dr. P. Rajasekaran, Joint Director of Animal Husbandry, Madurai, Sri. K.N. Subramaniyan, Lead District Manager, Canara Bank, Madurai, for giving their constant advise and guidance for effective implementation of the project. We are thankful to Dr. Kandasamy, Retd. Professor of Namakkal Veterinary College and Dr. S.M.K. Karthiheyan, Associate Professor, Dept. of Animal Genetics

Acknowledgement

viii Community Conservation of Local Livestock Breeds

and Breeding, Madras Veterinary College, Dr. K. Manoharan, Joint Director, Office of Commissioner of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Chennai for their participation as Special Invitees in the 4th Meeting of Project Monitoring Committee held during August 2012 and for providing their valuable inputs.

We are also thankful to our resource team of our ethno veterinary training programme viz. Mr. Alagumalai, Mr. Rajamanickam, Mrs. Parvathi, Ms. Vasuki, Ms. Soundariya, Mrs. Chellam, healers viz. Mr. Arumugam, Mr. Renganathan, Mr. Ponnusami who helped in organizing field level demonstration of preparation of different herbal medicines and conducting animal health camps in 10 locations of Tamil Nadu.

We thank Pitchandikulam Forests, Auroville and their team for extending all logistics during our stay at Nadukkuppam village. We are also thankful to the media for giving wide publicity on our breed development programmes.

Last but not the least, countless village level breeders and farmers have contributed to make this NABARD supported FTTF project a grand success and thereby leading to increased awareness about the need to conserve the local breeds across the state.

- P. Vivekanandan SEVA

Introduction

India is the seventh largest country in the world and it is recognized as one of the 12 mega biodiversity centres of the world. Due to

diverse agro-ecological regions and topographic conditions, India has rich repository of both flora and fauna. Indigenous breeds habituated in different agroclimatic zone of India have evolved over several generations of natural selection and domestication and are well adapted to their habitat and environment and are often a livelihood bastion for poor households because they are easier to keep than exotic breeds. They are capable of withstanding harsh climatic conditions, tropical diseases and scarcity of feed, fodder and drinking water. In a world threatened by climate change, breeds that are resistant to drought, extreme climatic conditions or tropical diseases are of major potential importance for the livelihood of rural poor farmers.

According to FAO recent statistics, 22 percent of the world’s more than 8000 livestock breeds are classified as at risk of extinction. The world’s food supply is increasingly dependent on a small and narrowing list of highly engineered breeds: the Holstein, Jersey, the Large White pig and the Rhode Island Red and Leghorn chickens. There is a risk that future diseases could ravage these homogeneous animal populations. Once breed becomes extinct they cannot be recreated. Hence, there is a need to preserve the different livestock breeds adapted to different agoclimatic conditions for sustainable utilization and future exploitation.

India has rich repository of animal genetic resources with 144 registered breeds along with several population not yet recognized which needs characterization and recognition. Government policy for intensive agriculture, commercial livestock keeping discourages keeping native livestock breeds and it is therefore replaced with high yielding dairy animals or fast growing exotic species in order to maximize profit through production of meat, dairy products, eggs, fiber, etc. Closing of forests/traditional grazing lands under the policy of “protected areas/sanctuaries/national

x Community Conservation of Local Livestock Breeds

parks” poses major threats for customary practices of village poor/nomadic pastoralists who depend upon them for their livelihoods.

In the recent past animal draught power has been replaced with mechanized transport or by using power operated equipments; better education motivated the village youth not look into rural agriculture as it is no more as higher payment for them. Recently government rural employment generation program engaging labour force in several development activities deprived the labour pool available for agricultural operations required by small or middle class farmers including livestock keepers. The loss of traditional knowledge on management of animals, natural resource management, herbal medicine and associated cultural settings and defunct of social institutions are posing greater challenges for leading traditional way of agriculture and livestock keeping.

Getting Government’s attention and creating awareness among those who actually conserve local breeds and attempting capacity building of such communities and livestock keepers will be the starting point in stopping decline of livestock genetic diversity. Improving knowledge of breeds and their production environments and developing suitable policies that support community level conservation for native breeds is very important. At this crucial juncture, NABARD has come forward to support a project to SEVA under Farmers Technology Transfer Fund to help farmers conserving 10 local livestock breeds in their respective breeding tract. This book is the outcome of this project along with accumulated experience of SEVA working at grassroots over the past two decades.

Contents

Acknowledgement ............................................................................................................ vii

Introduction ........................................................................................................................... ix

Executive Summary ......................................................................................................... xiii

Pulikulam Cattle Breed .............................................................................................. 1

Malaimadu Cattle Breed ........................................................................................... 8

Umbalachery Cattle Breed ...................................................................................... 15

Naattukuttai Cattle Breed ........................................................................................ 21

Bargur Cattle & Bargur Buffalo Breeds ........................................................ 27

Toda Buffalo Breed ......................................................................................................... 36

Vembur Sheep Breed .................................................................................................... 44

Kachaikatti Black Sheep Breed ............................................................................ 49

Kanniyadu Goat Breed .............................................................................................. 54

Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................. 59

Annexure - 1 Details of Population of Livetsock breeds surveyed in selected villages in Tamil Nadu .............................................................. 61

Annexure - 2 Case studies of Breed Conservation .................................................... 98

Annexure - 3 Press Clippings and Reports ...................................................................... 117

References ........................................................................................................................... 121

In order to create awareness on conservation of local breeds a programme has been undertaken by SEVA to support pastoral communities in

the breeding tract of 10 local livestock breeds in Tamil Nadu. This project has been implemented with financial support from NABARD–FTTF scheme for one year during 2011-2012. SEVA has studied the breed keeping communities, population of animals in selected villages and organised village level workshops and demonstrated animal health camps using local herbal preparations. Suggestions for future plan of action has been highlighted. The summary of the work is presented below :

1. Pulikulam Cattle BreedPulikulam cattle are maintained as migratory herd with herd size of about 150-400 animals in Madurai and Sivagangai Districts. This Pulikulam cattle breed is known for supplying bullocks for ploughing, draught purpose and for bull riding (Jallikkattu) purpose. Farmers are benefited through penning which provides rich organic manure for agricultural crops.

The animals are with compact body and powerful. They are swift and vigorous. For bull riding events (Jallikattu) Pulikulam cattle are trained. It is medium sized, horned, strong cattle with good posture. Bulls are very strong, vigorous with well-developed hump, naval flap and dewlap. The animals are more resistant to communicable and parasitic diseases as compared to the crossbreds in that area under hot and wet conditions.The present population of Pulikulam cattle breed is about 20,000. Herders derive income through penning, sale of male calves and sale of manure. The animals are taken to forest grazing during monsoon season viz. Oct–Jan and later on move to plain lands for grazing in harvested fields and penning in farmers field during night time. Nowadays forest grazing is not permitted for the last 13 years and therefore this is one of major reasons for decline in population of cattle from 1 lakh during 1990s to 21,225 in 2012.

SEVA has organized training cum workshop, animal health camps, exposure visit to convention on biological diversity, breed saviour awards to create

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xiv Community Conservation of Local Livestock Breeds

awareness and to address grazing issues being faced by the herders. Resolution has been passed in Uthappanaickanur panchayat grama sabha for providing grazing permits as per Forest Rights Act 2006. NBAGR, Karnal has approved the registration of Pulikulam cattle as 35th breed in our country. The district administration is looking into forest grazing issues of herders and discussion is continued at revenue division level at Usilamaptti. Future plan of work on breed conservation shall include providing drinking water facilities through renovation of existing ponds in Manangathan and Pulikulam villages (Manamadurai Taluk, Sivaganga District) and allowing to enter Pilavukkal / Kovilar dams adjoining to Squirrel Sanctuary Forests in Srivilliputhur and providing water in other sites as well are to be mapped. High milk yielding cows in Pulikulam breed are to be identified for selective breeding for breeding improvement programme through milk yield competition.

2. Malaimadu Cattle‘Malaimadu’ cattle means ‘hill cattle’ is being maintained by communities viz. Konar, Thevar, Naickers, Moopars in Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Theni, Dindigul and Karur Districts of Tamil Nadu State. There are about 250 families maintaining a cattle population of about 20,000. This Malaimadu cattle breed is known for supplying bullocks for ploughing and for draught purpose but nowadays are utilized mainly for penning and manuring farmers field.

Malaimadu breed are short and sturdy and body colour varies from place to place based on availability of vegetation. During the monsoon October-December and April-June the cattle are sent to forests (Western Ghats / Sirumalai hills) for grazing; in the off-season after the harvest of paddy or other crops the cattle are let into the fallow lands for the purpose of grazing and penning.

The decline of population of cattle from few lakhs to 20,000 is due to various factors viz. the denial of grazing permits by forest officials, the unavailability of labour to look after the herds and tractorization, which reduces the demand for plough bullocks or draught animals.

SEVA has organized training cum workshop, animal health camps to create awareness and invited department officials to address their grazing issue. Resolution has been passed in 3 village grama sabhas viz. Kansapuram, Sethunarayanapuram, Koomapatti in Watrap block, Virudhunagar district for providing grazing permits as per Forest Rights Act 2006. Animal drinking water ponds which are also used for grazing purpose has been identified for removing encroachment in Watrap block,Virudhunagar district where large number of malaimadu cattle are being maintained. Regular animal health camps, removal of encroachments in ponds, tanks and forest grazing permits will improve the status of Malaimadu cattle breed and breed keepers.

3. Umbalachery Cattle Umbalachery cattle breed is known for wetland ploughing and the animals can be managed with low input system. This cattle breed is noticed in Nagapattinam, Thanjavur

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and Thiruvarur districts in Tamil Nadu state. The farming communities like Pillai, Padaiyachi, Chettiyar, Vellalar, Paraiyar, Konar and Iyyer have been maintaining this cattle breed.

The Umbalachery is a medium sized draught type of cattle. The head is straight and moderate in width with pronounced white markings in the forehead, foot and tail. The animal yields upto 3 litres of milk per time with lactation period of 6-10 months. One pair of bullocks can carry about 2 tonnes of agricultural produce through bullock cart. The animal requires least maintenance and it thrives well with paddy straw. It is a drought and disease resistance hardy animal. There were 34 herds of cattle during 2004 and now it is reduced to 20 only.

The population reduction is 40 percent due to shortage of labour for herding system, encroachment of common lands, no caring of ponds. The cattle population in villages known for original breeding tract viz Umbalachery, Thalagnayiru, Korkai, Wattakudi, Aymur, Vadugur is less than 1,000. At present famers are allowing their cows to be inseminated with Jersey cross breed due to lack of availability of semen of native breed or in order to increase milk yield.

Based on family heritage, the breed have different varieties such as Attukari Madu, Ganapathiyan madu, Sooriyankattu madu, Venna madu, Mariapillai madu.

They depend upon extensive grazing system and cattle herds are formed by pooling animals from animal owners for the purpose of grazing and penning and herd size will be 400–500 animals. Herding system will start from middle of January after the harvest of paddy crop and it will continue till water enters the river i.e., during July when paddy will be ready for sowing. These animals depend upon common lands for grazing and also ponds, tanks provide drinking water for animals. The cattle keepers earn income by selling their male calves @ Rs.3,000/- per calf of 6 months age.

SEVA has conducted awareness raising through village level training cum workshops, animal health camps using herbal preparations, breeders group meeting, micro credit for members. We promoted Umbalachery cattle herders group in Korkai village for strengthening breeding services.

There is need for removal of encroachment of grazing land of 107 acres in Umbalachery village and also for allotment of funds for renovation of animal drinking water ponds viz, In Umbalachery village: Manjalkuttai, Karuppukulam, Ayyannarkulam, Vellakuttai. In Vattakudi village : Cherangulam, Thalaiyarikuttai, Kilakku Uppukulam. In Aymnur village: Thangarankulam, Ayyanarkulam. In Korkai Panchayat : Ulagachukadu–Uppukulam, Keelkorkai-Vethukulam, Korkai-Velamodu, Melakorkai-Muthakulam, Thalaikattu village-Chinnaudaippan, Periya Korkai-Vengalam. These ponds shall not be auctioned for fishing as they will drain out the water before fishing. We have identified genuine herders who deserve receiving Umbalachery bulls. We prepared a policy note on how Korkai breeding farm with 400 cattle can be sustained on a long term basis with minimal support from Government while benefitting local cattle keepers and in turn they contributes regularly as grazing fee.

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Suggestions for breed improvement programme by selecting high milk yielding cows for selective breeding shall be initiated through animal fair and milk yield competition for native breed in the veterinary dispensary or AI sub-centres semen of Umbalachery cattle bull are to be made available.

4. Naattukuttai Naattukuttai is locally called as Nattumadu and it is found in villages in and around Marakkanam and Tindivanam area of Villupuram District villages viz. Nadukkuppam, Kanthadu, Mudaliarpettai, Pudhupakkam, Kootikuppam. It is a close resemblance of local breed “Punganoor” or “Naattukuttai” and they are short and compact with colour of body is brown or grey. The breed is not yet described officially. The males fetch good price and procured for draught and meat purpose by other farmers and female cows are kept by themselves; it yields upto 3 litres per day and usually consumed locally. After introduction of tractor the relevance of bullocks for ploughing and local transport has reduced considerably. But still about 20 percent of farmers in the region of Marakkanam, Tindivanam are using bullocks of ’Naattukuttai’. Marginal farmers, women and labourers are keeping this breed as they are easy to manage or less cost compared with maintenance of Jersy cross breed daisy cows. The population is about 500 animals and it can be termed as endangered. SEVA has created awareness on the importance of conservation of this breed through regular meetings, cattle health camps by using herbal preparations in villages viz. Nadukuppam, Vandiyur, K.N.Palayam, Thirukanoor. Local people have developed skill of preparing “masala bolus“ which become much popular among the communities.

Breed Saviour Award has been given to Mr. Manjini for conserving Naattukuttai cattle and it was supported by National Biodiversity Authority. For details refer case study of Mr. Manjini in Annexure 2. The cattle population become mixed type as pure males of breed is rare or they are exposed to local bulls which are either cross breed or opting for artificial insemination with exotic breeds. Breed improvement programme shall be initiated with selected farmers by providing pure bull after surveying the entire breeding tract. Locating a superior bull of local “Naattukuttai” and using them for breeding purpose will certainly improve the quality of animals. There is no dairy cooperatives and they depend on local vendors for marketing purpose. Therefore dairy cooperatives are to be promoted for marketing the milk with better price. The grazing lands in Kaliveli (lake site adjoining the sea coast) is encroached by corporate sector involved in prawn farming, mining etc. Therefore this has to be retrieved for grazing purpose.

5. Bargur CattleBargur cattle are medium built draught breed adapted to semi mountainous terrain of Bargur hills in Erode district. The animals are red colour with white patches and red colour is also noticed in muzzle, tail and hooves. The male calves fetch good price as they are trained for carrying loads through bullock cart. The animals are maintained in herds with average about 80-100 per herd. The cattle from famers are pooled temporarily and herds are formed and grazed during Adi-Margali (July–January)

xvii

in forests when crop is sown all over the area. After the harvest of crops i.e. during summer (February–June) the animals will be sent to respective farmers. There are 134 herds with a population of 10,000. However the pure Bargur cattle is less than 3000. Bargur cattle are invariably mixed with grey coloured country cattle called Malaimadu. Nowadays forest department is not allowing the herders to camp inside the forest especially in Gergekandy area. Therefore many herders drove their animals to adjacent Karnataka forests to escape harassment from Tamil Nadu forest department officials. This is one of the major reason for decline in the number of cattle which was 20,000 during 2006 and about 1,00,000 during 1990. Now the closure of forests also resulted in spreading the growth of poisonous weed plant locally called as Unnichedi (Lantana camara). This weed is also taking away grazing area of not only of cattle but also of the wild ruminants.

However Lingayat communities are interested to revive their pastoralists culture provided forest department is recognizing their grazing rights including camping inside the forest. SEVA has conducted awareness raising through village level training cum workshops, animal health camps using herbal preparations, population survey with the help of members. SEVA has earlier prepared Biocultural Protocol of Lingayat Communities who conserve domestic animal biodiversity and traditional knowledge. SEVA has given orientation to claim grazing rights under Forest Rights Act 2006. Accordingly they have passed resolution in the Gramsabha on 15 August 2012.

6. Bargur BuffaloThe Bargur buffaloes are short statured with compact body and pale ash coloured animal. Buffaloes are maintained to meet the milk requirements for their own home consumption. The buffaloes of local type which yields 2 litres of milk per day and are good in climbing hills and suitable for grazing in hill terrain or in slopes. The Buffalo species maintained by them are called as Malai Erumai or Bargur buffaloes They developed indigenous knowledge in management of animal herds, selection of bulls, medicinal and grass species for animal nutrition and treatment etc. These animals do not survive or retain their vigor if they are forced to stall feeding and therefore adopted with forest ecosystem. Over the last 20 years almost all the forest area is covered with the Lantana bushes. The local villagers have knowledge about the type of grass species and their importance to cattle as well as wild elephants. Due to encroachment to Lantana the local grass species are almost suppressed or have vanished and affected grazing areas of cattle and buffaloes.

The buffalo population is less than 1000 and when we surveyed in 14 hamlets out of 32 it was 622. The average size of herd is 2-5. Nowadays the restriction of animal graziers into forests has considerably reduced the population of Bargur cattle but buffalo population is static. SEVA has conducted awareness raising through village level training cum workshops, animal health camps using herbal preparations, population survey with the help of members. SEVA has earlier prepared Biocultural Protocol of Lingayat Communities who conserve domestic animal biodiversity and traditional knowledge. Recently Department of Animal Husbandry has introduced AI programme with Murrha

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xviii Community Conservation of Local Livestock Breeds

semen to local buffaloes. Instead of AI programme with Murrah semen, distribution of bulls of local buffaloes as insisted by local communities has to be encouraged.

7. Toda BuffaloToda buffalo is an unique buffalo breed noticed in Nilagiri hills (Western-Ghats of Tamil Nadu State) in about 50 tribal’s settlements locally called as “Toda Mandu”. The present population is about 1,500. The life of Todas is largely centred on their sacred buffaloes which form an integral part of their sustenance and cultural heritage. The Toda buffaloes are unique in their behaviour and morphological characteristics including the size and shape of horns and significantly differ from other buffaloes of the plains. Some buffaloes are devoted for temple purpose and they are known as Posthir, such animals are milked exclusively to make clarified butter or ghee for lighting the lamps in temple during 3 months in a year (January - March).

There are about 200 buffaloes of this temple buffaloes in entire mund. The over all population shows there is small decline in the population of animals for reasons as younger generation is not showing much interest; also attack by wild predators and buffalo casualities are much higher nowadays; mortality of calves due to lack of veterinary care and availability of breeding bulls is not there in few munds.

SEVA has conducted awareness raising through village level training cum workshops, animal health camps using herbal preparations, population survey with the help of members. Removal of exotic plantations such as Eucalyptus, Pinus, Wattle will regenerate the original pasture lands; protection from attack of wild predators; removal of plastic heaps in Theettukkal, preventing pollution from PPI (Protein Products of India, manufacturer of chemical fertilizer) industry which affects the drinking water source of animals, construction of community calf shed, regular deworming, quick compensation of loss of buffaloes due to predation by the wild animal were highlighted which need intervention at policy level.

8. Vembur SheepVembur Sheep is found in dryland area of Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar Districts where vast tract of block cotton soil is existent. It has fast growth rate under dryland conditions. Over the last 10 years the population in Vembur region is more or less static with little decline in population in and around Vembur village the original breeding tract is established, the population is 4142. The herders are depend upon open grazing and they face shortage of drinking water during summer/periods of drought. SEVA has promoted sheep herders association in and around Vembur. SEVA has conducted awareness raising through village level training cum workshops, animal health camps using herbal preparations, breeders group meeting, micro credit for members. The pastoralists need regular deworming services and to augument water sources for drinking water for animals by identifying and renovating existing ponds, tanks as well as installation of hand pumps at appropriate places.

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In order to increase the breed population breed improvement programme initiated in 10 selected villages in Pudur, Ettayapuram, Sathur blocks by promoting nucleus breeding units at farmers level (each unit size - 6 male kids of 3 months old). Elite male rams are reared till 7-8 months and distributed to selected herds and exchange of rams after one year to avoid inbreeding. Conservation of important herbs useful for animal disease viz. Aloe vera, Thaluthalai (Clerodendron phlomoides) are to be undertaken in kitchen garden etc. Administration of Aloe vera once in a month will keep the animals healthy.

9. Kachaikatty Black Sheep Kachaikatty black sheep is noticed in Kachaikatti, Bodinaickenpatti, Kulasekarankottai, Viralipatti villages in Vadipatti Taluk of Madurai district. The animals are moderate in size, compact body and colour of hairs is complete black. The breed is identified with different types viz., Mooli Adu, Sonaiyadu, Ilaikathu Adu, Kenambadu based on size of ear and horn in ewes. The animals are well known for ram fighting during village festival or sports. The population of the sheep is around 2000 and local herders who depend upon sheep keeping for their livelihoods are taking them to open grazing including Vaguthumalai forests of Sirumalai hills. The breed is susceptible to foot and mouth disease if animals are not taken to forests grazing during rainy season. This breed is not yet described and registration of breed is being pursued by SEVA with NBAGR, Karnal.

Over the last 14 years grazing has been banned and it is the major reason for reduction in the population. SEVA has conducted awareness raising through village level training cum workshops, animal health camps using herbal preparations, breeders group meeting micro credit for members. Regular deworming, preventive treatment and providing grazing rights in forests will encourage the local herders for up keep of sheep population. SEVA has promoted Sheep Breeders Association and Breed Saviour Award 2010 has been given to the association.

10. Kanniyadu GoatKanniyadu goats are black coloured tall animals with white coloured strips on both the sides of head and on ears. Strips are distinct from the base of the horn to the end of muzzle, lower abdomen and above the foot of legs. They are found in black cotton soil region of Sathur, Sivakasi (Virudhunagar Dist.), Kovilpatti (Thoothukudi Dist.), Kalingapatti (Tirunelveli Dist.). There are two types based on body colour: Palkanni (white) and Karunganni (black).

We have studied the population of Kanniyadu goats in 22 selected villages in Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi Districts and it is about 5000 goats kept by 200 herders with average herd size varies from 12-25. Mostly marginal farmers, labourers and especially women involve in managing herd. They depend upon common lands under extensive production system.

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xx Community Conservation of Local Livestock Breeds

SEVA has conducted awareness raising through village level training cum workshops, animal health camps using herbal preparations in Kalingapatti and Veeranapuram villages in Tirunelveli District. One goat breeder Mrs. Subbuthai in Duraisamypuram village, Sivakasi taluk has been awarded with Breed Saviour Award 2011 with assistance of National Biodiversity Authority. She has revived the breed in this village where many traditional communities gave up the activity due to incidence of heavy mortality of goats few years back.

The pastoralists need regular deworming services and to augument water sources for drinking water for animals by identifying and renovating existing ponds, tanks, installation of hand pumps as wells at appropriate places. In order to increase the breed population, breed improvement programme initiated in 10 selected villages in Sivakasi, Sathur, Vembakottai, Sankarankoil blocks by promoting nucleus breeding units at farmers level (each unit size - 6 male kids of 3 months old). Elite male bucks are reared till 7-8 months and distributed to selected herds and exchange of bucks after one year to avoid inbreeding. Conservation of important herbs useful for animal disease viz. Aloe vera, Thaluthalai (Clerodendron phlomoides) are to be undertaken in slected fields and ban on using all round weedicide such as 2-4D which affects environment and biodiversity. Administration of Aloe vera once in a month will keep the animals healthy.

Pulikulam cattle are maintained as migratory herd with herd size of about 150-400 animals. The animals are with compact body and powerful.

They are swift and vigorous. For bull riding events (Jallikattu) Pulikulam cattle are trained. It is medium sized, horned, strong cattle with good posture. Bulls are very strong, vigorous with well-developed hump, naval flap and dewlap. The hump, neck and some region of face and back are greyish/black in colour irrespective of the coat colour of the males; the cows are proportionate and with compact body. The animals can well survive on grazing in the tropical climate of the area in the open housing system. The animals are contributing significantly in the organic farming of paddy, cotton, groundnut, bajra, maize crops of the area through manure and draught power. The animals are more resistant to communicable and parasitic diseases as compared to the crossbreds in that area under hot and wet condition.

The present population of Pulikulam cattle breed is about 20,000. This cattle breed is noticed in Thenpalanji, Vadapalanji, Chettikulam, Perumalpatti,

1Pulikulam Cattle Breed

2 Community Conservation of Local Livestock Breeds

Maikudi, Manapatti, Sakkudi, U.Vadipatti, Perumalkoilpatti, Idaiyapatti, Vellaiparaipatti, Meenachipatti, Nilaiyur, Avaniapuram, T.Vadipatti (Madurai District), Meenachipuram (near Kariapatti, Virudhunagar district), Manangathan, Pulikkulam, Kattikulam, Milaganoor, Vallarai, Kilathari, Upparpatti, Vallarenthal, Kurunthakulam, Surakulam (Sivagangai District). This Pulikulam cattle breed is known for supplying bullocks for ploughing, draught and for bull riding (Jallikkattu) purpose. Farmers are benefited through penning which provides rich organic manure for agricultural crops.

The story behind the name of the breedFirst domestication of zebu (humped cattle, Bos indicus) has been discovered at the site of Indus valley of Pakistan, about 7000 years ago. Later this might have been taken to other parts of our country.

The existence of Pulikulam cattle breed can be traced back to about 500 years ago. Once upon a time jungles surrounded this present Pulikulam village (Manamadurai Taluk, Sivaganga District) and one tiger came to a pond to quench its thirst. It has been entrapped with thorny bushes found in the banks of pond and people named that pond as Pulikulam literally means ‘Tiger pond’. The cattle found in that village become synonyms with ‘Pulikulam’ breed. It is also called Palingu Maadu for its marble colour or Naattu Madu or Mani Maadu (bell cattle).

The pastoralists belonging to yadavar or konar when they migrate from Manamadurai and settled in Madurai District (villages viz., Manapatti, Idayapatti, U.Vadipatti, etc.) they have taken their cattle along with them and till date they are keeping this breed.

Migratory systemThe breeding place of Pulikulam breed is almost alkaline soil with salty water. The farmers in that area raise salt resistant crops like cotton, coriander and paddy. Therefore, the cattle herders take their herds to distant green lush pasturelands and for good quality

Herders with Pulikulam herd

3

drinking water available in Rajapalayam, Watrap and Sivakasi regions of Virudhunagar District (50-100 km. away from home). Their cattle are also taken to harvested paddy fields where the available fodder are paddy straw, cholam fodder, pods of Acacia arabica, Prosopis juliflora.

Month Place of grazingFebruary ManamaduraiMarch–May KaruppayuraniJune SirivilliputhurJuly KoomapattiAugust-November Rajapalayam and KoomapattiDecember-January Sivakasi, Virudhunagar and Thiruchuli

PenningA herd size is usually 150-400 of cattles. During night time they do penning (to provide manure) in farmers field and collect about Rs.300 per 100 animals. For example Mr. Muthupandi in Manapatti village, Madurai district who is maintaining 150 cattle earns income of Rs.30,000 from penning; sale of manure through tractor loads (12 loads in a year) Rs.36,000; sale of 20 male calves (18 months old) Rs.60,000. After wages for herdsmen he earns net income of Rs.1,00,000 (one lakh) per annum. Cattle manuring help considerably to reduce fertilizer consumption by more than 50 percent.

The herders earn income through sale of male calves of 6 months old and above at Rs.3000 per calf. Female calves are not usually sold. The sale of calves is usually peak during Dec–Jan, the herders of Pulikulam are selling 2000 calves annually. Male calves are usually sold to be grown as draught animal, for ploughing and for jallikattu (bull. riding) during festival occasion.

Jallikattu (Bull Riding)The Pulikulam breed has established itself as proven breed for “Bull Riding” which is locally called ‘Jallikattu’. These bullocks are good draught animals.

Female calves are not usually sold. The sale of calves is usually peak during Dec–Jan; the herders of Pulikulam are selling 2000 calves annually.

Male calves are usually sold to be grown as draught animal, for ploughing and for jallikattu (bull riding) during harvesting festival occasion (Jan-Feb).

Pullikulam Cattle Breed


Training cum WorkshopWorkshop on “Conservation of Pulikulam cattle breed“ in U.Vadipatti village, Madurai district has been organized on 06.03.2012 at village community building. The workshop was inaugurated by Sri. U. Sahayam, District Collector, Madurai, Mr. Shankaranarayan, AGM, NABARD, Madurai presided. Mr. Sahayam also visited Pulikulam cattle herds maintained by villagers who lead migratory lifestyle for maintaining the cattle. He visited Malattar dam, and adjoining forests and assured to take up with forest department on the grazing issues of local villagers and pathways to enter temples situated in forests. Training on medicinal plants useful for treating animals and herbal preparations were demonstrated in the afternoon of 6 March 2012. Dr. Ramakrishnan, Joint Director of Animal Husbandry, Madurai district has highlighted schemes implemented by the department. Dr. M. Muruganandam, Veterinary University Training and Research Centre (VUTRC), Madurai highlighted different diseases of cattle and suggested preventive treatment for them.

Training Cum Workshop Preperation of herbal recipes

Collector’s appreciation

5

SEVA has organized one day follow up training cum workshop organized for “Conservation of Pulikulam cattle breed” in U.Vadipatti village, Usilampatti Taluk, Madurai district on 24 July 2012. The workshop has been organized at Govt. Community Building at U.Vadipatti village. Totally 28 livestock keepers participated. We have distributed herbal masala bolus (for treatment of animals) for the participants.

We have given orientation for passing the resolution to claim grazing rights in forests through grama sabha meeting to be held on 15th August 2012 for Uthappanaickanoor Panchayat in Usilampatti Taluk. Two farmers viz., Chinnapandi and Vanaraj have been selected to attend Convention on Biological Diversity at Hyderabad during Oct 2012.

Villagewise Pulikulam cattle population in Madurai and Sivagangai Districts

Sl. No. Name of Village District No. of

HerdersCattle

Population1. U.Vadipatti Madurai 46 48902. T.Vadipatty Madurai 19 10003. Thenpalanji Madurai 15 5604. Manapatti Madurai 17 42505. Chettikulam Madurai 6 15006. Vellaparapatti Madurai 4 8007. Melakkal Madurai 2 5508. Perumalpatti Madurai 7 11509. Idayapatti Madurai 9 755

10. Chettiyapatti Madurai 3 55011. Kuranthai kulam Sivagangai 3 90012. Kilathiri Sivagangai 10 150013. Manangkathan Sivagangai 19 139014. Vallarenthal Sivagangai 4 51015. Meenatchipuram Virudhunagar 11 920

Total 175 21,225If this population declines in this trend, this breed will become extinct in near future.

Herders with Pulikulam herd Distribution of herbal masala bolus



Achievementsl SEVA has applied for the registration of new breeds with National Bureau of Animal

Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal through Commissioner of Animal Husbandry Department, Chennai. Earlier Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University has undertaken characterization study of Pulikulam cattle. NBAGR has approved the registration of Pulikulam cattle and Accession number of Pulikulam breed provided is INDIA_CATTLE_1800_PULIKULAM_03035. So far India has 34 recognised breeds of cattle and now Pulikulam has been included as 35th breed in our country.

l Idayapatti village cattle herders association has been promoted with 12 herders. Earlier we promoted Pulikulam cattle herders association in Manapatti, U.Vadipatti (Madurai District) and in Sivagangai district. Pulikulam cattle pastoralists met District Collector twice and Revenue Divitional Officer, Usilampatti during October and November 2012 and submitted memorandum / printed pamphlets for finding solutions for their grazing problem in forests.

l Animal Health camp organized in U.Vadipatti village twice during March 2012.

l Village pathway from U.Vadipatti village to Malattar Dam site which was under the control of forest department has been cleared and handed over to Revenue Department. This has given some relief to local farmers who use this road to go to forests or animal grazing. This intervention was possible with visit of District Collector Mr. Sahayam to attend our workshop on Conservation of Pulikulam cattle breed on 6th March, 2012.

l Pulikulam cattle herders have opportunity to attend Conference of Parties of Convention (COP 11) on Biological Diversity at Hyderabad during 8-13, October 2012. They participated in the Side Event on “Breed Saviours”.

Pulikulam Calves

Population trend of Pulikulam Cattle

Year Population of Cattle

Source of information

1995 90,000 SEVA2006 45,000 TANUVAS2012 21,225 SEVA

7

l Revenue Divisional Officer, Usilampatti has taken initiative in engaging forest department for issue of grazing permits to herders and the discussions is going on.

l Breed Saviour Award 2011 has been conferred to Alagumalaiyan Pulikulam Cattle Herders Association by National Biodiversity Authority on 10th January 2012.

l Uthappanaickanoor village (Panchayat) Grama Sabha passed resolution on 15th August 2012 to provide grazing permits and the procedure or rules are followed as per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest dwellers Forests Rights Act 2006 (Forest Rights Act 2006).

Suggestions for Future Plan of Actionl The drinking water ponds in Manangathan and Pulikulam villages (Manamadurai

Taluk, Sivagangai District) are to be de-silted/renovated; allowing to enter Pilavukkal / Kovilar dams adjoining to Squirrel Sanctuary Forests in Srivilliputhur and providing water in other sites as well are to be surveyed to fulfill the drinking water needs of cattle.

l Grazing permits to pastoralists for grazing the cattle in forests in Manapatti, Idayapatti, U.Vadipatti villages (in Thangamalai, Vasimalai, Nagamalai forests) and are to be issued as per Forests Rights Act 2006. Forest Working Plan shall be amended and grazing rights integrated.

l Permanent identity cards issued to them as keepers of Pulikulam cattle breed and prevented from hardship from police department while crossing the highways or by forest officials. Their migratory routes are to be recognized and legitimised.

l Breed improvement by identifying best cows with high milk yield for selective breeding are to be attempted through animal fairs/milk yield competition, etc.

l A herd of Pulikulam cattle may be established in the existing Government/University farms.

l The herders may be given remuneration for keeping/conserving these animals or atleast for their efforts in helping in restoration of organic farming

l The efforts for regulated sale of manure to be arranged.

l Efforts to publish the information on this breed and important features of sustenance of this breed with low input management in local dailies as well as on web periodically to create awareness on local breeds.


Malaimadu cattle breed (means ‘hill cattle’) is being reared by communities like Konar, Thevar, Naicker, Moopar in Madurai,

Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Theni, Dindigul and Karur Districts of Tamil Nadu State. There are about 250 families maintaining a cattle population of about 20,000. This Malaimadu cattle breed is known for supplying bullocks for ploughing and for draught purpose.

How Malaimadu cattle Developed?First domestication of zebu (humped cattle, Bos indicus) has been discovered at the site of the Indus Valley of Pakistan, about 7000 years ago. Later this might have been migrated to other parts of our country. Pulikulam cattle or local country cow (Nattupasu) has been in existence for many generations in Tamil Nadu. These cattle have been taken

2Malaimadu Cattle Breed

9

for open grazing and during monsoon season (cropping season mainly with paddy) the only place available for grazing was forests in the villages adjoining to western ghats. Therefore the local cattle were taken to uphills for grazing in forests for few months and this rotational system of grazing between plains and hilly tract might have helped them to adopt special traits and their body become compact and more strength or stamina for climbing the hills and evolved into hill cattle or Malaimadu. This is distinct from Pulikulam cattle breed. Malaimadu breed are short and sturdy and body colour varies from place to place based on availability of vegetation viz Mayilai (grey), Sembarai (reddish brown), Sembor (red/brown spots), Karumbor (pale black spots). According to cattle herders they claim that Malaimadu cattle were existence for more than 10 generations.

Penning system At present, these cattle are being maintained by herders for the purpose of penning and manuring farmers fields. During the monsoon (north east monsoon in Oct-Dec and April-June) the cattle are sent to forests (Western ghats/Sirumalai hills) for grazing; in the off-season after the harvest of paddy or other crops the cattle are let into the fallow lands for the purpose of grazing and penning.

Income from Malaimadu herds A herder of 50 cattle earn income of Rs. 50,000 – Rs.60,000 annually through sale of manure (15-18 tractor loads of cow dung valued at Rs. 30,000 – Rs. 40,000) and through sale of male calves (6-7 calves valued Rs. 20,000). In addition they get manure for their own land, milk for home consumption and animals as plough bullocks. Cattle manure sustains the fertility of land for 3 years.

Breeding in MalaimaduMalaimadu cattle breeders follow some criteria for selecting males for breeding. They are: calf obtained through 3rd lactation; Horns straight or tilted frontward; colour of the bull should be vellai (bright white), mayilai (grey), sembor (red spots) and karumbor (black

Malaimadu Cattle Breed

Malaimadu Cattle Herd in Dindigul District


spots), the mother of the bull, should be a high milk yielder among the cattle; the tail should be short and thin and above the knee of the bull; dewlap should be very little in the neck region; lung frame should be wide and body frame to be lengthy; the length of the face and ears should be short and eyes projected for attraction of the face; the testicles should be small in size; the skin should be nice, soft and thin. The last two features make the bull active and speedy in mating; the bull must be ferocious in nature and taller than all other animals in a stock; the bull must have a leading capacity character, able to lead the herd while grazing in forests and save the cattle herd from the attack of wild predators. The parents, especially the mother of the stud bull, should be bright in colour as such as vellai (white), mayilai (grey), karumbor (black spots), sembor (red spots) and even karumayilai (dark grey); the same is to be adopted for selecting the stud bull also.

‘Bulls’ of Malaimadu: Bulls are allowed for natural crossing with local Jersey, Holstein Fersien cross-bred dairy cows. The off-spring of this cross will have resistance to ‘Mastitis’ disease and will be able to withstand hot temperature and rains. The fat content of milk is also improved. Local farmers are bringing their cross-bred cows which have conception problems and are unable to get success in artificial insemination. Finally,

they cross with the Malaimadu bulls which overcome the conception problem. However, herders will not allow other bulls of non-Malaimadu cattle for crossing with the cows of Malaimadu cattle.

Training cum Workshop Two days training cum workshop has been organized for conservation of Malaimadu cattle breed in Koomapatti village, Watrap Block, Virudhunagar District on 17&18, November 2011. The meeting has been inaugurated by

Preparation of Herbal Medicine for animals Herbal Treatment

11

Mr. J. Subaramaniyan, AGM, NABARD, Virudhunagar District. In his inaugural address he highlighted organization of farmers clubs in village and services provided by NABARD including releasing subsidy either 25% or 33.33% for members of the group of 4 to 5 farmers. He also highlighted Dairy Entrepreneurship Development (DED) Scheme.

Mr. S. Thirumeni, Forest Ranger Officer, Watrap has told that due to high court order, forest grazing for Malaimadu cattle has been banned Totally in the sanctuary area of Srivilliputhur forest. However the high court order is silent about the Forest Rights Act 2006 which provides grazing rights for traditional grazing inside the forests. Mr. P. Vivekanandan, Executive Director of SEVA has explained briefly origin of different breeds, also highlighted the salient futures of the Forest Rights Act 2006 which ensures grazing rights of traditional pastoral families. The rules and procedures to be adhered for obtaining grazing rights inside the forest under FRA 2006 has been highlighted. It includes passing of resolution in the Grama Shaba and forwarding it to District

Collector and in turn committee will decide upon the grazing rights of farmers.

In the afternoon herbal preparation of masala bolus, herbal dewormer, Aloevera for Blue Tongue diseases has been demonstrated by resource persons C. Rajamanikkam, herbal healer for animals, V. Alagumalai, Programme Officer, SEVA and C. Thirumalaimurugan, Field officer, SEVA.

In the trainng programme


Malaimadu Cattle herd in Srivilliputur Taluk


41 members participated and majority of them are Malaimadu cattle herders and few own sheep, goats and buffaloes.

Animal Health Camp

On 18.11.2011 animal health camp has been organized in Koomapatti village and 114 animals were treated by administering herbal masala bolus. In addition to Malaimaadu cattle, buffaloes and goats have also been treated. In the afternoon medicinal plants have been displayed by SEVA and their uses of treating of animal diseases explained.

PopulationThe original population was said to be more than 3,00,000 about 30 years ago. Due to various factors like the denial of grazing permits by forest officials (the permits had been granted earlier but for the last 10-14 years, this has been stopped due to Joint Forest Management Programmes/Forest Working Plan/Declaration of Sanctuary or protected area), the unavailability of labour and tractorisation, which reduces the demand for draught animals, the population of cattle has been substantially reduced. There were 350 families maintaining a cattle population of about 30,000 (SEVA 2005). In Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli districts we surveyed the population and also collected data in Theni district where survey has been conducted by Theni District Malaimadu cattle herders association. The particulars are shown below:

Malaimadu Cattle Population in Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli & Theni Districts

Sl. No. Name of the Village District Number of

Herders Malaimadu

cattle population1. Koomapatti Virudhunagar 39 23562. Sethunarayanapuram Virudhunagar 4 2803. Kansapuram Virudhunagar 15 15004. Seithur Virudhunagar 4 4505. Sundaranachiarpuram Virudhunagar 2 3506. Ammayapuram Virudhunagar 1 2007. Devathanam Virudhunagar 1 1008. Thalavaipuram Virudhunagar 1 1009. Mugavur Virudhunagar 1 150

10. Nedunkulam Virudhunagar 3 10011. Sivagiri Tirunelveli 3 18312. Devipattinam Tirunelveli 3 38513. Arulatchi Tirunelveli 1 4314. Vasudevanallur Tirunelveli 4 115015. Rayappanpatti Theni 8 52016. Kamayagoundanpatti Theni 11 580

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Sl. No. Name of the Village District Number of

Herders Malaimadu

cattle population17. Surulipatti Theni 4 20518. Koodalur Theni 21 117519. Cumbam Theni 3 37020. K.Pudupatti Theni 7 50521. Chinnaovalapuram Theni 11 46022. Erasakkanaickanur Theni 13 57523. Puthampatti Theni 16 55524. Odaipatti Theni 15 61025. Veppampatti Theni 1 3026. Uthamapalayam Theni 1 6027. Kogilapuram Theni 1 5028. Kadamalaikundu Theni 6 31529. Kumanantholu Theni 4 21030. Velayuthapuram Theni 8 39531. Manjanaickanpatti Theni 10 42032. Rayavelur Theni 2 5033. Theppampatti Theni 1 1534. Chitharpatti Theni 8 31035. Mallaiyapuram Theni 4 9036. Thimarasanaickanur Theni 5 300

CUMULATIVE Total 242 15,147

Achievements l Resolution has been passed in grama sabhas viz., Koomapatti, Kansapuram,

Sethunarayanapuram panchayats in Watrap block, Srivilliputhur Taluk, Virudhunagar District for providing grazing permit for traditional pastoral communities (Malaimadu cattle herders) as per Forest Rights Act 2006. The resolution copies were submitted to District Collector, Director Tribal Welfare Department.

l Memorandum has been submitted to District Collector for grazing permission in the forests declared for sanctuary as per Forest Rights Act 2006.

l Malaimadu population particulars has been collected in Virudhunagar, Theni and Tirunelveli districts.

l Animal drinking water ponds which are also used for grazing purpose has been identified for removing encroachment in Watrap block, Virudhunagar District where large number of Malaimadu cattle are being maintained.

List of ponds/tanks are: Kansapuram and Ramasamypuram village – Sinneri Kanmai, Parankulam, Kuppankulam,

Thamaraikulam, Bhoopathikulam, Paraikulam;



Watrap - Sathankulam, Kosavankulam; Koomapatti - Bethankulam, Poongulam, Kodikulam, Kulamunthiri, Periyakulam,

Vilasamuthiram, Kailasamada Oorni; Kavundanpatti - Koonikulam, Padikulam, Aayakulam; W. Pudupatti - Anuppankulam, Pannikulam.

This has been referred to District Collector, Virudhunagar for redressal.

Suggestions for Future Plan of Actionl Over the last 15 years many traditional herding families left cattle pastoralism and

disposed their animals (in sandies or for slaughter purpose) due to denial of grazing permits for grazing them in forests. Director of Tribal Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu State Government has to take up the grazing issue of pastoral communities with Secretary / Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Department of Forests for claiming traditional grazing rights and camping inside forests as per Forest Rights Act 2006.

l Encroached areas in revenue sites are to be retrieved by District level adminsitartion.These are grazing palces for cattle herders during summer season.

l Animal husbandry department shall organize regular health camps exclusively for migratory herds at least twice in a year i.e. before going for hill/forest grazing in the beginning of rainy season (September - October) and during summer (April-June).

Umbalachery cattle breed is known for wetland ploughing and the animals can be managed with low input system. This cattle breed

is noticed in Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Thiruvarur districts in Tamil Nadu state. The farming communities like Pillai, Padaiyachi, Chettiyar, Vellalar, Paraiyar, Konar and Iyer have been maintaining this cattle breed. Cattle are maintained in temporary herds during middle January to end of July when there is no river water in the Cauveri water canals and also paddy harvest is completed by that time.

Story behind the name of Breed Once upon a time, a ‘Yogi’ was in deep meditation in Umbalachery village in Nagapattinam District. A farmer of that village had a cattle farm wherein he had labourers to look after the cattle. Once when the cattle were brought to the shed in the evening one cow was missing. This cow usually comes one hour late to the shed. The labourer wanted to know the reason for the late coming. Therefore, one evening he followed the cow. The cow went straight to the place of Yogi in

3Umbalachery Cattle Breed

Umbalachery Cow


meditation and fed the Yogi with its milk. The labourer who saw this was frightened. The yogi who noticed the frightened labourer and caught hold of the cow’s forehead and blessed the cow saying “since you have fed me with your milk and taking care of my hungry and your breed will spread from Umbalachery village. The world will speak of your name and fame“. Hence the cattle of Umbalachery have a white mark on the forehead, the place where the Yogi blessed the cow. Few elders also said that this breed had been

developed from one pastoralist woman who brought cattle along with her sheep herd from Ramanathapuram district about 200-250 years ago. That is why this breed’s one of the variety is called as “Aattukaari Maadu’’ (Aattukari means shepherd woman).

Special Characters of this BreedThe Umbalachery is a medium sized draught type of cattle. The head is straight and moderate in width. A well pronounced white star in the forehead is specific to this breed. Horns are medium in thickness, short and pointed. In adults they curve out- wards, inwards, sometimes spreading laterally. In bullocks the ears are pruned. Neck is short and thick. Hump is well developed in bulls. Chest is broad. Legs are short with white marking below the hocks either ‘socks’ or ‘stockings’. Hooves are strong, small and black in colour. A white streak runs linear on the back of animal from hump to croup. Sheath is well tucked up to the abdomen. The switch of the tail is white or partially white. The udder is not well developed. The animal yields upto 3 litres of milk per time with lactation period of 6-10 months. Calves are red in colour at the time of birth and change to grey while growing. One pair of bullocks can carry about 2 tonnes of agricultural produce through bullock cart. The animal requires least maintenance and it thrives well with paddy straw. It is a drought and disease resistance hardy animal.

Purpose of Cattle RearingUmbalachery bullocks are used for wetland and dry land ploughing and transport of material through bullock carts. The animals are allowed for grazing on paddy stubbles in the harvested field. The animals are collected as herds during off–season (when there is no crop in the field) for the purpose of open grazing and penning during night times for manuring the field. A herd’s man will look after each herd (a herd size will be 400–500 animals) on mutually agreed terms between animal owner and herd’s man. The charge will be collected at the rate of Re.1/- per animal from the land owner for penning. The cattle keepers earn income by selling their male calves at Rs. 3,000/- per calf of 6 months age.

17

Grazing System Cattle are maintained in temporary herds during middle January to end of July when there is no water in river Cauveri. The herder will collect cows from owners and the owner has to pay money as grazing fee of Rs.100 - 200 per animal. By that time paddy harvest will be over and the cattle herds are allowed for free grazing in the harvested fields seen with paddy stubbles.

Each herd consists of 300 - 400 cow with one or two bulls. When we surveyed the population there were 34 herds during 2004 and it is gradually reduced year after year and it is now 20 only. Nowadays herders are unable to maintain bulls in the off-season and few herders need pure Umbalachery bull for forming herds. SEVA has supported 3 bulls in the earlier years and this resulted in the revival of herd system in Umbalachery village.

There was pasture land of 107 acres in Umbalachery village which has been encroached by the private parties. They have been using these pasture land as agriculture land for raising wetland paddy for the past 30 years. Due to the efforts taken by the Umbalachery Cattle Herders Association (promoted by SEVA) got the judgement and official eviction order from the Nagapattinam district court and Vedaranyam Thasildar office respectively. Now the breeders are demanding for the full-fledged eviction with official demarcation of boundries.

Selection of Male BullsSelection of animals is based on their pedigree and phenotypic characters. Males are selected for breeding based on the following characters: - male calves of second lactation are selected; - the stomach region should be in white colour and top spinal cord region should

be black in colour; - the foot of four legs should be white in colour; - tail should be extended up to knee of the hind legs; white mark on the forehead

should be in medium size; the face should be of medium length.

Different sub-types of Umbalachery Cattle Breed The names of the different 5 sub-types within the Umbalachery cattle breed were given according to the families who have been maintaining the purity of the breed over the last 5-6 generations. The animal behaviour, variations in phenotypic characters are specific to them. They are classified as Attukari Madu, Ganapathiyan Madu, Sooriyankattu Madu, Venna Madu, Mariapillai Madu.

Umbalachery Cattle Breed


Cross BreedingAt present few farmers are allowing their cows to be inseminated with Jersey cross breed bull semen in order to increase milk yield. In the local veterinary dispensary/ AI centre at Umbalachery village; so far availability of Umbalachery cattle breed semen was not there and recently it is made available after representation by the breeders‘ association.

Training cum Workshop Two days training cum workshop on “Conservation of Umbalachery Cattle Breed” in Thalaignayiru village has been organized on 9th June 2012. The workshop has been organized at community building in Thalaignayiru village. The workshop was inaugurated by Sri. T. Munisamy, District Collector, Nagapattinam District. He highlighted the conservation and significance of cattle for agriculture with specific reference to Umbalachery cattle breed. He explained fodder subsidy schemes implemented in the district. The outcome of group discussions on breed conservation, common property resources, value addition of milk products were presented and subsequently memorandum were submitted to District Collector (refer achievements subhead for details of ponds to be renovated).

Sri. D. Ganesan, AGM, NABARD, Nagapattinam District in his presidential address highlighted the salient features of Umbalachery cattle breed. In the afternoon Mr. Dheenathayalan, Secretary of Umbalachery Cattle Breeders’ Association presented briefly about the activities of the association. Dr. D. Shankar, Veterinary Surgeon of Umbalachery Veterinary Dispensary, Sri. V. Mohan, Block Development Officer, Thalalignayiru also participated.

In the afternoon session training on medicinal plants useful for treating animals and herbal preparations were demonstrated by Prof. Punniyamoorthy, Veterinary University Training and Research Centre, Tanjore. On 10th June 2012, Animal Health Camp has been organized in Umbalachery village and administered herbal masala bolus for 120 animals.

Population There were 34 herds of cattle during 2004 and now it is reduced to 20 only. Each herd size varies between 300-400 cattle. There is 40 percent reduction in cattle population.

Workshop with Cattle herders Group Discussion with herders

19

We recorded cattle population in few villages and it is shown here.

Summary of Umbalachery cattle PopulationSl.

No. Name of the Village No. of Herders

No. of Cows

No. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1 Umbalachery 25 121 27 382 Vattakudi 8 19 6 43 Vadugur 13 18 - 94 Thalaignayiru 7 35 4 65 Aymur 4 10 2 46 Korukkai 10 438 11 30

ToTAL 67 641 50 91

Cumulative Total = 849

Achievements l We promoted Umbalachery cattle herders group in Korkai village for strengthening

breeding services.

l The District Collector has participated in our workshop on “Conservation of Umbalachery Cattle” assured to take up the issue of encroachment of grazing land of 107 acres in Umbalachery village and also for allotment of funds for renovation of animal drinking water ponds viz.,

In Umbalachery village : Manjalkuttai, Karuppukulam, Ayyanarkulam, Vellakuttai. In Vattakudi village : Cherangulam, Thalaiyarikuttai, Kilakku uppukulam. In Aymnur village : Thangarankulam, Ayyanarkulam. In Korkai Panchayat : Ulagachukadu – Uppukulam, Keelkorkai - Vethukulam,

Korkai - Velamodu, Melakorkai-Muthakulam, Thalaikattu village - Chinnaudaippan, Periya Korkai - Vengalam.

These ponds shall not be auctioned for fishing as they will drain out the water before fishing.

l We have identified genuine herders who deserve receiving Umbalachery bulls. They are expected to render breeding services through natural service. The herders are Pakkirisamy (Umbalachery village), Ramalingam (Perumalai), Mathiyalagan (Oradiambalam), Vadivel (Korkai). They also follow temporary herding system with Umbalachery cattle and take care of animals during off season (January - July) after paddy crop is harvested.

l We have visited cattle breeding farm at Korkai, Thiruvarur District where 400 cattle of Umbalachery breed are maintained in 500 acres of pasture land. This farm land was donated by a farmer called “Velayutha puraiyar” for conserving the Umbalachery cattle breed. We have prepared a policy note on how this farm can be sustained on a long term basis with minimal support from Government while benefitting local cattle keepers and in turn they contributes regularly as grazing fee. It also recommends not to dispose the existing grazing land of 500 acres for

Umbalachery Cattle Breed


any development activity except for cattle grazing. (This policy note was published in our “Numvali Velanmai” (April - June 2012 in Tamil).

Suggestions for Future Plan of Actionl Animal drinking water ponds are to be identified in Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur

districts for the purpose of renovation.

l In Umbalachery village, pasture land of 107 acres have to be demarced for their boundaries and allowed for regeneration of vegetation after fencing.

l Umbalachery cattle bulls or male calves available in Korkai farm are to be distributed to cattle herders on priority basis instead of open auction system.

l Breed improvement programme by selecting high milk yielding cows for selective breeding shall be initiated through animal fair and milk yield competition for native breed.

l In the veterinary dispensary or AI sub centres semen of Umbalachery cattle bull are to be made available.

4Naattukuttai Cattle Breed

Naattukuttai is locally called as Nattumadu and it is found in villages in and around Marakkanam and Tindivanam area of Villupuram District,

viz., Nadukkuppam, Kanthadu, Mudaliarpettai, Pudhupakkam, Kootikuppam. It is a close resemblance of local breed “Punganoor” or “Naattukuttai”. The breed is not yet described officially. The males fetch good price and procured for draught and meat purpose by other farmers and female cows are kept by themselves. It yields upto 3 litres of milk per day and usually consumed locally.

The animals are pooled and taken for open grazing as herds. During that time bulls are able to cross naturally the cows in the herd and also herds of neighbouring villages. Usually 1 or 2 bulls are maintained by farmers in one village and it will cater the needs of livestock keepers through natural service. Nowadays farmers are not able to maintain the purity of bulls and therefore need of hour is to identify true to type bulls in the villages for further uptgradation of local cows. While selecting males

Naattukuttai Cattle herd


for breeding purpose they look into whorls or markings on the body and link with performance or luck. The animals are short statured compact body with red or brown with white spots on the body. The animals with fawn and white as full body colour are also seen. Milk yield is upto 2-3 litre per cow. Population of pure Naattukuttai cattle is below 500.

Training cum Workshop Two days Training Programme

on ‘Herbal Medicine for Animals’ has been organized on 22-23, September 2011 at Nadukkuppam village, Marakkanam Block, Villupuram District. Livestock keepers from Kanthadu, Nadukkuppam, Vandipalayam, K.N.Palayam attended the training programme. These villagers keep local country cattle called as Naattumadu. It is a close resemblance of local breed Punganoor or Thiruchendur kulli. The breed is not yet described. There were 48 participants in the programme. The list of participants is shown in Annexure 2. SEVA resource team has conducted the training programme. It included members viz. P. Vivekanandan - Co-ordinator, SEVA, M. Rajamanickam - Herbal healer, Saptur, V. Alagumalai - Programme Officer, SEVA, Manisekar - Animal Breed expert, Salem, U. Govindaraj - Retd. Livestock Inspector, Kaundapadi, Erode District., N. Parvathy - Pitchandikulam Forests, Auroville.

On 22nd September 2011, the following topics were covered: History and origin of animal breed, preparation of Masala bolus, remedies for digestive disorders, fever, mastitis, haemorrhagic septicaemia, FMD, reproductive disorders, skin diseases. Afternoon session include practical session demonstration on preparation of different types of recipes viz., masala bolus, herbal dewormer, herbal decoction, mathan thailam.

Preparation of Herbal masala bolus Preparation of Herbal masala bolus

23

Animal Health CampOn 23rd September, animal health camps have been organized in two villages, viz. K.N. Palayam Colony and Thirukkanur. Mr. Rajamanickam, Mr. Renganathapillai, Mr. Ramachandran Vaidyas have helped us to administer different preparations for animals based on the specific requirement/disease of animals. Totally 49 families brought 368 animals which include 310 cattle, 54 goats, 4 buffaloes. In the afternoon, we have visited the medicinal plants grown in Pitchandikulam forests and Mrs. Vasuki explained the uses of plants for animals. One day follow-up training on 7th May 2012 at Pitchandikulam Forests, Nadukuppam village, Tindivanam block in Villupuram district. On 8th May animal health camp was organized in Nadukuppam village. Totally 25 live stock keepers attended. SEVA and Pictchandikulam forests staff members were resource persons and demonstrated herbal medicines for animals and human beings. A field visit has been arranged to refresh identification of medicinal plants.

In addition to the above 4 villages there are about 200 animals in Villupuram district with cumulative Total less than 500. The number of pure bulls are less than 10. Therefore this breed is regarded as highly endangered and our attention is required for conservation efforts. SEVA has encouraged one livestock keeper for keeping this cattle by giving Breed Saviour Award during 2011.

Animal Health Camp in Nadukuppam VillageField visit & identification of Medicinal plants

Naattukuttai Cattle Breed

Herbal healer administers medicine Meeting with Cattle herders


Phenotypic Characters We recorded phenotypic characters of Naattukuttai cattle in Nadukuppam, Vandipaalyam villages during September and November 2012 with the help of students of Agricultural college, Melmaruvathur and scientists viz. Dr. N. Kumaravelu, Prof. Thanga Thamilvanan from Dept. of Livestock Production and Management, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai.

Phenotypic Measurement of Naattukuttai Cattle in Nadukuppam village

Animal Body length (m)

Body height (m)

Chest girth (m)

Ear length (cm)

Horn length (cm)

Age (Years)

Cow 1.1 1.1 1.4 10 20 3Cow 1.15 1.1 1.4 12 12 3Cow 1.5 1.18 1.2 20 7 3Cow 1.1 1.5 1.3 8 7 3Cow 1.5 1.5 1.25 7.5 7 3Cow 1.17 1.15 1.3 9.5 3 3Cow 1.16 1.2 1.4 19 24 3

Mean 1.24 1.247 1.321 12.29 11.43Std.

Deviation 0.18 0.18 0.08 5.15 7.76

Std. Error 0.07 0.07 0.03 1.95 2.94

Cow 1.4 1.1 1.5 6 9.5 4Cow 1.2 1.15 1.6 25 15 4Cow 1.15 1.14 1.26 15 20 4Cow 1.2 1.2 1.4 22 23 4Cow 1 1.15 1.27 10 12 4

Mean 1.19 1.15 1.41 15.60 15.90Std.

Deviation 0.14 0.04 0.15 7.96 5.57

Std. Error 0.06 0.02 0.07 3.56 2.49

Cow 1.06 1.1 1.35 15 6 6Cow 1.09 1.13 1.6 20 33 6Cow 1.98 1.08 1.38 20 34 6Cow 1.1 1.36 1.2 19 25 6Cow 1 1.09 1.93 17 20 6Cow 1.1 1.15 1.4 12 14 6Cow 1 0.99 1.53 13 14 6

Mean 1.19 1.13 1.48 16.57 20.86Std.

Deviation 1.35 0.11 0.23 3.31 10.43

Std. Error 0.13 0.04 0.09 1.25 3.94

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Calf 1.16 1.16 1.29 12 13 2Calf 0.9 0.97 1.12 20 10 2Calf 0.96 0.95 1 17 12 2Calf 0.92 0.91 1.15 9 10 2Calf 0.92 0.92 1.12 9 10 2Calf 0.93 0.91 1.15 9 10 2

Mean 0.965 0.970 1.138 12.670 10.830Std.

Deviation 0.098 0.096 0.093 4.761 1.329

Std. Error 0.040 0.039 0.38 1.944 0.543

Calf 0.73 0.9 0.97 12 10 1Calf 0.75 0.84 0.94 10 14 1Calf 0.85 0.85 1.2 9 12 1

Mean 0.78 0.86 1.04 10.33 12.00Std.

Deviation 0.06 0.03 0.14 1.53 2.00

Std. Error 0.04 0.02 0.08 0.88 1.16

Bull 1.08 1.13 1.3 17 10 3Bull 0.96 0.97 1.27 17 6 3

Mean 1.02 1.05 1.290.08 17.00 8.00Std.

Deviation 0.08 0.11 0.02 0.00 2.83

Std. Error 0.06 0.08 0.02 0.00 2.00

Summary of Population of Naattukuttai Cattle

Sl. No. Village Name No. of

Families No. of Cows No. of Bulls No. of Calves

1 Kandhadu 23 43 4 282 Pudupakkam 22 49 33 443 K.N.Palyam 5 9 1 104 Thirukkanur 4 4 6 2

Total 54 101 44 84


Achievement l Awareness has been created on the importants of Naattukuttai cattle in villages

viz., Nadukuppam, Vandiyur, K.N.Palayam, Thirukanoor through training workshops and animal health camps. Women group members, youth have actively participated.

Naattukuttai Cattle Breed


l Breed Saviour Award has been given to Mr. Manjini who is conserving Naattukuttai cattle and it was supported by National Biodiversity Authority. For details refer case study of Mr. Manjini in Annexure 2.

l Breed improvement is being discussed with Livestock Production and Management Department of Madras Veterinary College for future conservation.

Suggestions for Future Plan of Action l The cattle population become mixed type as pure males of breed is not available

(rare) or they are exposed to local bulls which are either cross bred or artificial insemination with exotic breeds. Breed improvement programme shall be initiated with selected farmers by providing pure bull after surveying the entire breeding tract. Locating a superior bull of local “Naattukuttai” and using them for breeding purpose will certainly improve the quality of animals.

l There is no dairy co-operative and they depend on local vendors for marketing purpose. Therefore dairy co-operatives are to be promoted for marketing the milk with better price.

l The grazing lands in Kaliveli (lake site adjoining the sea coast) is encroached by corporate sector involved in prawn farming, mining etc. Therefore this has to be retrieved for grazing purpose.

5Bargur Cattle & Bargur Buffalo Breeds

The Bargur breed of cattle is primarily a hill based draught breed of Tamil Nadu. Bargur cattle are medium sized animals. They are

red coloured with varying extent of white handle markings. They are semi-wild and hardy to handle. The Bargur buffaloes are short statured with compact body.

origin and history of Breed Bargur Lingayat an indigenous Kannada speaking community live in the midst of Bargur Forest zone situated in western ghats (1000 msl) in Erode District of Tamil Nadu, South India. There are about 30,000 families living in 36 hamlets situated in Bargur Panchayat. They lived in the region for more than 400 years rearing unique livestock and acting as custodians of the local forests. Their community deity is Matheswara Swami Temple in Kollegal Taluk of Chamrajanagar District, Karnataka. When they came to Bargur (Tamil Nadu) and settled in the forests, they came along with cattle and buffalo. Their animals are accustomed for

A breeder with Bargur Bull


climbing the hills for grazing and become compact in body with more stamina and strong legs. Such animals have been kept by them for ploughing operation. Buffaloes are maintained to meet the milk requirements for their own home consumption. The buffaloes of local type which yields 2 litres of milk and are good in climbing hills and suitable for grazing in hill terrain or in slopes. They are keeping animals as a gift of God and extend love and affinity with them.

Every month they offer grains of minor millet (Varagu in Tamil, Bargu in Kannada) to Matheswara Swami temple. As they are offering Bargu they have been called as Bargur community and cattle are also named as Bargur cattle. It is locally termed as Semmarai. The Buffalo species maintained by them are called as Malai Erumai or Bargur buffaloes. They developed indigenous knowledge in management of animal herds, selection of bulls, medicinal and grass species for animal nutrition and treatment, etc. These breeds are intrinsically migratory and cannot be stall fed. These animals do not survive or retain their vigour if they are forced to stall feeding and therefore adopted with forest ecosystem.

During 2007, a survey has been conducted by Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and a Total of 2529 animals only available in the breeding tract, out of this 1109 were breedable females (Ganapathy et al 2009). This population size falls under endangered category for the purpose of conservation as per prescribed standards. SEVA has surveyed the population of Bargur cattle in 7 hamlets and it is 251 and Bargur buffalo is 443 in 14 hamlets (Refer table in Annexure 1).

Bargur buffalo herd

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Grazing Issue The cattle from famers are pooled temporarily and herds are formed and grazed during Adi-Margali (July–January) when crop is sown all over the area after the harvest of crops i.e. during summer (Feb–June) the animals will be sent to respective farmers. Now the closure of forests also resulted in spreading the growth of poisonous weed plant locally called as Unnichedi (Lantana camara). This weed is also taking away grazing area of not only of cattle but also of the wild ruminants.

Over the last 20 years, almost all the forest area is covered with the Lantana bushes. The Forest Department has not initiated any step to eradicate the alien species and is not even ready to discuss with the Lingayat community on how to eradicate the species.

The local villagers have sound knowledge about the type of grass species and their importance to cattle as well as wild elephants. The important vegetation include Manjampul, Nanalpul, Udugapul, Paggamanjilpul, Kanangupul, Kurinjimaram, etc. Due to encroachment to Lantana the local species are almost suppressed or have vanished.

The simple concept of uprooting the Lantana bushes and planting bamboo/grass slips will not allow rejuvenation of Lantana bushes as suggested by local communities is a good idea to be tested. But the Forest Department is not open to such low cost innovation but allowing weed still to spread in an uncontrollable manner and they also believe that such poisonous weed growth will prevent the villagers from entering into the forest and help wildlife to multiple.

Nowadays the restriction of animal graziers into forests has considerably reduced the population of Bargur cattle. A recent survey conducted by a team of scientists from Tamil Nadu Veterinary Animal Science University reads “Distribution and Population Status of Bargur Cattle“ in 36 hamlets of Bargur panchayat shows that a Total of 2529 animals only are available. The population falls under endangered category. (Ganapathy et al 2009)

Training Workshop Two days Workshop on “Conservation of Bargur Cattle & Bargur Buffalo Breed” has been organized on 9 & 10 December 2011 at MYRADA Community Hall, Thamaraikarai village, Andhiyur Block, Erode district.

Bargur Cattle & Bargur Buffalo


The workshop has been inaugurated by Mr. Santhanam, AGM, NABARD. In his inaugural address, he highlighted the importance of local cattle breeds as they are known for disease resistance and utilized by farmers as draught animals. He told that giving herbal treatment for animals is a unique programme which is also low cost and based on traditional wisdom. Dr. S. Panneerselvam (Prof. & Head, Dept. of Animal Breeding & Genetics, Veterinary College, Namakkal) stressed the need for conservation of Bargur cattle breed. He told that in India there are 33 defined breeds of cattle and out of which 7 are in Tamil Nadu, Bargur is one among them.

There were more than 20,000 pure Bargur cattle about a decade ago but survey conducted during 2007 by TANUVAS showed that it is only 2500 maintained by about 212 families. In his speech, he told that in Tamil Nadu there are 74 lakhs cattle are cross bred and only 38 lakhs are local breed. He advised the farmers to form a Breeders’ Association and represent to District Collector for addressing their grazing issues related with conservation of breed.

The true to type of Bargur bulls are less than 20 and attained the status of endangered, he told. Mr. P. Vivekanandan has highlighted the grazing issue faced by local farmers with forest officials. Though grazing permission has been granted to the farmers, they are not allowed to camp or halt inside the forests during night time. For many generations penning has been practiced inside forests and all of a sudden without providing alternate strategy excluding their animals is violation of present Forest Rights Act 2006. Farmers usually practice penning in the following places (which are now prohibited) Bothamalai, Dona Maduva, Kopputhakombai, Pottatti, Seeynatti, Kalladdi, Kodakadi, Anuppadi, Kongadai Boli, Velibothai, Kopputhakombai, Kodasalai, Kombaipatti.

Now the traditional grazing system is threatened due to policy of Forest Department and therefore farmers are running to take shelter in nearby Karnataka forest jungles. Because of ill-treatment met by farmers, many have disposed their cattle and the situation is frustrating in the conservation of cattle breed. During the workshop, it has been decided to represent District Collector for implementing grazing rights to farmers as per Forest Rights Act 2006.

Administering Herbal Medicine for cattle Training Programme for herders

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In the afternoon session preparation of herbal dewormer (Dr. Alamelu, Veterinary Doctor, MYRADA-KVK), masala bolus (Mr. Alagumalai, Programme Officer - SEVA), prevention of infectious diseases including Foot & Mouth Disease (Mr. P. Vivekanandan - SEVA) has been demonstrated. Local farmers (Mr. Chinraj, Mr. Sivappa, Mr. Thamaraikarai) brought samples of medicinal plants and explained their medicinal value for animals.

On 10th December 2011 local farmers and trainers organized Animal Health Camp (8.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m) at Gergekandy and at Thamaraikarai (4.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m). More than 50 animals have been treated for demonstration purpose and herbal preparations were given to the individual livestock keepers for treatment by themselves. Totally 41 farmers attended the programme. All the logistics for 2 days programme has been organized by Mr. Sivappa and field Staff of MYRADA, KVK, Gobichettipalayam.

SEVA has organized two days follow up training workshop for “Conservation of Bargur Cattle and Bargur Buffaloe Breed” in Thamaraikarai village, Bhavani Taluk, Eode District on 17-18th, July 2012. The workshop has been organized at MYRADA-KVK Building at Thamaraikarai village. The pastoralists (Lingayat community families are engaged in full time cattle rearing and each family maintains 10-100 cows and 1-20 buffaloes) numbering 25 attended.

We discussed with herders on grazing issues, penning systems in Bargur hills area and herbal medicine for cattle and also buffaloes. The local farmers represented the need for training cum workshop once in a month in Thamaraikarai village regularly. We have given orientation for passing the resolution to claim grazing rights in forests through grama sabha meeting held on 15th August 2012 for Bargur Panchayat.

Phenotypic characters of Bargur Buffalo SEVA has been organized 3 days field work on measurement of Bargur buffaloes on 26-28th September 2012 at Bargur panchayat, Erode District. Mr. Alagumalai, SEVA and Mr. Velusamy, SRF, Namakkal Veterinary College, Namakkal District were participated.


Measurement of Buffalo and Buffalo Calf


Measurement of Bargur Buffalo

Sl. No.

Body length

(cm)

Ear length

(cm)

Neck length

(cm)

Chest girth (cm)

Body weight

(cm)

Tail length

(cm)

Udder size (cm)

Horn size (cm)

Avg. birth calve

weight (kg)

1. 103 24 83 174 124 74 4.2 35 102. 98 20 79 170 76 73 4 62 103. 102 21 80 173 94 52 3.8 69 104. 99 18 47 107 80 39 3.9 10 105. 111 26 85 180 117 45 5 66 106. 117 17.5 67 161 116 70 5.6 63 107. 81.5 16.5 41 91 78 39 4 9 108. 111 21 46 152 118 67 4.9 41 109. 99 20.5 81 170 73.2 53 4 68 10

10. 103 20.1 78 170.5 78 38 5.2 68 10Mean 102.50 20.46 68.70 154.90 95.42 55.00 4.46 49.10Std.

Deviation 9.67 2.88 17.31 30.63 20.91 14.79 0.065 23.94

Std. Error 3.06 0.91 5.48 9.69 6.61 4.68 0.21 7.57

Total Number of Bargur Cattle Population

Year No. of Herds Population of Bargur Cattle1991 120 1,00,0002006 102 25,0002012 87 10,560

Source : Lingayat Bio-Cultural Protocol

Population Survey of Bargur Buffalo 3 days Survey programme has been organized in Bargur area on the population of Bargur buffalo with the help of MYRADA workers co-ordinated by Mr. Alagumalai, Programme Officer, SEVA during 18-22nd July 2012 and also during 26-28th Sep. 2012.

Village-wise Population Survey of Bargur Buffalo

Sl. No. Name of the Village No. of Families No. of Buffaloes

1. Vellimalai 40 252. Elasipalayam 50 353. Kalvarai 50 404. Bejalatti 100 605. Eppathinpalayam 40 40

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6. Eratti Colony 30 457. Oosimalai 33 808. Dhattakarai 15 359. Thalakarai 19 57

10. Bejjilpalayam 29 7411. Thamaraikarai 25 5612. Devarmalai 19 3113. Eratti 10 2414. Onthanai 4 20

Total 464 622

Population of Bargur Cattle maintained in herds in Bargur Panchayat

S.No Village Name No. of Herds No. of Cattle1. Karkaekandi 1 502. Kallatti 2 1503. Veli bothai 6 7604. Orkae Kothai 1 1005. Oosimalai 6 8006. Bothamalai 6 9007. Thottumedapatti 10 12008. Aaraekadupatti 2 2509. Kohalapatti 6 900

10. Motta Kothai 10 150011. Kakkanayenoor 10 110012. Koyeloor 5 70013. Vempatti 5 85014. Thalakarai 10 160015. Marathupatti 5 60016. Moolampatti 10 80017. Orathikobai 2 30018. Komatahattai 4 32019. Murugapalaipatti 3 45020. Thammaratti 2 8021. Onoosapatti 5 300

22. Thottanai 4 40023. Keelmathur 5 40024. Kongarmaduvu 10 176025. Thokkarai 4 400

Total 134 10560



Achievementsl Animal health camps organized twice during December 2011 and July 2012.

l We have given orientation to selected pastoralists, MYRADA-NGO filed officials for claiming grazing rights and procedures involved in Forest Rights Act 2006. Accordingly they have passed resolution in the Grama Sabha on 15th August, 2012 and further taking up at District level Committee.

l Biocultural Protocols – Booklet on the community customary practices and their legal rights to live in forests along with traditional grazing system under national and international law were distributed for creating awareness.

l Breed Saviour Awards sponsored by National Biodiversity Authority have been presented to two farmers (best Bargur cattle keepers ) with Rs.10,000 + Certificate each. Two members of Bargur Breeders’ Association have been supported to attend COP 11 of CBD at Hyderabad during 6-13th October 2012.

l We have met Conservator of Forests and District Forest Officer twice and discussed about their local breed conservation, customary practices and explained about the issue of camping rights inside the forests and eradication of Lantana weed in forests.

l We have written a letter to The Commissioner of Animal Husbandry, Tamil Nadu Livestock Development Agency for stopping AI programme with Murrha semen to local buffaloes. Instead distribution of bulls of local buffaloes as insisted by local communities has been forwarded.

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Suggestions for Future Plan of Actionl There were more than 20,000 pure Bargur cattle about a decade ago but survey

conducted during 2007 by TANUVAS shows that it is only 2500 maintained by about 212 families. The true to type of Bargur bulls are less than 20 and attained the status of endangered. Though grazing permission has been granted to the farmers, who are not allowed to camp or halt inside the forests during night time. For many generations penning has been practiced inside forests and all in a sudden without providing alternate strategy excluding their animals is violation of present Forest Rights Act 2006. Farmers usually practice penning in the following places (which are now prohibited) Bothamalai, Dona Maduva, Kopputhakombai, Pottatti, Seeynatti, Kalladdi, Kodakadi, Anuppadi, Kongadai Boli, Velibothai, Kopputhakombai, Kodasalai, Kombaipatti.

l Now the traditional grazing system is threatened due to policy of Forest Department and therefore farmers are running to take shelter in nearby Karnataka forest jungles. Because of ill treatment met by farmers, many have disposed their cattle and the situation is frustrating as cattle breed population reduced drastically.

l Therefore it is high time that Department of Animal Husbandry shall take up the policy issue and also to represent District Collector for implementing grazing rights to farmers as per Forest Rights Act 2006.

l Commissioner of Animal Husbandry / Tamil Nadu Livestock Development Agency shall stop AI programme with Murrha semen to local buffaloes which was recently initiated at Bargur veterinary dispensary. Instead distribution of bulls of local buffaloes as insisted by local communities for the needy hamlets are to be undertaken by animal husbundry department.

Toda Buffalo is an unique buffalo breed noticed in Nilgiri hills (Western-Ghats of Tamil Nadu State) in about 51 tribal’s settlements locally

called as “Toda Mandu”. The present population is about 1500. Toda pastoralists are maintaining this breed for their livelihoods and also to perform day-to-day rituals in their religious life. This Toda buffalo breed is known for high fat content in its milk and withstand marshy land and temperate climate with temperature 0º C – 20º C with an altitude above 1500 metres MSL.

origin of Toda BuffaloesThe domestication of Asian buffalo or water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) occurred about 5000 years ago in Indus valley (FAO 2005). There are 11 recognised buffalo breeds in India and Toda is one among them. The story of domestication of buffaloes in Nilgiris is believed that when Toda tribes face food shortage of their staple food like wild root tubers and honey they turned to wild buffaloes and domesticated

6Toda Buffalo Breed

Toda pastoralist grazing his buffalo

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them for milk around 1600 AD (SEVA 2005). In this regard their ancient oral history tells as below: In Muthunad mund there is a pond called Neriikher. Once when Thekeers temple worship was taking place buffaloes started appearing one by one in the pond. The buffalo that appeared last was Kelkombu buffalo and by seeing that people laughed at it. Hence the appearance of buffaloes stopped and the last appeared one was domesticated for their milk consumption while the earlier ones for temple purpose i.e. milk and ghee offered for God only.

The existence of this buffalo could be traced back from the earliest reference of Finicio(1603) who wrote of the tribe : “They have no crops of any kind, no occupation but the breeding of buffaloes, on whose milk and butter they live“. The importance of buffalo in livelihood of Toda tribe had been portrayed as early as 17th century. The religion of Todas is a highly ritualized buffalo cult and the sacred dairies form the ideological pillar of their beliefs. The relationship of a Toda with his buffalo herd is very special as he considers it as a special gift from the God. Todas strongly believe in the mythical origin of their buffaloes. According to them, “Aeyun“ the divine father is goddess ‘Tekk-irs’ created buffaloes and named them as ‘thee-irs’. Todas classify their buffaloes

Toda Buffalo

Toda Cultural Event


into three types viz., ‘thee-irs’, ‘posth-ir’, ‘fith-ir’. Buffaloes which live inside the forests numbering approximately 500 are called as ‘thee-irs’. These ‘thee-ir’ buffalo are milked for ritual purpose by Toda priest who live a transient divine life inside forests. The buffaloes which are milked by designated temple priests inside the Toda hamlets are called as ‘posth-ir’. Milk of these buffaloes is strictly meant for ritual purposes. ‘Fith-ir’ buffaloes are the ones maintained for domestic consumption and can be milked by any herdsman. Todas consider the fresh whole milk of buffaloes are highly pure, while the purity gets diminished as it is subjected to processing. Milk when churned into butter and subsequently clarified into ghee becomes used for lamping in temples. (Kathiravan et al 2012)

Physical Characters The Toda buffaloes are medium sized animals. The head is large with horns set wide apart outward in a semi circle fashion. Body is fairly long with broad and deep chest. Legs are short, strong and sturdy and hooves are black in colour. Tail is fairly long extending up to the hack joint and the switch is black. Udder is not so prominent and is round in shape. Teats are cylindrical and round at the tip. They provide moderate milk yield of 2-5 litres per day.

Rituals and cultural practices associated with Toda buffaloClan Names and specific buffalo types : There are 15 clans among the Toda families and each clan is rearing buffalo specific to the clan. While praying they mention or recite names of their clan, buffaloes, buffalo shed, temple, water spring, hill, rock and name of trees.

The detailed names of clan – buffaloes are : Nol-Karosh Ir, Devagu-Kulirkorv, Morthkerdu – Kurdu Epi, Ohmkors – Nurspparsir, Melkars – Naars Ili, Thorodu – Kofikolir, Ker Er – Korthisk, Inkith – Olmethu, Kerordu – Keeskvet, Koordu – Keeskvet or Thoskun, merdu – Mothsothvan, Nirdi – Kettone, Kars – Innothvin, Kotrodupo – Kettone or Kyukeppir.

Naming buffaloes : Each and every buffalo cow is named individually soon after her first calf is born, which is followed as a routine ritual practice. Within hours after a buffalo has calved for the first time, the dairyman or owner pours a little water over the right flank of buffalo. He then mixes little ash and water in his hand and rubs it onto both the horns of buffalo and on each side of the birth canal while simultaneously announcing the name of buffalo. For a temple buffalo, this ritual is strictly performed by the ordained priest. No male buffaloes are named even if they are born to the most sacred female buffalo and they have little or no sanctity in the herd. The individual buffaloes usually respond to the calls by their names during milking.

First milking of a temple buffalo : For a temple buffalo, the first milking is a ritual event. The ceremony takes place about 15 days after the buffalo has calved. The ceremony is normally conducted by dairyman of the rank appropriate to the grade of buffalo that is to be milked.

39

Exchanging Buffaloes : The buffalo cow along with its calf is exchanged during the marriage ceremony as dowry.

Ceremonial slaughter : Buffalo cows are slaughtered for ceremonial purposes to propitiate the dead relatives of the clan. Previously more buffaloes were sacrificed during the second ceremony after the cremation of the dead which is now completely stopped. After the slaughter, the dead buffalo is sold to Kotas or other castes and utilized for meat.

Giving salt to Buffaloes : A ritual practice of giving common salt twice a year to all the buffalo cows is carried out with the hope that would yield more milk. The first occasion called ‘pony-uppu’ or first salt is in December or January. The coldest time of the year, the second called ‘ko-ruppu’ or new grass salt is in March or April when the pastures begin to turn green again after showers. The salt giving ritual is a festive occasion to which the hamlet members invite their relatives and friends from other Toda settlements. Toda priest will initiate this ceremony by placing a stick of particular tree in the pit meant for filling salt and water. Then women get blessings at the end of the occasion from the priest.

Migration : It was customary that some buffaloes would migrate from one place to another which was formerly an important event and still sacred for some ceremonial purpose. But now, the chief reason for migration is as ameliorative against drought i.e. in search of pasture during the dry season, which lasts from January to March as a result of grassland being burnt up by night frosts. (Kathiravan et al 2012).

Role of Buffaloes in the Toda Tribal culture* It’s ghee is used for lighting the lamp in Toda temple.* Maternal uncle has to donate buffalo if a baby is born to his sister.* Buffalo is also given as dowry when a girl gets married.* The place of buffalo grazing and temple are considered as sacred sites.* For pregnant women in order to perform rituals, buffalo is needed.* Before naming the children or in funeral, a ritual will be performed with these

buffaloes.

Training cum WorkshopSEVA has organized one day workshop on “Conservation of Toda Buffaloes” held at Sheep Breeding Research Station at Sandynallah, Ooty on 27th April, 2012. There were 42 participants including Toda tribal herders from different munds who have been keeping Toda buffalo, Officials from Dept. of Animal Husbandry, Ooty District Dairy Farmers’ Co-operative Federation and Scientists of TANUVAS. The

Toda Buffalo


forenoon session of the workshop was chaired by Mr. Inigi Arulselvam, Asst. General Manager, NABARD. The participants were divided themselves to form into 3 groups for discussing issues related to their loss of cultures, traditional lifestyle, marketing of buffalo milk and Toda buffalo breed conservation and conflicts with Forest Department on wild animal attack. Each group has presented the outcome of their discussion to the District Collector, Ms. Archana Patnaick who chaired the concluding session held in the afternoon. Removal of plastic heaps in Theettukkal, preventing pollution from PPI (Protein Products of India, manufacturer of chemical fertilizer) industry which affects the drinking water source of animals, construction of community calf shed, regular deworming, quick compensation of loss of buffaloes due to predation by the wild animal were highlighted, which needs intervention at policy level. Further, this training programme has created awareness among the Toda and other farmers who herd these buffaloes on the importance of these buffaloes which gives the livelihood for many people and the need for conservation of these buffaloes.

Buffalo Health CampOn 21st May 2012, Animal Health Camp had been organized and herbal deworming was attempted in the following munds.

Sl. No.

Name of the livestock keeper

Name of the village/munds

No. of buffaloes treated

1. Thebiken Karikadu Mund 602. Ranjith Boof Kuttan Kaddi Mund 283. Bothili Kuttan Harsh Mund 54. Anmudi Attukor Mund 205. Nakalmudi Malavithi mund 106. Thiyagaraj Anakkal Mund 507. Bilthesh Kuttan Neerkasi Mund 408. Theiva Lakshmi Thuvalkodu Mund 289. Sugumari Malaiveethi Mund 20

10. Pasaimili Kombuthooki Mund 15SEVA has organized a one-day follow-up training on “Conservation of Toda buffaloes” on 6th July, 2012 at Milk Society of Sandynallah, Ooty. Totally 13 livestock keepers

Group Discussion Buffalo and Mountain Eco System

41

attended. Discussion was held with herders on buffalo diseases, wild animals problem, drinking water problems for animals. Demonstration was carried out on preparation of herbal dewormer and the same was distributed for local livestock keepers.

Population Survey of Toda BuffaloesSEVA has organized a 4-day Field survey of Toda buffaloes population in different munds in the Nilgiris from 21-25th May 2012. The following datas were recorded:

Population of Toda Buffaloes in different munds (as on 20th November, 2012)

Sl. No.

Name of the livestock keeper / mund

Total Families

Buffalo keeping families

Total No. of

buffaloes

No. of male

buffaloes1. Padana Mund 12 1 40 ---2. Epkode Mund 10 1 11 ---3. Osa Mund 7 1 13 ---4. Minik Mund 14 2 10 ---5. Nirkasi Mund 16 3 43 26. Dhuvalkodu Mund 8 1 25 ---7. Nathanar Mund 7 3 40 ---8. Anakkal Mund 16 1 27 ---9. Tharnadu Mund 14 6 92 ---10 Pikkathi Mund 13 4 45 ---11. Boss Mund 18 1 10 ---12. Malavithi Mund 8 3 29 ---13. Aganadu Mund 14 1 25 ---14. Thavitkodu Mund 18 2 38 ---15. Kundakodu Mund 13 2 48 ---16. Atkor Mund 11 2 w13 ---17. Keradu Mund 9 1 16 ---18. Puthu Mund 4 4 38 ---19. Karimuli Mund 12 1 12 ---20. Kenkodu Mund 15 3 34 ---

Toda Buffalo

Distribution of Herbal Dewormer Giving herbal dewormer


21 Kombuthooki Mund 14 2 15 ---22. Peratuthol Mund 9 2 25 ---23. Ankud Mund 13 1 2 ---24. Pagalkodu Mund 12 2 25 ---25. Malkodu Mund 6 1 35 ---26. Karikadu Mund 17 4 90 ---27. Pet Mund 19 5 46 ---28. Pan Mund 16 2 14 ---29 Kodanadu Mund 15 2 20 ---30. Arthanar Mund 4 4 51 ---31. Kalapather Mund 7 3 25 ---32. Kakodi Mund 11 2 8 ---33. Karsh Mund 17 2 7 ---34. Thutkor Mund 8 1 23 ---35. Nedikobu Mund 5 2 29 ---36. Muthnadu Mund 17 7 65 ---37. Koil Mund 17 2 67 ---38. Avlangi Mund 8 2 14 ---39. Anguthakuli Mund 13 1 7 ---40. Arthal Mund 5 4 51 ---41. Thalappatheri Mund 7 3 25 ---42. Bikkar Mund 3 3 7 243. Badhankodu Mund 2 2 2 244. Ingiti Mund 2 2 20 ---45. Mulli Mund 7 7 12 ---46. Neethi Mund 2 2 3 ---47. Pilli Mund 2 2 20 ---48. Pettakadi Mund 7 7 20 ---49. Pedukal Mund 3 3 10 ---50. Marli Mund 10 10 - 351. Nirdi Mund 10 - - 2

Total 537 133 1,347 11

Total number of buffaloes = 1,347Number of bulls = 11Cumulative Total = 1,358

Achievements

l Mundwise buffalo population survey has been completed.

l District administration has come forward to understand the issues faced by Toda pastoralists in buffalo keeping or conservation of breed. They are willing to support any training programme to enhance the capacity of Toda buffalo keepers in providing primary animal health.

43

l “Breed Saviour Award” 2011 has been given to two Toda buffalo keeping pastoralists, viz. Themorsh Kuttan and Ranjith in collaboration with National Biodiversity Authority.

Suggestions for Future Plan of Action l Toda buffalo can only be conserved in the eco system where forest grazing is

essential. However traditional pasture land has been planted with Eucalyptus and Pinus, Wattle trees in more than 30,000 hectares by forest deperment. These trees prevented growth of grass and therefore access to grazing lands is limited. Recently Forest Department is also promoting a fencing plant locally called as “Nanju mul” (Thornyweed species) which is quickly spreading and affecting original grass land. Govt. order for uprooting the exotic species is essential for regeneration of original savanna grass land and enhance livestock based settled pastoralism.

l Wild animals prey upon buffaloes and heavy mortality has been recorded now-a days due to conservation project for wild animals in Nilgiris (Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Mukurthi National Park). Every year there is a mortality of about 200 buffaloes by wild animals. The wildlife officials shall initiate participatory conservation of all components biodiversity including Toda buffaloes.

l The mortality of young calves and availability of breeding bulls are difficulties faced by Todas in few munds. Regular deworming after giving training to Toda youth and distribution of male bulls are to be undertaken with the help of Department of Animal Husbandry.

l Dumping of plastics and garbage wastes in Theettukkal mund has to be stopped or regulated by District Authority. It is posing health problems for people and animals.

l The effluent water released from PPI (manufacturing company of chemical fertilizer) is mixing with Bhavani river and affecting the quality of drinking water leading to disease for buffaloes and people. Therefore district authorities shall initiate appropriate action for ensuring safe water for all.

l Buffalo calf shed with a moderate size of 16’x16’, if constructed, it will give protection from the attack of wild animals.

l Toda buffalo has to be declared as a species for conservation and all necessary steps have to be taken by the Government similar to the importance being given to wild animals.

l Road facilities from munds to milk collection centres are not good and therefore, transport of milk becomes very difficult and affect the daily income from these animals.

l At present, Sheep Breeding Research Station at Sandynallah is strengthening the buffalo conservation programme with financial support through Animal Disease Surveillance Programme by providing deworming and balanced ration for buffalo calves. SEVA will also participate in this programme for the conservation and betterment of this native germplasm.

Toda Buffalo

Sheep has been domesticated during 8500 years B.C. in the mountains of Iran, and later it spread to many continents. As per FAO document

on Sheep and Goat breeds of India, there are many wild varieties of sheep (Ovis orientalis vignei) in the mountains from Afghanistan to Armenia, and they are probably the ancestors of the domesticated sheep of India. The inhabitants of Mohanjo-daro and Harappa already possessed domesticated sheep. They provided milk, meat and clothing for the inhabitants of the cold north (Randhawa, 1980).

Tamil Nadu is home of many sheep breeds viz., Keelakarsal, Ramanadu White, Chevvadu, Kachaikatti Black, Kurumbai, Nilagiri, Meicheri, Trichi Black, Madras Red and Vembur. The home tract of Vembur sheep breed spreads over 40 km distance around Vembur village, Pudur block, Ettayapuram Taluk, Thoothukudi district. Few villages situated in the border of Virudhunagar District also fall in the breeding tract of Vembur sheep. About a decade ago, Vembur sheep population was estimated 30,000 (Chandran 1998) and our recent survey during 2008 shows as 8310 (Refer table for village wise data in Annexure-1).

7Vembur Sheep Breed

Vembur Sheep Ram

45

This area has typical block cotton soil and the rainfall is less than 600 mm. Farmers in the area raise rain fed crops such as cotton, sorghum, pearl millet and pulses.

Agricultural labourers belonging to communities such as pallar, thevar, nayakkar, konar, chakkiliyar are traditional breeders of Vembur sheep for many generations. These landless families are depend upon sheep rearing as their sole livelihood. Therefore these communities/families by their stewardship and survival mechanism selected the drought tolerant, disease resistant and fast growing sheep and they adopted selection criteria for choosing the best males for breeding purpose. Most of the families are maintaining flocks of 50-200 sheep depending upon their capacity. These families are taking the animals upto 15 km. distance and usually they take the animals for drinking water purpose to Vembur village where many ponds (among 7 ponds 3 prominent ones viz. Gounder Oorni, Chakliyachi Oorni, Kudumbar Oorni) are situated. Therefore the breed has become synonymous with the village pond. There will be rainfall only for 2 months in a year and it is almost dry in the remaining 10 months. Under this situation the Vembur sheep are able to cope with this condition and its body growth (body weight) is significant compared with other breeds.

The sheep is identifiable by black or brick red patches on its coat. Ears are medium sized and drooping with short and thin tail; males having prominent twisted horn and females are polled; short hairs all over the body. As the breed is native to a dry zone, fleece (wool) is almost non–existent. Adult males weigh upto 50 kgs. and adult females upto 45 kgs. They survive even on dried grasses, shrubs found on the ridges and wastelands during the dry months. In general the breed is hardy. The body weight gain is upto 4 kg in first 30 days of lambing 2.7 kg in 90 days; 10-12 kgs in 10 months. The breeding season is June–July and giving birth to young ones during Jan–Feb. It has 3 calving in 2 years. They reach to a height of 3.5 feet; and length 4 feet. The horns are curled. We have identified 22 villages around Vembur where this breed is found; the sheep population is 2000. While during the dry months there is acute water scarcity, rainy season though short, brings torrential rains that makes the herders vulnerable to diseases such as foot and mouth disease and render pest. Hence the mortality rate raises upto 12%. Dry shelter is required particularly during the nights in the wet months.

Vembur Sheep Breed

Display of Herbal plants for animal disease Discussions with Sheep herders in Vembur village


Training cum Workshop at Vembur village, Thoothukudi DistrictTwo days training cum workshop has been organized on “Conservation of Vembur Sheep Breed“ in Vembur village on 21-22 January, 2012. On 21st morning session on brief history of different animal/sheep breeds in Tamil Nadu. After that discussion on status of Vembur sheep breed and its population, strengthening of Vembur Sheep Herders’ Association, recovery of micro credit extended to members were discussed. In the afternoon session, herbal preparation on masala bolus, herbal dewormer, control of blue tongue diseases, Enterotoxemia has been demonstrated by Mr. C. Thirumalai Murugan, SEVA and local herbal healers participated.

Preparation of herbal dewormerOn 22nd January 2012, animal health camp had been organized in Vembur village. In Vembur village, more than 160 animals were treated by using herbal preparation. In addition, different medicinal plants were displayed by Mr. Shanmugaiah and SEVA staff and their uses in treating animal diseases.

SEVA organized one day follow-up training on 31st May, 2012 at Vembur village. Totally 18 livestock keepers attended the meeting. We discussed with herders on grazing

issues, drinking water problems for animals and distributed herbal preparations for sheep herders.

Mr. M. Jayapandi and Mr. V. Alagumalai, SEVA, attended the programme and they distributed herbal dewormer to herders

Population of Vembur Sheep BreedThe Vembur sheep population was 31,000 during 2004 based on survey conducted in and around Vembur village in the blocks viz., Pudur, Ettaiyapuram, Kovilpatti, Ottapidaram, Sattur (SEVA 2004). The population during

Injecting herbal dewormer orally Distribution of Herbal dewormer

47

this year, shows more or less the same numbers but dilution of breed characters because of decrease in the number of pure rams.

The population surveyed in selected villages is shown here :

Population of Vembur Sheep Breed in Pudur & Sathur Blocks

Sl. No Name of the Village No. of

HerdersNo. of

EvesNo. of Rams

No. of Lambs

1. Vembur 16 707 33 1612. Mettillpatti 7 810 24 1203. Kodangipatti 4 220 8 294. Mavilipatti 8 259 11 705. Melakaranthai 11 682 33 1386. Ramasamypuram 3 210 4 177. Alagapuri 2 500 25 81

Total 51 3388 138 616

Cumulative Total of Vembur Sheep breed = 4142

Vembur Sheep Breeders’ AssociationSEVA has promoted Vembur Sheep Breeders’ Association on 20.09.2008. There were 19 members from Vembur, Mettilpatti, Pattithevanpatti, Melakaranthai, Mavilipatti and Karisalkulam. In Vembur village 9

Vembur Sheep Breed


members. They have their savings of about Rs.50,000/- which is being revolved among members for activities related to sheep husbandry, agricultural purposes. During the period of NABARD project implementation, we organized 4 meetings and recovery of loans had been attempted with good progress. The members were utilizing the hand pump bore wells installed in five places for providing drinking water purpose for animals. They wrote a letter to District Collector for installation of additional hand pump at Solaoorni site in Vembur village.

Achievementsl Regular health camp has been organized in Vembur village for deworming and

for providing immunity against infectious disease by administering herbal masala bolus to sheep.

l Regular meetings were conducted for Vembur sheep breeders association.

l Population survey conducted in selected villages in Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar districts.

Suggestions for Future Plan of Action l Initially breed improvement programme initiated in 10 selected villages in Pudur,

Ettayapuram and Sattur blocks by promoting nucleus breeding units at farmers level (each unit size : 6 male kids of 3 months old). Elite male rams are reared till 7-8 months and distributed to selected herds and exchange of rams after one year to avoid inbreeding.

l Common grazing lands in the breeding tract are to be surveyed along with herders and any type of encroachments are to be evacuated with the help of Revenue and Animal Husbandry Department officials. Regeneration of grazing lands, fodder trees are to be allowed to take place. Agro-forestry model with fodder grasses legumes, trees in hedges are to be encouraged.

l Conservation of important herbs useful for animal disease viz. Aloe vera, Thaluthalai (Clerodendron phlomoides) are to be undertaken in kitchen garden, etc. Administration of Aloe vera once in a month will keep the animals healthy.

l Regular health camps are to be organized for goats to avoid mortality due to enterotoxaemia and other diseases.

l Weekly Sandhais (markets) are to be organized locally instead of taking to far away places for selling the goats/carcasses.

l Sources of drinking water for animals are to be surveyed in the migratory route/grazing sites and planning for renovation of ponds or installation of hand pumps in the locations where this need is crucial are to be mapped out with participation of local herders and taken up with district level authorities for implementation.

Kachaikatti black sheep are maintained in small herds. The animals are moderate in size, compact body and colour of hairs is complete black.

The breed is identified with different types viz. Mooli Adu, Sonaiyadu, Ilaikathu Adu, Kenambadu based on size of ear and horn in ewes. The animals are well known for ram fighting during village festivals or sports. The breed is amenable for penning in farmers fields and it contributes manure in enriching soil fertility and growth of crops viz., sorghum, groundnut, bajra, maize, sugarcane, paddy and vegetables. Local herders who depend upon sheep keeping for their livelihoods are taking them to open grazing including Vaguthumalai forests of Sirumalai hills. The breed is susceptible to foot and mouth disease if animals are not taken to forests grazing during rainy season. The population of the sheep is around 2000 at present. This sheep breed is noticed in Kachaikatti, Bodinaickenpatti, Kulasekarankottai, Viralipatti, Vadipatti in Madurai District. There are 31 herds maintained by herders.

8Kachaikatti Black Sheep Breed

Ram of Katchaikatti


Story behind Kachaikatti Black SheepFew centuries back there were shepherds maintaining red colour sheep in this village.They have been grazing the sheep in Vaguthumalai forests. During that time Kelaiaadu, a wild variety of sheep which crossed the local sheep resulting in the kids which are known for tolerant to extreme weather viz., heat, cold and rain. The colour of the animal became black. They are known for good body vigour. There was also extensive growth of medicinal plants called sirukurinjan (Gymnema sylvestre) and by feeding this plant the sheep acquired black colour as claimed by few elders. The village name also prefixed in naming the breed.

Historically sheep has been domesticated during 8500 years B.C. in the mountains of Iran, and later it spread to many continents. As per FAO document on ‘Sheep and Goat breeds of India’, there are many wild varieties of sheep (Ovis orientalis vignei) in the mountains from Afghanistan to Armenia, and they are probably the ancestors of the domesticated sheep of India. The inhabitants of Mohanjo-daro and Harappa already possessed domesticated sheep. They provided milk, meat and clothing for the inhabitants of the cold north (Randhawa, 1980).

Income through sheep rearingSmall and margin farmers and agriculture labourers belonging to Yadavar, Pallar, Mooppar and Parayar are involved in rearing of sheep. The average size of the herd is 45. In each herd they keep one or two rams. The lambing interval is during November- January. They dispose male lambs to traders in turn send them for making a fighting ram. They also earn income through sale of manure. The animals are taken for penning during night time in the agricultural field and gets income of Rs.100-120 for a herd of 100 animals.

Sheep herd in Kachaikatti village

51

For instance Mr. Velusamy in Kachaikatti village who has been maintaining 110 sheep has told that he will dispose about 60 lambs and earn income of Rs.1,20,000 per year. In addition, they will get a manure value of Rs.10,000. The manure is being collected through bags of 50 kg size and traders from Kerala procures it by paying Rs.30 per bag for using them as fertilizer for plantation crops.

Penning is usually performed during February-July for a period of six months and they collect Rs.100/- per day during that time. The flock is looked after by 2 of the family members. Few farmers handover the sheep herd to a tenant who in turn maintain animals and the income through sale of lambs is shared on 50 : 50 basis. This is locally called as “Varathukku viduthal”.

Training cum WorkshopTwo days training cum workshop has been organized on “Conservation of Kachaikatti black sheep breed” in Kachaikatti village on 7-8th February 2012. The workshop has been organized at Community Hall at Katchaikatti village. There were 35 members participated in the programme. On 7th February, morning session have been covered in medicinal plants identification, preparation of herbal medicine for different diseases. In the afternoon session, Group Discussion on salient features of “The Scheduled Tribes

and other Forest Dwellers (recognition of Forest Rights Act 2006)“ which ensures grazing rights of traditional pastoral communities. After the group discussion herbal preparations viz. masala bolus, herbal dewormer have been demonstrated by resource persons Mr. Arumugam (Herbal healer from Virudhunagar District), M. Chellammal (SEVA) and V. Alagumalai (SEVA).In the first day programme Dr. M. Muruganandam, Veterinary University Training and Research

Kachaikatti Black Sheep

Sheep herder Display of Medicinal Plants during training


Centre (VUTRC), Madurai, Dr. Noor Muhammed, Veterinary Doctor, Vadipatty, Dr. Nagarajakumar, Veterinary Doctor from Kanyakumari, Dr. A. Kavitha, Veterinary Doctor of Katchaikatti village shared their management practices in sheep farming. On 8th February, 2012 morning animal health camp has been organized in Katchaikatti village and distributed herbal dewormer prepared on 7th February. More than 220 animals were treated by using herbal preparation. In

addition, different medicinal plants had been displayed by Mr. Arumugam (herbal expert) and SEVA staff members and their uses in treating of animal diseases. Mr. R. Shankaranarayan, AGM, NABARD, Madurai, Dr. Kavitha Veterinary Assistant Surgeon of Kachaikatti village have participated in the morning programme.SEVA organized one day follow-up training on 14th July, 2012 at Katchaikatti village. Totally 12 live stock keepers attended. We discussed with herders on grazing issues and status of micro-credit extended to herders in Katchaikatti village. In the afternoon herbal dewormer solution was distributed to the local farmers. The group has extended loan for construction of sheep shed to Mr. Raju during May 2012.

Summary of Population of Kachaikatti Black Sheep in Madurai District

Sl. No Village Name No. of

Herders No. of Ram No. of Eve

1. Kachaikatti 9 21 4652. Kulasegarankottai 13 16 5443. Bodinaickanpatti 9 19 5484. Viralipatti 5 13 4375. Kudladampatti 1 2 66

ToTAL 37 71 2060

Grand Total of Kachaikatti Black Sheep = 2,131

Population trend of Sheep

Year Population of Sheep

Source of Information

1990 3000 SEVA2006 1638 SEVA2012 2131 SEVA

53

Achievementsl Periodical deworming both by SEVA and local veterinarians through Dept. of

Animal Husbandry has been performed with no or less mortality in the animal population.

l Revived the Sheep Breeders’ Association (Neelamega Perumal Karuppu Adugal Valarppor Sangam) which become now functional and members agreed to attend meeting regularly and pay the earlier dues repayable to the Association. The association has supported one member for construction of sheep shed through their own funds. The association has been started during 2001 with 15 members and it has so far revolved Rs.25,000/- to their members towards construction or renovation of sheep shed. For few years, the association was not regular in their monthly meetings and now it is activated. ‘Breed Saviour Award 2010’ has been given to the Association.

l SEVA has applied for registration of sheep breed and the application has been forwarded to National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal. They asked further clarifications especially any distinct phenotypic features of Kachaikatti sheep and how it is different from Trichi Black sheep. ( NBAGR letter dated 24.7.2012 attached in Annexure - 3). We replied this letter and explained the differences. A team of scientists from Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute are expected to visit confirming the authenticity.

l The association has been pursuing the grazing issue in forests with Revenue Divisional Officer, Usilampatti and a meeting is officially called for with forest officials along with pastoralists by the end of December 2012. It is expected that positive outcome will be good news to more than decade long issue and settled amicably with them in a participatory manner.

l The population level is threatened i.e. around 2000 in the breeding tract but with SEVA efforts (after knowing our work) one farmer from Pollachi came forward and procured 70 sheep of this breed to get it reared in his place. TANUVAS also procured a unit for their University Farm at Chennai from our members.

Suggestions for Future Action Plan l The future action plan conserving them in-situ include providing grazing rights in

Vaguthumalai forests as per Forest Rights Act 2006 and for this set of procedure by passing resolution in Grama sabha and forwarding to District Collector is to be initiated.

l Regular deworming for animals and other preventive treatments will avoid mortality and give moral support for the sheep herders.

l Animal drinking water sources are to be surveyed in the migratory route/grazing sites and planning for renovation of ponds or installation of hand pumps in the locations where this need is crucial are to be mapped out with participation of local herders and taken up with district level authorities for implementation.

Kachaikatti Black Sheep

Kanniyadu goats are black coloured tall animals with white coloured strips on both the sides of head and on ears. Strips are distinct

from the base of the horn to the end of muzzle, lower abdomen and above the foot of legs. Instead of white lines on both sides of head broad white coloured stripes are seen in goats and they are regarded as best kanni type goats.

In few goats instead of white colour red colour is seen then it is called as Senkanni type and for white coloured goats are known as Palkanni. These goats give birth upto 4 young ones in a lactation. Calving cycle once in 6 months. They are found in black cotton soil region of Sattur, Sivakasi (Virudhunagar District), Kovilpatti (Thoothukudi District), Kalingapatti (Tirunelveli District).

Feeding System Agricultural labourers and marginal farmers are engaged in goat rearing. Average herd size is 12-20 goats and in a few villages it is upto 100

9Kanniyadu Goat Breed

Kanniyadu Buck

55

goats. Majority of the livestock keepers are taking the animals for open grazing. During rainy season the goats are fed with kokkaravalli thalai, minnikolai, elikkathu kolai, pods of Prosopis juliflora. Some labourers take lease of Agathi (Sesbania grandiflora) trees from farmers for feeding the goats. They take 100 trees for feeding 10 goats. They feed the goats with husk of cluster bean in addition to handful of bran of rice, wheat, maize, cotton seed mixed with drinking water.

Common lands and extensive grazingIn Kalingapatti and in surrounding villages, farmers spray all rounder weedicide (2-4D) to remove weeds like Arugu (Cynodon dactylon). This practice not only destroys Arugu but also weeds, grasses, medicinal plants useful for animal rearing. The herders wanted to conserve puramboke lands and any drift from weedicide may affect their grazing land they expressed.

Trianing cum Workshop Two days training cum workshop has been organized for conservation of Kanniyadu Goat breed in Kalingapatti village, Sankarankoil Taluk, Tirunelveli District on 12-13th November 2011. The workshop has been organized at Panchayat community building at Kalingapatti village. The pastoralists belonging to Yadava community numbering

Kanniyadu Goat Breed

A herd in Karisalkulam village


50 families are engaged in full time goat rearing and each maintains 40-80 goats/sheep. The goats are of Kanniyadu breed.

In the morning of 12th November before they take their animals for grazing we briefed about our training strategy and asked the pastoralists to bring selected herbal plants (Aloe vera, Veeli, Avaram, Thaluthalai, Nuna, Mudakkathan, Usil); we documented practices of local herbal healers. In the afternoon a brief history of origin of different breeds and herbal treatment for Blue Tongue disease, internal parasites, digestive problems, Foot and Mouth Disease, Enterotoxaemia have been explained.

Later herbal preparation of masala bolus, herbal dewormer, blue tongue disease has been demonstrated. Resource persons include Mr. Rajamanickam, Saptur, Peraiyur taluk, Madurai Dist, Mr. V. Alagumalai & Mr. C. Thirumalaimurugan (SEVA), Mr. Mohanakrishnan, herbal plants expert from Perambalur district, Dr. Rehmadhullah, veterinary surgeon of Thiruvenkatam village has attened the programme.

Health Camp On 13th November, we organized animal health camp in Kalingapatti and Veeranapuram village and we administered herbal dewormer cum tonic preparation for Kanniyadu goats. We treated 325 goats owned by 20 families; few pastoralists have been supplied with herbal preparations for administration by themselves. After lunch we displayed important medicinal plants and explained their uses for treatment of animals. The local village panchayat president felicitated all resource persons with shawl. SEVA has organized one day follow up training on 25th April, 2012 at Veeranapuram and Kalingapatti village, Sankarankoil block, Tirunelveli district. Totally 41 live stock keepers attended. We discussed with herders on grazing issues, drinking water problems for animals and distributed herbal preparations to the livestock keepers and 55 goats were treated. Promoting of separate association under NABARD - Farmers Club was discussed. There is a problem for pastoralists to attend regular meetings as they are unable to find time or labour to look after herds during times of meeting. Therefore it is open for discussion to promote any other effort of collective action for conservation of goat breed.

Survey of Kanniyadu by SEVA staff Herbal treatment for goat

57

PopulationThe Total population of Kanniyadu goat is estimated around 98,000 based on survey conducted during 2002 (A.K. Tiruvenkatan 2011). We have studied the population of Kanniyadu goats in selected villages in Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi Districts.

Population of Kanniyadu goat in selected villages in the breeding tract (Vembakottai, Sattur, Sankarankoil Blocks).

Sl. No. Name of the village Number of

Goat keepersNo.of Bucks

No.of Does

No. of kids

1. Kalingapatti 21 67 863 2932. Madevanpatti 5 26 385 2043. Veeranapuram 27 27 183 814. Sevalpatti 6 9 54 475. Maiparai 6 21 87 516. Sippiparai 31 49 85 567. Sellapatti 7 7 89 468. Mukkuttumalai 3 6 62 139. Reddiyapatti 3 4 39 22

10. Kudaiparai 6 13 52 3411. Naduvapatti 4 5 39 1512. Valsapuram 4 12 61 3013. Keelathiruvenkadam 3 4 29 1714. Nenmeni 7 7 86 3115. Mettupatti 12 16 188 4716. Muthusamiyapuram 7 10 100 7317. Ayankarisalkulam 13 16 230 6718. Sirukulam 6 6 125 1419. Sevalpatti 4 11 59 620. Nathathupatti 9 16 145 5021. Mamsapuram 5 8 90 1922. Sirukulam 11 17 206 56

ToTAL 200 357 3257 1272


Achievements l One goat breeder Mrs. Subbuthai in Duraisamypuram village, Sivakasi taluk has been

awarded with Breed Saviour Award 2011 during January 2012 at Chennai with help of National Biodiversity Authority. She has revived the breed in this village where many traditional communities gave up the activity due to heavy mortality of goats few years back. Regular herbal treatments were attempted for her herd as preventive treatment against mortality of goats due to various diseases. Refer also case study of Kanniyadu (Annexure-2).

Kanniyadu Goat Breed


l Awareness created in Kalingapatti, Veeranapuram villages in Sankarankoil block on conservation of Kanniyadu goat through regular meetings with participation of local veterinary dispensary staff.

Suggestions for Future Plan of Action l Initially breed improvement programme initiated in 10 selected villages in Sivakasi,

Sattur, Vembakottai, Sankarankoil blocks by promoting nucleus breeding units at farmers level (each unit size - 6 male kids of 3 months old). Elite male bucks are reared till 7-8 months and distributed to selected herds and exchange of bucks after one year to avoid inbreeding.

l Common grazing lands in the breeding tract are to be surveyed along with herders and any type of encroachments are to be evacuated with help of Revenue and Animal Husbandry Department officials. Regeneration of grazing lands, fodder trees are to be allowed to take place. Agroforestry model with fodder grasses legumes, trees in hedges are to be encouraged.

l Chemical weedicide spraying has to be banned as it is harmful to soil and environment and biodiversity. Conservation of important herbs useful for animal disease viz. Aloe vera, Thaluthalai (Clerodendron phlomoides) are to be undertaken in kitchen garden, etc.

l Regular health camps are to be organized for goats to avoid mortality due to enterotoxaemia and other diseases.

l Weekly Sandhais (market) are to be organized locally instead of taking to far away places for selling the goats /carcasses.

l Animal drinking water sources are to be surveyed in the migratory route /grazing sites and planning for renovation of ponds or installation of hand pumps in the locations where this need is crucial are to be mapped out with participation of local herders and taken up with district level authorities for implementation.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Native breeds of Tamil Nadu which have been maintained in herds in turn depend on extensive grazing system. The livestock is a

component of farming system. The animals will be stocked in distant forests or stall fed during cropping season when all the cultivable lands is sown with crops. When the crop harvesting is over i.e during January, February, March onwards animals are taken as herds for grazing over the stubbles or grasses in the agricultural fields. In turn penning will be practiced in the night in the agricultural fields to add manure to improve soil fertility. Breeds like Pulikulam cattle, Malaimadu cattle, Bargur cattle, Umbalachery cattle are taken for grazing in agricultural fields after harvest of crops is completed. In Pulikulam cattle, Malaimadu cattle where herding is permanent even though cattle belongs to many owners. In the case of Umbalachery cattle and Bargur cattle herding is temporary herding practiced during rainy or cropping season in Bargur cattle opposite to Umbalachery cattle where herding allowed during off season after the crop is harvested. In sheep or goat rearing herding is permanent and it mostly belongs to individual owners.

The traditional production system in which livestock, crops and forests, common lands are components and pastoralists able to manage them so that it was benefitting mutually. Supply of draught animals, manure through penning contributes growth of agriculture while they continue providing milk, milk products, meat which provides food security to the communities.

When new policies are made without involving the communities the traditional system collapse and it is dangerous to livestock keeping. Therefore policies such as closing of forests in the name of protected area, Joint forest management, national parks affects the equilibrium and therefore it should be reviewed critically and provide traditional grazing rights as per Forests Rights Act 2006. This will help pastoralists keeping Malaimadu cattle, Pulikulam cattle, Bargur cattle, Bargur Buffalo and Kachaikatti black sheep. In addition the livestock are allowed to stay in the forests during night time as it was done earlier. Removal of exotic plantations such as eucalyptm, pinus, wattle trees in Nilgiris


will help regeneration of original pasture land ecosystem existing over many centuries. This will continuously provide grazing area for Toda buffalo pastoralists. Similarly Lantana weed has encroached the forest land and suppressed native grass species. This in turn affected the grassing area of domestic and wild animals. Lantana can be eradicated for regeneration of native vegetation. The attack of livestock and human by wild animals are increasing and the conflicts are to be resolved through participatory process where community conservation of biodiversity shall play a role rather than top down approach as practiced now.

Supply of pure breeding males for herders is important and it can be attempted by supplying them from Government breeding farms viz. Vembur sheep at Sattur and Umbalachery cattle farm at Korkai. In addition semen of Umbalachery cattle shall he made available in the breeding tract in Nagapattinam district. Introducing Murrah semen in Bargur buffalo tract in Bargur panchayat, Erode shall be stopped and instead supply of breeding bulls of buffalo are to be arranged to buffalo herders in the hill terrain region.

Animal drinking water sources such as ponds, tanks are to be surveyed in the breeding tract of local breeds and renovated and also installation of hand pumps as well augument the drinking water source during the periods of drought or in summer. Promoting nucleus breeding units at farmers level with elite males and females after a selection process will lead to breed improvement. In the case of Pulikulam, Malaimadu, Umbalachery, Bargur cattle high milk yield cows are to be identified. Similarly in Vembur sheep, Kachaikatty black sheep, Kanniyadu goat young kids with faster growth rate and other selection criteria followed by pastoralists are recognized and encouraged.

Regular deworming for calves of Toda buffalo, sheep, goats will prevent any casualties and ensure better growth rate of animals. Preparations of herbal recipes including herbal dewormer for treating animals created much enthusiasm among herders and this process encouraged through training. This will also conserved locally available medicinal plants.

Nowadays youth are not showing much interest in traditional livestock keeping and selected youth trained in livestock based organic farming and made it profitable through value addition and direct marketing

Finally awareness is generated among livestock keepers end to generate new ideas or innovations so that they develop and conserve the animal genetic resources and ultimately improve their livelihoods. In the NABARD supported project SEVA has attempted village level workshops with livestock keepers, animal health camps using herbal preparations, breed saviour awards for them with the help of other contributing partners such as National Biodiversity Authority.If such extension activities continue the trend of decline in breed population can be stopped significantly.

61

1.1 U. Vadipatti

Sl. No.

Name of the Livestock keeper

No. of Cattle

1. R. Kannaiah 202. C. Chinnamuthu 3003. M. Muthu 1004. M. Vanaraja 505. M. Murugan 1006. V. Logamani 1007. V. Rajendran 2008. N. Kannan 1009. M. Palpandi 20

10. K. Ayyavu 7011. V. Subramani 7012. R. Ammavasi 3013. P. Muthiah 10014. M. Kadambavanam 10015. M. Pitchai 5016. M. Alagar 20017. R. Gopal 10018. V. Sennayan 5019. V. Udappakonar 30020. V. Pitchai 5021. M. Chellapandi 7022. A. Panchan 100

23. A. Rasu 5024. M. Arasappan 7025. R. Bose 7026. T. Velmani 7027. P. Sugamani 7028. Poongavanam 7029. Kanchivanam 5030. P. Pitchai 5031. P. Chinnabalu 15032. V. Chinnamuthu 10033. V. Krishnan 30034. V. Sethan 7035. A. Chinnapandi 1036. P. Kayambu 30037. Karuppa Konar 7038. Ayyakonar 7039. Nagar 5040. Velmurugan 30041. M. Alagar 25042. C. Ponniah 3043. Athikari 10044. Vendi 10045. Perumal 10046. P. Pitchai 50

Total 4,890

Total No. of Pulikulam cattle in U.Vadipatti village = 4,890

Annexure-1

Details of Population of Livetsock breeds surveyed in Selected villages in Tamil Nadu1. Population of Pulikulam Cattle

1.2 T.Vadipatti

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Bulls No. of Cows1. N. Sankar S/o. Nantheeswaran 5 3002. Ramu S/o. Kutha Konar 4 2503. Karuppu 2 1004. Karuppu S/o. Thangamani 2 1005. Arumugam S/o. Kutha Konar 3 1006. Sunthu S/o. Ramu Konar 3 150

Total 19 1,000

Total No. of Pulikulam cattle in T. Vadipatti village = 1,019

Annexure-1


1.3 Thenpalanji

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Bulls No. of Cows1. S. Saminathan S/o. Subramani 4 1502. Mahalingam 2 1003. Rasu S/o. Gurusamy 2 604. Gopal S/o. Ramakoil 4 1505. Govinda samy S/o. Raju 3 100

Total 15 560

Total No. of Pulikulam cattle in Thenpalanji village = 575

1.4 Manapatti

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Bulls No. of Cows1. T. Muthupandi, S/o.Thangaraj 6 1502. Chinnaasamy S/o. Ayyavu Konar 12 6003. Krishnan, S/o. Periyasamy 4 2004. Sonai S/o. Ayavu Konar 5 3005. Raja S/o. Muthupandi 3 1506. Periyasamy 4 2007. Raja S/o. Chinnapandi 4 2008. Kannan 3 1509. Vellaiyan S/o. Periyapandi 6 250

10. Kannan S/o. Ayyavu 3 15011. Senthil S/o. Raju 4 20012. Malairaj S/o. Chinnakalai 6 40013. Krishnan 4 20014. Suresh S/o. Sonai 5 30015. P.Kandhan S/o. Periyakaruppan 6 30016. Chinnasamy 4 25017. C.Subbu S/o. Chinnakalai 3 200

Total 83 4,250

Total No. of Pulikulam cattle in Manapatti village = 4,333

1.5 Chettikulam

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Bulls No. of Cows1. Gopal S/o. Malairaj 4 2002. Perumal S/o. Malairaj 2 1503. Laxmanan 5 3504. Chindram 6 4005. Perumal S/o. Chindram 3 2006. Malai 4 200

Total 24 1500

Total No. of Pulikulam cattle in Chettikulam village = 1,524

63

1.6 Vellaparapatti

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Bulls No. of Cows1. Raman S/o. Mokkai 6 3002. Laxmanan S/o. Mokkai 4 2503. Irulandi S/o. Mokkai 3 1504. Murugan S/o. Mokkai 2 100

Total 15 800

Total No. of Pulikulam cattle in Vellaparapatti Village = 815

1.7 Melakkal

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Bulls No. of Cows1. Suresh S/o. Nantheeswaran 3 1502. Koolu Konar 5 400

Total 8 550

Total No. of Pulikulam cattle in Melakkal village = 558

1.8 Vallarenthal

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Bulls No. of Cows1. Kannan S/o. Shanmuga Konar 2 1502. Pasukaran S/o. Muthiah 1 1003. Arumugam 2 1604. Malaisamy S/o. Shanmuga Konar 2 100

Total 7 510

Total No. of Pulikulam cattle in Vallarenthal village = 517

1.9 Perumalpatti

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Bulls No. of Cows1. Velu 3 2002. Thirupathi 2 2003. Jayaraj S/o. Nagaraj 2 1504. Malaisamy 2 1005. Perumal 4 2506. Mokkaraj 2 1507. Velu 2 100

Total 17 1,150

Total No. of Pulikulam cattle in Perumalpatti village = 1,167

1.10 Idayapatti

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Bulls No. of Cows1. Rajendran S/o. Periyasamy 3 1002. Pandi S/o. Periyasamy 3 100

Annexure-1


3. Periyasamy S/o. Suppa Konar 1 504. Velu Naicker 2 1005. Kannamani S/o. Laxmana Konar 1 506. Malaisamy 3 1507. Alagar 2 808. Jayapal 3 1009. Selva Konar 1 25

Total 19 755

Total No. of Pulikulam cattle in Idayapatti village = 774

1.11 Chettiyapatti

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Bulls No. of Cows1. Perumal Naicker S/o. Perumal 2 1502. Ganesan 2 1003. Palanisamy S/o. Suppa Konar 6 300

Total 10 550

Total No. of Pulikulam cattle in Chettiyapatti village = 560

1.12 Kuranthaikulam

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Bulls No. of Cows1. Kannan 4 3002. Katturajan 3 2503. Murugesan 5 350

Total 12 900

Total No. of Pulikulam cattle in Kuranthaikulam village = 912

1.13 Kilathiri

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Bulls No. of Cows1. Ayyanan S/o. Nallakannu 3 1502. Arumuganan S/o. Periyanna Konar 7 3003. Marnadu 5 2504. Periyakaruppan 2 705. Muthanan 3 1006. Muthanan S/o. Keethari 2 707. Athiyan S/o.Markuli 2 1008. Poonkodi 2 1009. Keemuli 3 150

10. Palpandi S/o. Sonai 4 200 Total 33 1500

Total No. of Pulikulam cattle in Kilathiri village = 1,533

65

Villagewise Cattle Population in Madurai and Sivagangai Districts

Sl. No. Name of Village District No. of

HerdersCattle

Population1. U. Vadipatti Madurai 46 48902. T. Vadipatty Madurai 19 10003. Thenpalanji Madurai 15 5604. Manapatti Madurai 17 42505. Chettikulam Madurai 6 15006. Vellaparapatti Madurai 4 8007. Melakkal Madurai 2 5508. Perumalpatti Madurai 7 11509. Idayapatti Madurai 9 755

10. Chettiyapatti Madurai 3 55011. Kuranthaikulam Sivagangai 3 90012. Kilathiri Sivagangai 10 150013. Manangkathan Sivagangai 19 139014. Meenatchipuram Virudhunagar 11 92015. Vallarenthal Sivagangai 4 510

Total 175 21,225

2. Malaimadu Cattle PopulationVillagewise cattle Population of Malaimadu in Koomapatti village, Srivilliputhur Taluk Viruthunagar District on 17-18th November 2011.

2.1 Koomapatti

S.No. Name of Livestock keeper No. of Cows1. Govindan 3002. G. Katturaja 1503. S. Balu 2004. P.S. Karuppiah 45. R. Rasu 406. C. Rasu Konar 2007. Kilava Konar 1008. N. Gopalakrishnan 69. C. Muthiah Keethari 100

10. S. Karuppan 5011. A. Syed Abudhahir 2012. S.P. Ramakrishnan, Manankathan 30013. S. Asan 3014. Ilankumaran 2515. Aliyar 20016. S. Muthiah -17. P. Amarajothi Balakumar 2518. M. Kodeeswaran 30

Annexure-1


19. K. Vellaisamy 5020. M.G. Ramasamy 2521. V. Ramesh -22. R. Pandi 15023. P. Natarajan 10024. K. Palraj 5025. B. Karthikeyan 326. K. Neelakandan 1027. R. Sankar 5028. Panchavarnam 3529. Krishnammal 1730. K. Saravanakumar 5031. Kulli 2032. Avudaiappan 333. Palani 2034. Manikandan -35. M.Musthafa 7036. R. Rasu 3037. Oorkavalan 1538. Ramar 339. M. Ramanathan 10

Total 2,171

Total No. of Malaimadu cattle in Koomapatti village = 2,171

2.2 Sivagiri, Devipattinam, Vasudevanallur and Arulatchi villages

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Cows

No. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. Senthil, Sivagiri 50 3 192. Ellukonar, Sivagiri 100 1 103. Kanthan, Devipattinam 100 2 24. Muniyandi, Devipattinam 200 4 155. Kaliappan, Devipattinam 60 1 16. Murugiah 250 3 187. Marichamy 250 3 208. Mariappan 300 2 269. Chellappan 250 2 27

10. Murugan 40 1 1 Total 1600 22 140

Total No. of Malaimadu cattle breed in Sivagiri, Devipattinam, Vasudevanallur, Arulatchi villages.

Total No. of Cows - 1600 Bulls - 22 Calves - 140 Total - 1762

67

Population survey of Malaimadu cattle breed in Theni District (as on 5-6th November, 2012).2.3 Rayappanpatti

S.No. Name of Livestock keeper No. of Cows1. N.A. Jetthaus 602. M.S. Arockiaraj 503. M. Sahayamathan 204. N.R.S. Chelladurai 605. N.R.P. Xavier 306. C. Kennedy 2007. S. Arockiyam 408. N.R.P. John 60

Total 520

Total No. of Malaimadu cattle in Rayappanpatti village = 520

2.4 Kamayagowndanpatti

S.No. Name of Livestock keeper No. of Cows1. A. Sangili 602. I. Muthiah 403. I. Perumal 404. S. Anbarasan 405. P. Ponniah 806. Mahendran 707. I. Ramasamy 708. P. Raju @ Meenakshisundaram 809. P. Murugan 30

10. Nallusamy 4011. Oomai 30

Total 580

Total No. of Malaimadu cattle in Kamayagowndanpatti village = 580

2.5 Surulipatti

S.No. Name of Livestock keeper No. of Cows1. Suruliappan 152. Abdul Raheem 1203. Dhiwan 504. S. Thangaraj 30

Total 205

Total No. of Malaimadu cattle in Surulipatti village = 205

Annexure-1


2.6 Koodalur

S.No. Name of Livestock keeper No. of Cows1. K. Raja 502. S. Ganesan 703. N.S.K.P.K. Babu 1504. N.S.K. Ravichandaran 305. Krishnamoorthy 706. P. Ramar 757. P. Venkatesan 608. S. Anbalagan 509. S. Krishnamoorthy 70

10. T.S. Gunasekaran 4011. R. Kumaran 304012. C. Ramasamy 6013. P. Pommaya Naicker 6014. R. Parthasarathy 4015. N.S.K.P. Senthil 4016. K. Venkatesan 6017. T. Mayakannan 6018. M. Murugan 7019. Sivamoorthy 6020. Bose Naicker 7021. V. Rajan 50

Total 1175

Total No. of Malaimadu cattle in Koodalur village = 11752.7 Cumbum

S.No. Name of Livestock keeper No. of Cows1. N. Ramakrishnanan M.L.A. 602. O.R. Ramachandran Ex. M.L.A 603. Nandagopalan 250

Total 370

Total No. of Malaimadu cattle in Cumbum village = 3702.8 K. Pudupatti

S.No. Name of Livestock keeper No. of Cows1. K.S.R. Jayakumar 502. K.S.N. Janarthanan 703. T.V. Sivaji 1504. K.L.S.S. Natarajan 305. P. Karthik 706. M.P.P. Rajamurugan 757. Veerusikkammal Koil 60

Total 505

Total No. of Malaimadu cattle in K. Pudupatti village = 505

69

2.9 Chinnaovalapuram

S.No. Name of Livestock keeper No. of Cows1. R. Rengasamy 102. P. Manikandan 603. S. Mani 404. G. Kasi 605. A. Karthikeyan 756. S.S. Rajendran 307. T. Baranitharan 358. R. Manikandan 409. P. Pommaiyan 40

10. P. Kumaresan 3011. R. Annadurai 40

Total 460

Total No. of Malaimadu cattle in Chinnaovalapuram village = 460

2.10 Erasakkanaickanur

S.No Name of Livestock keeper No. of Cows1. S.S. Thangamariappan 402. T. Kaliappan 503. S. Murugesan 204. P. Muthu 455. R. Pavun 406. L. Mahendran 607. S. Chinnadurai 408. N. Selvappan 309. V. Ponnusamy 50

10. P. Jayaraman 4011. S. Mariappan 5012. K. Soundrapandian 6013. M. Bagavathi 50

Total 575

Total No. of Malaimadu cattle in Erasakkanaickanur village = 575

2.11 Puddampatti

S.No. Name of Livestock keeper No. of Cows1. P. Pethanan 202. P. Palanisamy 303. M. Raju 304. M. Gemini 705. L. Ramar 706. K. Perumal 507. T. Perumal 40

Annexure-1


8. Chinnasamy 259. T. Pandi 30

10. Selvam 1011. Ravichandran 3012. S. Nagaraj 3013. K. Thirupathi 4014. K. Sakkaravarthy 3015. K. Surulimuthu 5016. Vijayaraman 20

Total 555

Total No. of Malaimadu cattle in Puddampatti village = 555

2.12 odaipatti

S.No. Name of Livestock keeper No. of Cows1. A. Natarajan 502. S. Udaiyali 203. K. Chinram 504. S. Krishnamoorthy 1105. V. Muhtumani 706. K. Rajan 607. S. Surulimuthu 808. S. Pommu 1009. P. Periyasamy 70

10. P. Ilangovan 8011. M. Chinnathambi 3012. P. Kallu 4013. P. Tamilselvan 5014. P. Ayyanar 5015. P. Ravichandran 50

Total 610

Total No. of Malaimadu cattle in Odaipatti village = 610

2.13 Village wise population of Malaimadu cattle in Srivilliputhur Taluk, Viruthunagar District.

S.No. Name of the village No. of Cows1. Seithur 4502. Sundaranachiyarpuram 3503. Ammayapuram 2004. Dhevathanam 1005. Thalavaipuram 1006. Mugavur 150

Total 1,350

71

Summary of the Malaimadu Cattle Population in different Districts

Sl. No. Name of the village District No. of

Herders

Total Malaimadu cattle

population 1. Koomapatti Virudhunagar 39 2,3562. Sethunarayanapuram Virudhunagar 4 2803. Kansapuram Virudhunagar 15 1,5004. Seithur Virudhunagar 4 4505. Sundaranachiyarpuram Virudhunagar 2 3506. Ammayapuram Virudhunagar 1 2007. Devathanam Virudhunagar 1 1008. Thalavaipuram Virudhunagar 1 1009. Mugavur Virudhunagar 1 150

10. Nedunkulam Virudhunagar 3 10011. Sivagiri Tirunelveli 3 18312. Devipattinam Tirunelveli 3 38513. Arulatchi Tirunelveli 1 4314. Vasudevanallur Tirunelveli 4 1,15015. Rayappanpatti Theni 8 52016. Kamayagowndanpatti Theni 11 58017. Surulipatti Theni 4 20518. Koodalur Theni 21 1,17519. Cumbum Theni 3 37020. K. Pudupatti Theni 7 50521. Chinnaovalapuram Theni 11 46022. Erasakknaickanur Theni 13 57523. Puddampatti Theni 16 55524. Odaipatti Theni 15 61025. Veppampatti Theni 1 3026. Uthamapalayam Theni 1 6027. Kogilapuram Theni 1 5028. Kadamalaikundu Theni 6 31529. Kumanantholu Theni 4 21030. Velayuthapuram Theni 8 39531. Manjanaickanpatti Theni 10 42032. Rayavelur Theni 2 5033. Theppampatti Theni 1 1534. Chitharpatti Theni 8 31035. Mallaiyapuram Theni 4 9036. Timmarasanaickanur Theni 5 300

Cumulative Total 242 15,147

Annexure-1


3. Population of Umbalachery Cattle in Nagapattinam & Thiruvarur Districts3.1 Umbalachery village

Sl. No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of

CowsNo. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. Gnanaprakasam 1 2 12. S. Selvaraj 3 2 -3. V.R. Kumar 4 - 14. K.S. Pakkirisamy 4 - 45. Rengasamy 2 2 -6. R. Selvaraj 2 2 -7. K. Siraimeettan 1 - 18. V. Panneer 2 - 29. Devarathinam 2 - 2

10. V. Muthulakshmi 2 - -11. M. Muthulakshmi 2 - 212. T. Kannammal 10 2 313. A. Amirthavalli 4 - -14. Manimegalai 1 - -15. N. Shanmugavel 2 - 116. J. Ramakrishnan 5 - 117. U. Ramalingam 3 - 318. Kunjithapatham 5 - 219. R. Ramesh 4 1 220. R. Muruganandam 6 4 221. S. Mariappan 1 1 122. Kathirkaman 1 2 -23. S. Rajarathinam 5 6 324. M.S Krishnan 12 1 325. J. Selvaraj 40 2 4

Total 121 27 38

Total No. of Umbalachery cattle in Umbalachery village = 186

3.2 Vattakudi


CowsNo. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. Raman 3 2 12. Gnanasekaran 3 2 -3. R. Balasubramaniam 2 - -4. T. Kanagasundaram 1 - -

73

5. R. Santhi 5 - -6. J. Tamilarasi 2 2 -7. V. Rajammal 1 - 18. Amutha 2 - 2

Total 19 6 4

Total No. of Umbalachery cattle in Vattakudi village = 29

3.3 Vadugur

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Cows

No. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. Nagammal 3 - -2. Pappathi 2 - -3. R. Dhanabackiyam 2 - -4. Kamatchi 1 - -5. Selvarani 1 - 16. D. Muthulakshmi 1 - -7. V. Chithra 1 - 18. A. Indira 1 - 19. A. Rani 2 - 1

10. Jeyanthi 1 - 211. S. Revathi 1 - 112. K. Chellammal 1 - 113. S. Prema 1 - 1

Total 18 - 9

Total No. of Umbalachery cattle in Vadugur village = 27

3.4 Thalaignayiru


CowsNo. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. S. Prasanna 2 - -2. S. Arumugam 2 - -3. R. Palanisamy 5 1 -4. M. Vairamuthu 3 - -5. R. Mathialagan 20 3 56. J. Ambikavathy 2 - -7. S.M. Ilango 1 - 1

Total 35 4 6

Total No. of Umbalachery cattle in Thalaignayiru village = 45

Annexure-1


3.5 Aymur


CowsNo. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. P. Murugan 2 - -2. Govindaraj 2 - 13. Shanmugavel 3 1 -4. Dhaksinamoorthy 3 1 3

Total 10 2 4

Total No. of Umbalachery cattle in Aimur village = 16

3.6 Korukkai


CowsNo. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. D. Latha 2 - 12. M. Ambujam 1 2 23. P. Sarangapani 3 1 -4. G. Vadivel 400 1 155. I. Balasubramanian 5 1 16. D. Veeramani 10 2 37. K. Shanmugam 2 - 28. B. Selvaganapathy 3 3 -9. M. Ganesamoorthy 9 1 1

10. Singaravadivelu 3 - 5 Total 438 11 30

Total No. of Umbalachery cattle in Korukkai village = 479

Summary of Umbalachery Cattle Population

Sl. No. Name of the Village No. of

HerdersNo. of Cows

No. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. Umbalachery 25 121 27 382. Vattakudi 8 19 6 43. Vadugur 13 18 - 94. Thalaignayiru 7 35 4 65. Aymur 4 10 2 46. Korukkai 10 438 11 30

Total 67 641 50 91

Cumulative Total No. of Umbalachery cattle = 849

75

4. Population of Naattukuttai cattle in Marakkanam Block, Villupuram Dist. (as on 5th oct., 2012)4.1 Kandhadu

Sl. No. Name of Livestock keeper No. of

CowsNo. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. Govindammal, w/o. Kuthan 4 - 4 2. Kaliammal 3 - 4

3. Pitchaiammal, w/o. Kannappan 2 - - 4. Meenakshi, w/o. Arumugam 5 - - 5. Vathsala, w/o. Srinivasan 1 -

6. Kusphu, w/o. Annamalai 1 - 1 7. Govindammal, w/o. Ponnusamy 2 - 2 8. Kasthuri, w/o. Arumugam 2 - 2 9. Vasanthi - - 1

10. Chinnapullai 1 - -11. Lakshmi 1 - 112. Sathiya 7 - 2 13. Geetha 3 - -14. Veerappan 3 - 3 15. Lalitha 1 - 1 16. Selvi - 2 -17. Muthu - 2 -18. Ilavarasi - - 1 19. Ponnammal 2 - 2 20. Govindasamy 2 - 221. Ramachandran 2 - 1 22. Rajakumari - - 1 23. Chinnathambi 1 - -

Total 43 4 28

Total No. of Naattukuttai cattle in Kandhadu village = 75

4.2 Pudupakkam


CowsNo. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. Manivannam 3 2 -2. Arumugam 4 2 1

3. Kumar 3 1 1 4. Chinnappan 1 1 1

5. Ayyapan 2 - 2 6. Pachaiappan - 2 2 7. Chinnaiahan 1 1 1 8. Senthil 1 - 1 9. Rajagopal 2 3 9 10. Krishnan 4 2 3 11. Raman 2 3 2

Annexure-1


12. Kumar 1 - 1 13. Selvam 2 1 2 14. Kaliappan 5 3 2 15. Karur Selvam 6 6 4 16. Dhuraikannu 3 - 2

17. Dhuraikannu 3 - 2 18. Jayapal - 1 -

19. Veerasamy 2 3 3 20. Venugopal 1 2 2 21. Gunasekaran 1 - -

22. Ezhumalai 2 - 3 Total 49 33 44

Total No. of Naattukuttai cattle in Pudupakkam village = 126

4.3 K.N. PalayamSl.

No. Name of Livestock keeper No. of Cows

No. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. Rani 1 1 -2. Thesuran 2 - 2 3. Srinivasan 2 - 2 4. Sekar 2 - 35. Arumugam 2 - 3

Total 9 1 10

Total No. of Naattukuttai cattle in K.N. Palayam village = 20

4.4 Thirukkanur

S.No. Name of Livestock keeper No. of Cows

No. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. Raman 2 3 2 2. Jayapal - 1 -3. Ganeshakumar 1 - -4. Palani 1 2 -

Total 4 6 2

Total No. of Naattukuttai cattle in Thirukkanur village = 12

Summary of Population of Naattukuttai cattle


FamiliesNo. of Cows

No. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. Kandhadu 23 43 4 282. Pudupakkam 22 49 33 443. K.N. Palayam 5 9 1 104. Thirukkanur 4 4 6 2

Total 54 101 44 84


77

5. Population of Bargur Cattle (as on 17th November 2012)

5.1 Thamaraikarai


Cattle1. Sinraj Thambudi 102. Butuma Thambudi 153. Udaiyar 74. Sinrasu 75. Ruthiran 26. Murugesan 47. Ganesan 68. Sivamoorthy 29. Sithaiyan 6

10. Uchaya Thambudi 411. Thirukayagowdar 312. Pommaya Thambudi 213. Thirumoorthy Thambudi 714. Thundaya Thambudi 715. Siva 716. Erana Thambudi 517. Kalyan Thambudi 418. Muruga Thamudi 2

Total 100

5.2 Dholli

S.No. Name of Livestock keeper No. of Cattle1. Dhimma Thambudi 62. Savaraiyar 53. Kenja Thambudi 54. Bomman 55. Kenjan 46. Madevan 37. Erana Thambudi 2

Total 30

5.3 oosimalai

S.No. Name of Livestock keeper No. of Cattle1. Madevan 82. Thirukkaya gowdar 33. Kenjan 104. Perisi Thambudi 445. Sivan 2

Total 67

Annexure-1


5.4 Bargur, Eratti, Sundapur, Thalakarai

S.No. Name of Livetock keeper No. of Cattle1. Alagu Thambudi 102. Chinnasami 33. Eswaran 24. Ganesan 65. Ukesh 56. Madevan 27. Kenjan 58. Madava Thambudi 49. Bolmadan 5

10. Siva 711. Madevan 5

Total 54

Summary of Bargur Cattle Population in selected villages

S.No. Name of the Village No. of Herders No. of Cattle1. Thamaraikarai 18 1002. Dholli 7 303. Usimalai 5 674. Bargur, Eratti, Sundapur, Thalakarai 11 54

Total 41 251


Population of Bargur Cattle maintained in Herds in Anthiyur Block, Erode District.

S.No. Name of the Village No. of Herds No. of Cattles1 Karkaekandi 1 502 Kallatti 2 1503 Veli bothai 6 7604 Orkae Kothai 1 1005 Oosimalai 6 8006 Bothamalai 6 9007 Thottumedapatti 10 12008 Aaraekadupatti 2 2509 Kohalapatti 6 900

10 Motta Kothai 10 150011 Kakkanayenoor 10 110012 Koyeloor 5 70013 Vempatti 5 85014 Thalakarai 10 160015 Marathupatti 5 60016. Moolampatti 10 80017. Orathikobai 2 300

79

18. Komatahattai 4 32019. Murugapalaipatti 3 45020. Thammaratti 2 8021. Onoosapatti 5 30022. Thottanai 4 40023. Keelmathur 5 40024. Kongarmaduvu 10 176025. Thokkarai 4 400

Total 134 10560

5.5 Thamaraikarai Village

S. No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of

Buffaloes1. Thirumoorthy Thambudi 32. Sinraj Thambudi 43. Muruga Thambudi 24. Veerapathira Thambudi 25. Kannilada 16. Udaiyar Thambudi 27. Sitha 28. Buttan 39. Thilpathy 4

10. Thondaya Thambudi 311. Sivamurthy 112. Eranna 213. Sithayan 214. Puttuma Thambudi 215. Sooranaickar 216. Sinraj Thambudi 217. Erana Thambudi 318. Sundaram 519. Madevan 220. Sithilangan 221. Joga 222. Jambu 223. Alagesan 224. Murugan 125. Sivan 1

Total No. of Buffaloes in Thamaraikarai village = 57

5.6 Population Survey of Bagur Buffaloes in Eratti Village

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Buffaloes1. Buttanaickar 62. Bommanaickar 2

Annexure-1


3. Kannapanaickar 34. Rayar 35. Eraj 16. Eranna 47. Thottaiah 28. Kenjipantha 29. Alagan 2

Total 25

Total No. of Buffaloes in Eratti village = 25

5.7 Kadai Eratti village

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Buffaloes1. Kenja Thambudi 22. Venkatachala 63. Mani 24. Mathaian 25. Perumal 26. Alagesh 27. Chikkaiah 28. Thottapa 29. Thottapaiah 2

10. Mothan 2Total 24

Total No. of Buffaloes in Kadai Eratti village = 24

5.8 Thalakarai

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Buffaloes

No. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. Kembegowder S/o. Mathayan 3 - -2. Alagesan S/o. Gulabomman 2 - -3. Esa S/o. Gulabomman 2 - 14. Mathayan S/o. Bomman 2 - -5. Jaideva S/o. Buttumadevan 3 - 26. Buttapa S/o. Bomman 2 - -7. Sithan S/o. Muthumari 2 - -8. Thabla sithan 3 - -9. Kembi S/o. Eranna 8 - 2

10. Veerapathiran S/o.Sivanayah 2 - -11. Sivanna S/o. Kemban 4 - -12. Javarayah S/o. Chikkanna 2 - -13. Buttan S/o. Sikkana 2 - -

81

14. Kamban S/o. Sithan 2 - -15. Ikkubomman 3 - -16. Rajammal W/o. Sikkan 2 - -17. Buttan S/o. Eranna 2 - -18. Kemban S/o. Mathaiyan 1 - -19. Dhotta bomman 3 - -

Total 52 0 5

Total No. of Bargur buffalo breed in Thlakarai village = 57

5.9 Devarmalai village

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Buffaloes1. Pasu Thambudi 12. Sikkana 13. Sikkaraya 14. Sikkana 25. San Thambudi 16. Sikkaya Thambudi 57. Veerapathiran 18. Sooran 19. Thavasi Thambudi 1

10. Murugan 111. Giriyappan 112. Sanna 213. Subbaya Thambudi 214. Sinraj 115. Sannaya Thambudi 316. Pommaya 217. Pasu Thambudi 218. Sanniyappan 219. Panthaiyan 2

Total 32

Total No. of Buffaloes in Devarmalai village = 32

5.10 onthanai village

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Buffaloes1. Mathaiya thambadi 102. Buttan 33. Boruda 24. Bathra 5

Total 20

Total No. of Buffaloes in Onthanai village = 20

Annexure-1


5.11 Mattam village

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Buffaloes1. Subramania Rajendra Swamigal 62. Ashoka Rajendra Swamigal 20

Total No. of Buffaloes in Mattam village = 26

5.12 oosimalai


BuffaloesNo. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. Devan S/o. Chinnapi 2 - -2. Chinnapi S/o. Sivanaya 2 - 13. Devaraj 2 - -4. Mathaiyan 2 - -5. Chikku mathavan 2 - 16. Veerapathiran 2 - -7. Mathaiyan 2 - -8. Sanmuga 2 - 39. Sivanna 2 - -

10. Giriyan 2 - -11. Chithanna 2 - 112. Giriyan 2 - -13. Sithumari 2 - -14. Dhottasithan 3 - 115. Sithambi 3 - 216. Kenjan 3 - -17. Nelluran 1 - -18. Sathsivan 2 - -19. Pasuvan 1 - -20. Alagar 2 - -21. Santhi 3 - 122. Banthaiyan 3 - -23. Girithanbadi 2 - -24. Chinnaraja 3 1 125. Bomman 2 - -26. Mathaiyan 2 - -27. Buttan 2 - -28. Jawarayan 2 - -29. Sithumari 2 - -30. Ponnan 1 - -

83

31. Sokkayathambudi 2 - -32. Veerapathiran 2 - -33. Thirukkan 2 - -

Total 68 1 11

Total No. of Bargur buffalo breed in Oosimalai village = 80

5.13 Dhattakarai

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Buffaloes

No. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. Balasubramaniam S/o. Sokkesan 4 - 12. Jayammal W/o. Nagan 2 - -3. Murugesan S/o. Buttan 2 - -4. Mathevan S/o. Mathan 1 - -5. Sithalingan 2 - -6. Kanaiyah S/o. Sithevan 2 - -7. Buttan 1 - 38. Sokkaiyah 4 - -9. Ganesan S/o. Chithaya thambudi 1 - -

10. Kelrayan S/o. Semmegowda 1 - -11. Sokkayan S/o. Sithayan 1 - -12. T.S. Moorthy S/o. Sithe gowda 2 - -13. Sithalingan S/o. Cinna 2 - -14. Sivanayah S/o. Alagesan 1 - -15. Sithalingan S/o. Buttan 2 - 3

Total 28 0 7

Total No. of Bargur buffalo breed in Dhattakarai Village = 35

5.14 Bejjilpalayam


BuffaloesNo. of Bulls

No. of Calves

1. Mathan S/o. Sikkan 3 - -2. Sikkaran S/o Bomma 2 - -3. Bomman S/o. Buttan 2 - -4. Javarayya S/o. Dhottamathan 3 - 25. Thirukana S/o. Buttan 1 - -6. Sithayah S/o Kunna 2 - -7. Mathan S/o Kannaiyah 2 - -8. Mathan S/o. Buttan 2 - -9. Sivaraj S/o. Chinna 2 - -

10 Sivappa S/o. Sithumari 2 - -11. Dhottan S/o. Sithumari 3 - 2

Annexure-1


12. Revana Sidda S/o. Sithumari 2 - -13. Kemp Siddan S/o. Kumarasiddan 1 - -14. Siddalingan S/o. Mousiddan 1 - -15. Mathappan S/o. Dhottabomman 2 - 316. Erannan S/o. Kuluthupomman 2 - --17. Buttapa S/o. Dhottabomman 2 - 218. Mathaiyah S/o. Bomman 1 - -19. Mathaiyan S/o. Thoddabi 3 - 220. Murugan S/o. Jogaiyan 1 - 121. Madevan S/o. Erannathambudi 2 - 222. Siva S/o. Eranan 1 - -23. Murugan S/o. Mathaiyan 1 - 324. Kembi S/o. Bomman 1 - 225. Mathaiyan S/o. Sivanegan 2 - -26. Sinnapi S/o. Erayan 2 - 327. Mathevan S/o. Sinnamathan 1 - -28. Kalsiddan S/o. Siddan 1 - -29. Kenjumari S/o. Sinnapi 2 - -

Total 52 0 22Total No. of Bargur buffalo breed in Bejjilpalayam village = 74

5.15 Villagewise Population Survey of Bargur buffaloes

S.No. Name of the Village No. of Families No. of Buffaloes1. Vellimalai 40 252. Elasipalayam 50 353. Kalvarai 50 404. Pejalatti 100 605. Eppathinpalayam 40 406. Eratti Colony 30 457. Oosimalai 33 808. Dhattakarai 15 359. Thalakarai 19 57

10. Bejjilpalayam 29 7411. Thamaraikarai 25 5612. Devarmalai 19 31

13. Eratt 10 2414. Onthanai 4 20

Total 464 622

85

6. Population of Toda Buffaloes

Sl. No.

Name of the Livestock keeper/Mund

No. of Families

Buffaloes Keeping Families

Total Buffaloes

No.of Male

Buffaloes1. Padana Mund 12 1 40 ---2. Epkode Mund 10 1 11 ---3. Osa Mund 7 1 13 ---4. Minik Mund 14 2 10 ---5. Nirkasi Mund 16 3 43 26. Dhuvalkodu Mund 8 1 25 ---7. Nathanar Mund 7 3 40 ---8. Anakkal Mund 16 1 27 ---9. Tharnadu Mund 14 6 92 ---

10 Pikkathi Mund 13 4 45 ---11. Boss Mund 18 1 10 ---12. Malavithi Mund 8 3 29 ---13. Aganadu Mund 14 1 25 ---14. Thavitkodu Mund 18 2 38 ---15. Kundakodu Mund 13 2 48 ---16. Atkor Mund 11 2 13 ---17. Keradu Mund 9 1 16 ---18. Puthu Mund 4 4 38 ---19. Karimuli Mund 12 1 12 ---20. Kenkodu Mund 15 3 34 ---21 Kombuthooki Mund 14 2 15 ---22. Peratuthol Mund 9 2 25 ---23. Ankud Mund 13 1 2 ---24. Pagalkodu Mund 12 2 25 ---25. Malkodu Mund 6 1 35 ---26. Karikadu Mund 17 4 90 ---27. Pet Mund 19 5 46 ---28. Pan Mund 16 2 14 ---29 Kodanadu Mund 15 2 20 ---30. Arthanar Mund 4 4 51 ---31. Kalapather Mund 7 3 25 ---32. Kakodi Mund 11 2 8 ---33. Karsh Mund 17 2 7 ---34. Thutkor Mund 8 1 23 ---35. Nedikobu Mund 5 2 29 ---36. Muthnadu Mund 17 7 65 ---37. Koil Mund 17 2 67 ---38. Avlangi Mund 8 2 14 ---39. Anguthakuli Mund 13 1 7 ---40. Arthal Mund 5 4 51 ---

Annexure-1


41. Thalappatheri Mund 7 3 25 ---42. Bikkar Mund 3 3 7 243. Badhankodu Mund 2 2 2 244. Ingiti Mund 2 2 20 ---45. Mulli Mund 7 7 12 ---46. Neethi Mund 2 2 3 ---47. Pilli Mund 2 2 20 ---48. Pettakadi Mund 7 7 20 ---49. Pedukal Mund 3 3 10 ---50. Marli Mund 10 10 - 351. Nirdi Mund 10 - - 2

Total 537 133 1,412 11

Population of Buffaloes = 1412 Number of Bulls = 11 –––-– Cumulative Total = 1,423 –––-–

7. Population of Vembur Sheep Breed in selected villages of Thoothukudi & Virudhunagar Districts

7.1 Vembur

Sl. No. Name the Livestock keeper No. of

EvesNo. of Rams

No. of Lambs

1. Murugan, S/o. Ayya Gownder 83 2 152. Raja S/o. Ponraman 9 9 -3. Sundaramoorthy S/o. Balakrishnan 30 - -4. Pitchaikalai 15 10 55. Priya 10 - -6. Shanmugalakshmi 5 - -7. Ravi S/o. Alagarsamy 55 - -8. Ramar S/o. Puthiyavan 50 2 119. Shanmugavel S/o. Karuppasamy 80 1 20

10. Karuppasamy 70 2 2011. Airaraman 85 2 2512. Ganesan 65 1 1013. Ammasi 30 1 814. Palraj 70 1 2715. Gurusamy 20 1 1016. Nagarajan S/o. Airaraman 40 1 10

Total 707 33 161

Total number of Vembur sheep breed in Vembur village = 901

87

7.2 Mettilpatti


EvesNo. of Rams

No. of Lambs

1. Murugan, S/o. Lakshmana Thevar 130 5 202. Ilayaperumal, S/o. Veerana Konar 100 2 103. Veeramuniyasamy, S/o. Balusamy Thevar 130 5 204. R. Selvasamy, S/o. Ramalinga Thevar 50 2 105. N. Ponnusamy, S/o. Navaiya Naicker 200 6 256. Kalimuthu, S/o. Chinnamuthu Thevar 100 2 207. Senthoorapandian 100 2 15

Total 810 24 120

Total No. of Vembur Sheep breed in Mettilpatti village = 954

7.3 Kodangipatti

S. No. Name the Livestock keeper No. of Eves No. of

RamsNo. of Lambs

1. Malaipandi S/o.Velu Konar 70 3 102. Perumal S/o. Lakkaya Konar 40 2 33. Muniyandi S/o. Alagumari 10 - 64. Arjunan S/o. Vellaya Thevar 100 3 10

Total 220 8 29

Total No. of Vembur sheep breed in Kodangipatti village = 257

7.4 Mavilipatti


EvesNo. of Rams

No. of Lambs

1. Soosaiyappar S/o. Mariappan 100 2 62. Arunachalam S/o. Gurusamy 54 3 103. Subbiah S/o. Sappani Konar 50 1 44. Alagarsamy 60 1 105. Muniammal 30 1 86. Gopal S/o. Madan 25 1 107. Krishnammal 20 1 128. Ramakrishnan 20 1 10

Total 259 11 70

Total No. of Vembur sheep breed in Mavilipatti village = 340

7.4 Melakaranthai


EvesNo. of Rams

No. of Lambs

1. Ramamoorthy S/o. Ananthan 50 2 102. Gurusamy S/o. Veeraperumal 70 2 15

Annexure-1


3. Ponram S/o. Vallimuthu 80 2 174. Karuppasamy S/o. Gurusamy Thevar 50 1 185. Ramar S/o. Karuppasamy Thevar 60 1 106. Mahalinga Thevar 50 1 87. Vanniyaraj S/o. Karuppasamy 70 2 108. Krishnamoorthy 47 1 89. Medaiyan S/o. Kothalamuthu 85 2 17

10. Vanniya Thevar 50 2 1011. Lakshmana Thevar 70 7 15

Total 682 33 138

Total No. of Vembur sheep breed in Melakaranthai village = 853

7.5 Ramasamypuram

S.No. Name the Livestock keeper No. of Eves

No. of Rams

No. of Lambs

1. Periyamuniandi S/o. Ananjakurumbar 100 2 52. Rajapandi S/o. Muniandi 50 1 23. Muthuraj S/o. Shanugaiah 60 1 10

Total 210 4 17

Total No. of Vembur sheep breed in Ramasamypuram village = 231

7.6 Alagapuri


EvesNo. of Rams

No. of Lambs

1. Kasirajan S/o. Sanyasi Nadar 300 15 452. Subramani 200 10 36

Total 500 25 81Total No. of Vembur sheep breed in Ramasamypuram village = 606

Summary of the Vembur Sheep Population


HerdersNo. of

EvesNo. of Rams

No. of Lambs

1. Vembur 16 707 33 1612. Mettilpatti 7 810 24 1203. Kodangipatti 4 220 8 294. Mavilipatti 8 259 11 705. Melakaranthai 11 682 33 1386. Ramasamypuram 3 210 4 177. Alagapuri 2 500 25 81

Total 51 3388 138 616

Cumulative Total of Vembur Sheep Breed = 4142

89

8. Population Survey of Kachaikatti black sheep breed in Madurai District (as on 7-8th September, 2012)

8.1 Kachaikatti


RamsNo. of

Eves 1. M. Raju, S/o. Manikatti 2 502. S. Malaisamy, S/o. Solaimalai 3 503. S. Velusamy, S/o. Sekkal 4 1324. S. Chinnapandi, S/o. Subbiah 4 485. M. Chandran, S/o. Malaisamy - 36. R. Ramu, S/o. Malaisamy 1 397. M. Karuppaiah, S/o. Mookkan 3 478. M. Sundarapandian, S/o. Malaisamy 2 489. A. Malaiyandi, S/o. Alagar 2 48

Total 21 465

Total No. of Kachaikatti black sheep in Kachaikatti village = 486

8.2 Kulasegarankottai

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Ram No. of Eve 1. Ponniah 1 492. Ayyakalai 1 303. Andi 1 494. Kothanar 1 245. Ammavasi 2 986. Alagan 1 297. Kombian 1 298. Muthukonar 1 399. Subbiah 1 39

10. Vellaiyan 2 4011. Chinnandi 2 5812. Sadaiyan 1 3013. Sahali 1 30

Total 16 544

Total No. of Kachaikatti black sheep in Kulasegarankottai village = 560

Annexure-1


8.3 Bodinaickanpatti

Sl. No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Ram No. of Eve

1. Ramu, S/o. Sundar 4 982. Moorthy, S/o. Balu 2 683. Villi Konar, S/o. Periyanna Konar 2 384. Sundhu, S/o. Periyanna Konar 2 685. Saravanan, S/o. Sinnu Konar 2 686. Periyannan 2 437. Murugan, S/o. Nandu Konar 1 298. Pandi 2 689. Villi S/o. Lakshmanan 2 68

Total 19 548

Total number of Kachaikatti black sheep in Bodinaickanpatti village = 567

8.4 Viralipatti

S.No. Name of the Livestock keeper No. of Ram No. of Eve 1. Jayakodi 3 372. Sivanandi 2 603. Palraj 4 2004. Kalluthuraja 2 1005. Selvam 2 40

Total 13 437

Total No. of Kachaikatti black sheep in Viralipatti village = 450

8.5 Kudladampatti

S.No Name of the livestock keeper No. of Ram No. of Eve

1. Ayyanar 2 66

Summary of Population of Katchakatti Black Sheep in Madurai District

S.No Name of the Village No. of Herders No. of Ram No. of Eve

1. Kachaikatti 9 21 4652. Kulasegarankottai 13 16 5443. Bodinaickanpatti 9 19 5484. Viralipatti 5 13 4375. Kudladampatti 1 2 66

Total 37 71 2060

Grand Total of Kachiakatti Black Sheep = 2,131

91

9. Goat Population of Kanniyadu GoatPopulation Survey of Kanniyadu goat breed on 24–27th october 2012 at Tirunelveli District.

9.1 Veeranapuram

S.No. Name No. of Bucks No. of Doves No. of Lambs 1. S. Ayyadurai 1 18 32. G. Ramaraj 2 16 73. G. Sakthivel 2 25 84. S. Perumalsamy 1 13 35. M. Irulappan 3 16 66. M. Malaiyandi - 11 -7. M. Thangam 1 1 28. M. Kumar 1 15 69. V. Manimaran 2 5 6

10. Dhannasi 1 3 1211. Ramaraj 2 11 712. Perumalsamy 1 - 313. Kumar 1 4 214. Savariammal 3 10 315. Vellaiappan 1 15 616. Marichamy 2 10 417. Parameswari 3 20 4

Total 27 183 81

Total No. of Rams - 27Total No of Kanniyadu goat breed in Veeranapuram village = 291

9.2 Sevalpatti

Sl. No. Name No. of

BucksNo. of Doves

No. of Lambs

1. L. Solaisamy S/o. Lakshmanan 2 14 72. Muthusamy S/o. Ramasamy 1 9 33. Chellaiah S/o. Gurusamy - 3 24. Shanmugaraj S/o. Subbiah 3 12 155. Seeni, S/o. Kalai 1 10 46. Chinnasami, S/o. Muthu 2 10 4

Total 9 54 47

Total No. of Kanniyadu goat breed in Sevalpatti village = 110

Annexure-1


9.3 Maiparai

Sl. No. Name No. of

BucksNo. of Doves

No. of Lambs

1. Sangareswari - 14 72. Srinivasan 3 5 23. Murugan 2 15 104. Krishnasamy - 2 25. Jayakumar 10 5 26. Nagaraj - 2 27. Padma 2 2 28. Lakshmi 2 2 29. Kamaraj - 1 2

10. Muthukanni 1 30 2011. Gurusamy 1 7 -12. Munthu - 2 -

Total 21 87 51

Total No. of Kanniyadu goat breed in Maiparai village = 159

9.4 Sippiparai

Sl. No. Name No. of

BucksNo. of Doves

No. of Lambs

1. Muthumari W/o. Chinnakannan 3 7 82. Velusamy 1 - -3. Shanmugavel 4 16 104. Guruvammal 2 6 45. Palani 2 15 86. Veerapandi 1 3 -7. Veeramani 7 - -8. Marimuthu - - 59. Perumal 2 - -

10. Thangavelu 4 6 1011. Marimuthu 2 - -12. Durairaj 1 - -13. Ponirulappan - 1 214 Chellasamy 2 7 -15 Palraj - 4 316 Muthiah - 2 -17 Muthiah 2 3 -18 Murugesan - 1 -19. Karuppasamy 1 2 -20. Ganesan 4 - -21. Muthurakku 2 - -22. Muneeswaran - 3 123. Balamurugan 2 - -

93

24. Shanmugiah - 3 125. Muthuveerappan 1 - -26. Madasamy 2 2 227. Chellapandian - 2 228. Raman 2 - -29. Lakshmanan 2 - -30. Muthusamy - 1 -31. Muthalagu - 2 -

Total 49 85 56

Total No. of Kanniyadu goat breed in Sippiparai Village = 190

9.5 Chellapatti

Sl. No. Name No. of

BucksNo. of Doves

No. of Lambs

1. Velmurugan - 2 22. Petchimuthu 4 14 53. Karuppasamy 1 17 154. Kuttappan 1 18 55. Paramasivam - 6 126. Periyapalani - 5 67. K. Ramasamy 1 17 10

Total 7 89 46

Total No. of Kanniyadu goat breed in Chellapatti village = 142

9.6 Mukkuttumalai

S.No Name No. of Bucks

No. of Doves

No. of Lambs

1. Gurunathan - 2 12. Kuttaiyan 3 40 53. Krishnan 3 20 7

Total 6 62 13

Total No. of Kanniyadu goat breed in Mukkuttumalai village = 81

9.7 Reddiyapatti

Sl. No. Name No. of

BucksNo. of Doves

No. of Lambs

1. Kanni Gurusamy 1 15 102. Muthukalai 2 16 83. Raja 1 8 4

Total 4 39 22

Total No of Kanniyadu goat breed in Reddiyapatti village = 65

Annexure-1


9.8 Kudaiparai

Sl. No. Name No. of

BucksNo. of Doves

No. of Lambs

1. Pandi 2 4 102. Gurusamy 1 10 63. Nallakurumban 2 12 84. Velpandi 6 18 75. Muniyasamy 1 6 26. Kakkatan 1 2 1

Total 13 52 34

Total No. of Kanniyadu goat breed in Kudaiparai village = 99

9.9 Naduvapatti

S.No. Name No of Bucks

No of Doves

No of Lambs

1. Rasu 2 8 22. Thiruppathi 1 6 13. Paraman - 10 44. Geethari 2 15 8

Total 5 39 15

Total No. of Kanniyadu goat breed in Naduvapatti village = 57

9.10 Valsapuram

S.No. Name No. of Bucks

No. of Doves

No. of Lambs

1. Ramakrishnan 4 21 102. Velusamy 6 20 153. Krishnan 2 10 104. Gurusamy - 10 5

Total 12 61 30

Total No. of Kanniyadu goat breed in Valsapuram village = 103

9.11 Keelathiruvenkatam

Sl. No. Name No. of

BucksNo. of Doves

No. of Lambs

1. Karupanan 1 11 72. Kullapan 2 16 83. Pandi 1 2 2

Total 4 29 17

Total No. of Kanniyadu goat breed in Keelathiruvenkadam village = 50

95

9.12 Nenmeni

Sl. No. Name No. of

BucksNo. of Doves

No. of Lambs

1. Meyyammal 2 20 102. Karuppasamy 1 18 63. Kalingnar - 10 34. Muthu 1 15 75. Selvaraj 2 10 26. Periyasamy 1 8 27. Karuppanan - 5 1

Total 7 86 31Total No. of Kanniyadu goat in Nenmeni village = 124

9.13 Mettupatti

Sl. No. Name No. of

BucksNo. of Doves

No. of Lambs

1. Santhanamari 1 20 102. Arumugapandiyammal 1 15 113. Santhanamari - 13 64. Rajangam 7 25 25. Ramalingam - 30 16. Saraswathi 1 12 67. Karuppasamy 3 18 28. Balamurugan 1 10 29. Shanmugaiah 1 15 2

10. Sinnandi - 10 111. Kathiresan - 10 212. Jeyakodi 1 10 1

Total 16 188 47

Total No. of Kanniyadu Goat in the Mettupatti Village = 251

9.14 Muthusamipuram

Sl. No. Name No. of

BucksNo. of Doves

No. of Lambs

1. Mariappan - 20 102. Mariappan 1 4 33. Narayanan 1 10 44. Murugan 1 6 05. Chellapandi 1 20 166. Periyasamy 4 10 107. Dhanuskodi 2 30 30

Total 10 100 73

Total No. of Kanniyadu goat in the Muthyusamypuram village = 183

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9.15 Ayankarisalkulam

Sl. No. Name No. of

BucksNo. of Doves

No. of Lambs

1. Kumaran 5 20 72. Ramamoorthy 1 15 73. Subbiah 1 40 154. Selvaraj 1 40 105. Sankaran 1 10 36. Chinnakkal 1 15 97. Ayyammal - 10 -8. Arumugam - 10 -9. Ramasamy - 6 -

10. Chinnasamy 1 12 -11. Raman 2 14 612. Pandi 1 20 413. Karuppanan 2 18 6

Total 16 230 67

Total No. of Kanniyadu goat in Ayankarisalkulam village = 313

9.16 Nathathupatti

Sl. No. Name No. of

BucksNo. of Doves

No. of Lambs

1. Kundan 1 16 22. Balu 2 26 63. Eswaran 3 40 24. Angappan 1 22 105. Raju 1 2 106. Subbaiyan 1 2 27. Palani 2 6 28. Subbaiyan 3 16 109. Murugan 2 15 6

Total 16 145 50

Total no of Kanniyadu goat in Nathathupatti village = 211

9.17 Mamsapuram

Sl. No. Name No. of

RamsNo. of Doves

No. of Lambs

1. Mariappan 2 30 102. Karuppan 2 16 23. Raman 1 10 14. Pandi 2 16 45. Saravanan 1 18 2

Total 8 90 19

Total No. of Kanniyadu goat in the Mamsapuram village = 117

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9.18 Sirukulam

Sl.No. Name No. of Bucks No. of Doves No. of Lambs1. Rajagopal 4 22 142. Ramasamy 2 28 153. Murugan - 20 -4. Marimuthu 6 24 105. Veerammal 1 16 26. Rajagopal - 20 67. Murugan 1 16 28. Kanagaraj - 20 69. Suriyavel 1 10 1

10. Mariammal - 10 -11. Kanagaraj 2 10 -

Total 17 206 56

Total No. of Kanniyadu goat in Sirukulam village = 279

Summary of Population of Kanniyadu goat in selected villages in the breeding tract (Vembakottai, Sattur, Sankarankoil Blocks)


Goat keepersNo. of Bucks

No. of Doves

No. of Kids

1. Kalingapatti 21 67 863 2932. Madevanpatti 5 26 385 2043. Veeranapuram 27 27 183 814. Sevalpatti 6 9 54 475. Maiparai 6 21 87 516. Sippiparai 31 49 85 567. Chellapatti 7 7 89 468. Mukkuttumalai 3 6 62 139. Reddiyapatti 3 4 39 22

10. Kudaiparai 6 13 52 3411. Naduvapatti 4 5 39 1512. Valsapuram 4 12 61 3013. Keelathiruvenkadam 3 4 29 1714. Nenmeni 7 7 86 3115. Mettupatti 12 16 188 4716. Muthusamiyapuram 7 10 100 7317. Ayankarisalkulam 13 16 230 6718. Nathathupatti 9 16 145 5019. Mamsapuram 5 8 90 1920. Sirukulam 11 17 206 56

Total 190 330 2982 1252

Cumulative Total = 4,564

The Total population of Kanniyadu goat is estimated around 98,000 based on survey conducted during 2002, we studied the population in selected villages as above.

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Smt. Subbuthai (33) is agricultural labourer studied up to 5th standard.She belongs to Ekali community and her-in–laws are known for rearing this goat for many years. After her marriage, she has been continuing goat rearing in her family. Now she maintains 18 number of Kanniyadu type. Her husband Mr. Thavasilangam is a agricultural labourer and occasionally he helps her in goat keeping. Subbuthai’s father–in law Mr. Karuppiah is known for best breeder in Kanniyadu in Duraisamy puram village. Now-a-days there are only 3 families are still rearing this breed in Duraisamypuram village while many families have abandoned this due to sudden mortality happened to this goats because of enterotoxaemia disease over the last two years. With this goat farming Subbuthai is able to support the education of her two children. One boy is studying 5th standard and girl is 10th standard.

Breed descriptionThe breed is black in colour except in the head and ear where white coloured stripes are noticed. On both sides of face and also on ears white strips are seen. Some times white colour is replaced with dark brown colour. If white strips are noticed it is called as ‘Palkanni’ and if dark brown colour is noticed it is called as ‘Senganni’ type. It gives birth to one or two kids per lactation. This type of breed is common in many villages surrounding Duraisamypuram viz., Mettupatti, Kalingapatti, Kakkivadanpatti, Muthalapuram, Mavilipatti. The breed is seen in dry lands (black cotton soil area) of Sivakasi, Sattur Taluks in Virudhunagar District, and Kovilpatti Taluk of Thoothukudi District. Good males are selected based on breed characters and vogour; sometimes she goes to Mettupatti nearby village and obtain pure males from Naicker communities. She usually allows the males (for breeding purpose) as temple goat and it is dedicated to local deity and will not be sold for that reason.

Maintenance of GoatsOpen system of grazing is practiced by the family. Smt. Subbuthai is taking her flock in the morning by 10.00 a.m. and grazed up to 1.00 p.m. Then animals are driven

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Case studies of Breed Conservation Case Study of Conservation of ‘Kanniyadu’ goat by Smt. Subbuthai

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back to goat shed situated adjacent to her house. In the afternoon again animals are taken for grazing from 3-6 p.m. The shed size is open one with provision for protection from rains; the floor is renovated by spreading with gravel soil annually (2 tractor loads worth Rs. 800/-).

Daily she uses 2 kilo of wheat bran as concentrate feed (and it costs Rs. 22/- per kilo) to all her 18 goats by mixing it in drinking water. She spends annually about Rs. 8,000/= towards the cost of concentrate feed and also leasing of lands grown with Agathi (Sesbania grandiflora) in 45 cents (Rs. 5,000/- for 6 moths) for feeding the leaves during summer months.

Income through goat keepingYoung kids are disposed off when it attains age of 18 months weighing about 8-10 kilos at Rs. 3000/- per goat. She sells about 10 young ones in a year. In addition she sells 3 tractor loads of manure @ Rs. 600/- truck (Rs.1800/-). Her annual income is about Rs. 32,000/- through sale of goats with net profit of Rs.17,000/-.

Knowledge in Treatment of DiseaseShe is able to treat her goats by using medicinal plants available locally. However she is unable to treat disease like Thullumari (Entrotoxemia) associated with sudden death of goats during rainy season.

For Foot & Mouth Disease : For lesions in the foot and mouth she applies coconut oil mixed with kuppaimeni (Acalypha indica), Aloe vera, Turmeric and Salt.

For Goats not taking drinking water and feed: She administers 100 ml. of leaf extract prepared by grinding pirandai (Cissus quadrangularis), Betelvine leaves, Kovaichedi (Coccinia indica) and common salt.

Address of Goat Keeper : T. Subbuthai, W/o Thavasilingam, Yadavar Street, Duraisamypuram, Mamsapuram Post, Sivakasi (Via), Virudhunagar District, Cell: 9944067746.

Documented by : V. Alagumalai, SEVA 3 November, 2011

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Conservation of “Nattumadu” cattle by Mr. Manjini in Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

Family & Community Background Mr. Manjini (45) is an agricultural labourer belong to scheduled caste. He and his family members are dependant on livestock keeping on full time basis in Puduppakkam village near Marakkanam situate near east coast of Tamil Nadu. He is maintaining 14 cattle (8 cows + 2 bulls + 4 calves). In addition he practice tenant farming in 25 cents of leased land for growing paddy.

The cattle are locally called as “Naattumadu” closely resembling Punganoor and Umbalachery cattle. The male calves are still trained for ploughing operations and therefore selling male calves fetches good income for the livestock keepers. Similarly this type of cattle are maintained in the following villages in Marakkanam area.

Sl. No. Village

No. of families keeping

local cattle

No. of cattle

1. Nadukkuppam 12 552. Kanthadu 10 423. Mudaliarpettai 17 564 Pudhupakkam 20 725 Kootikuppam 13 26

These animals are sold at Bramadesam a sandy market (every Wednesday). About one year calves are sold @ Rs. 3000. However one pair of plough bullocks are valued at Rs.40,000/-. They also sell manure.

Mr. Manjini earns income of Rs. 55,000/- annually by sale of calves (Rs. 35,000/-) manure (Rs. 10,000/-) and milk (Rs. 15,000/-). In addition he is using about 2 Litre of milk daily for his home purpose.

Details of Breed Conservation The animals a.re taken for open grazing. During that time bulls are able to cross naturally the cows in the herd and also herds of neighbouring villages. Usually 1 or 2 bulls are maintained by farmers in one village and it will cater the needs of livestock keepers through natural service. Nowadays farmers are not able to maintain the purity of bulls and therefore need of hour is to identify true to type bulls in the villages for further upgradation

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of local cows.

While selecting males for bull purpose they look into whorls or markings on the body and link with performance or luck. The animals are short statured compact body with red or brown with white spots on the body. Milk yield is 2-3 litre per cow.

Nowadays Govt. policy for upgrading local cows by cross breeding with exotic breed is gradually affecting the original breed population. However still farmers need plough bullocks and for using them for transport purpose (bullock cart) and therefore selective breeding with local animals are kept by few breeders. Therefore preserving this local type of cattle will benefit local farmers. They also need dairy cooperatives to market the milk with better price. Their grazing lands is Kaliveli (lake site adjoining the sea coast) is encroached by corporate sector involved in prawn farming, mining etc.

Locating a superior bull of local “Nattumadu” and using them for breeding purpose will certainly improve the quality of animals.

The address of livestock keeper : Mr. Manjini, Ambedkar street, Pudupakkam, Marakkanam via Tindivanam Taluk, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu Cell : 9942639350

Documented by : Smt. Parvathy, Pitchandikulam Forests, Auroville - 605 101, Pondicherry. E-mail : [email protected] cell : 94437 97573

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Conservation of Bargur buffalo by Mr. Puttanaickar in Erode District

Family & Community Background Mr. Puttanaickar (65) is an agricultural labourer belong to Lingayat community. He and his family members are fully involved in rearing their cattle and keep up their family tradition. Dependant on livestock keeping in Eratti village, Bargur Panchyat. Members of this community are known for buffalo and cattle rearing. He is owning about 15 acres of garden land.and cultivates Beans, Ragi, Cassava and Paddy under rain fed condition.

He is maintaining 7 Bargur buffaloes (3 Mulch buffaloes + 3 calves + 1 bull 5 years old) 10 Bargur cattles (5 Mulch cows, 3 calves and 2 bulls) and country chickens.

While breeding season with the help of his young bull he charge Rs.50/- for 1 buffalo and also he earns income of Rs. 5,000/- annually by natural breeding for local buffaloes (10 baffalos are benefitted in one month).

The benefitted villages are : Thamaraikarai, Devarmalai, Thalakarai, Sundaputhur, Kongadai, Eratti, Kadai Eratti, Onthanai.

Details of Breed Conservation While selecting males for bull purpose they look into whorls or markings on the body and correlate with performance or luck. The animals are short statured compact body. Milk yield is 2-3 litre per buffalo. While selecting male calves for breeding bulls he observes the characters such as small or shortness of horn, thin tail, (sannam), face short (kuttai) and legs short (kaal sannam); prominant eyes, larger hooves (kulambu), wider shoulder bone (vila elumbu), they choose such calves usually from 3rd lactation animals. In rainy season time weekly twice he is giving “Odikanangu pul, Dried Ragi sticks and Arugampul” from his land. In addition he is using about 2.5 litre of milk daily for his home purpose.

The address of livestock keeper : Mr. K. Puttanaickar, S/o. Kattanaickar, Eratti village, 1st colony, Bargur Panchayat, Anthiyur via, Bhavani Taluk, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

Documented by : V. Alagumalai, SEVA August 2012

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Conservation of Bargur Cattle by Puttan in Erode District

Family background Puttan (56) belongs to Lingayat community (a linguistic minority community in Tamil Nadu) and he is not formally educated. He and his family members are fully involved in rearing their cattle and keep up their family tradition. He lives in Thalakarai hamlet situated in Bargur Panchyat. Members of this community are known for cattle rearing.

He has 45 heads of Bargur cattle including calves and 1 stud bull which is called as ‘GULI’. He owns 6 acres of land and cultivates ragi and millets under rain fed condition. He is dependent on cattle rearing by sale of young male calves and cow dung. During the month of Aadi i.e. August after sowing cattle will be taken to ‘Garkekandy’ a place where his ancestors used to go. There he graze the cattle in the day time and penn them in night. During prolonged dry season he moves to ‘Boli’. Usually he or one of his sons accompanies the cattle. This is their traditional way of rearing the Bargur cattle. This has been recognized by the British government and annually they were issued grazing permits and penning permits. But for the past 10 years the penning permits were denied by the forest department and grazing permits were issued with restrictions.

Further due to extensive spread of exotic weed “Unnichedi” (Lantana camara ) a invasive alien species availability of fodder to cattle and even to wild elephants is scarce. During 1990s when the forest brigand ‘Veerappan’ was notorious for illegal activities inside the forest the cattle breeders in Bargur forest area were tortured unnecessarily by the police and forest department which resulted in drastic reduction of Bargur cattle. During that period Mr. Puttan faced several difficulties but continued to rear cattle.

Details of Breed ConservationMr. Puttan is conserving indigenous cattle breed of Bargur and his family has been conserving this breed for many generations. Earlier cattle population was high in Bargur area but it has been drastically reduced and it is categorized as ‘Endangered’.

Bargur cattle is a second recognized cattle of Tamilnadu. It is maintained in a semi-wild cattle reared in the bargur forest. Its home tract is confined to the 33 hamlets in Bargur village and few hamlets in the foot hills of Bargur forests. It is maintained in the zero input condition by grazing and kept penned in forest for most part of the year.

Annexure-2


Bargur cattle is of medium size in red colour with white markings and with red eye, horn and hooves. It is reared for draft purpose and the bullocks are known for their sturdiness and there is no need to shoe the bullocks.

Usually the herd will be taken to the forest in the month of Aadi (July/August) and will be grazed and penned inside the forest. The places will be shifted according to the availability of fodder and water. Then in the month of Thai (Jan/Feb) the herd will be taken back to the agricultural fields where the harvesting will be over and crop residues of the crops will be allowed to be grazed. When no grazing site the herd will be again taken to forest.

Mr. Puttan is still following the family tradition in conserving the Bargur cattle. He used to sell the male calves in Gurunathaswamy temple cattle fair taken place in the month of Aadi (August) and earn income. Further he uses the dung by incorporating in his own land where the main crop is ‘Ragi’ intercropped with “Avarai” (field beans) which is a staple food grain in that area.

Natural service is followed for breeding. Puttan maintains one stud bull for natural service. Selection of breeding bull is based on the activeness, dam milk, well built body, good bone density, white markings on all sides, good legs, red eye and horn. Usually he selects it from herds maintained by other Lingayat families.

Ethnoveterinary practices followedl For injury he applies ‘Thumbai’ (Luecas aspera) leaves grated with calcium.l To maintain the vigour of the bulls root tubers of plants of kaam sakkarai, boom

sakkarai, and madna sakkarai are ground well and mixed with 5 liters of cow milk, one mondhan variety of banana and 1 litre of cow ghee. It will be given to the selected male calf of 1 year at 3 months interval and after attaining 4 teeth it will be given once in 6 months.

l For sappai disease (swelling in legs and body region) he administers orally decoction prepared out of of Porasu tree bark and also paste prepared is applied externally over the affected region.

Address of Livestock keeper : Sri Puttan. B. S/o Bomme gowder Thalakarai, Thamaraikarai (post) Bargur Panchayat Erode District - 638 501

Documented by : Mr. Sivasenapathy Natarajan & Mr. Kenjappan Bargur Hill Cattle Breeders’ Association Puliamarathu Thottam, Usimalai, Bargur Post, Andhiyur via, Bhavani Taluk, Erode Dt. - 638 501 Mobile : 9841968213, 8903260969, E-mail : [email protected]

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Conservation of Pulikulam Cattle Breed by Cattle Herders Group in Madurai District, Tamil NaduManapatti is a hamlet in Vadapalanji Panchayat of Madurai District. There are 22 pastoralists belong to Konar (Yadavar) community. They maintain Pulikulam cattle breed. It is also called Palingu Madu for its marble colour or Nattu Madu or Mani Madu (Bell cattle). These cattle are maintained mainly for the purpose of providing manure to farmers. Very few farmers from far away villages procure the male calves for training them for Ploughing / Transport / Jallikattu (bull riding) purpose.

The population of Pulikulam cattle breed in this village are given below : Individuals Maintaining Pulikulam Cattle are given below :

S.No. Name Father’s Name No. of Cattle1. Krishnan Periyasami 2002. Lakshmanan Mokkai Mooppanar 1003. Raj 3004. Raman Mokkayan 1005. Chinnapandi Chinnaian 2006. Muthupandi 1007. Gurusamy Sakkarai Kondar 1008. Malaisamy Ayya Konar 5009. Ayyakonar Ayya Konar 600

10. Malairaj Chinna Konar 50011. Sonai Pichai Konar 50012. Chinnasamy 20013. Irulandi Mokkaian 10014. Murugan Mokkaian 10015. Muthupandi Thangaraj 20016. Koolu Subramani 10017. Mahalingam Subramani 15018. Gopal Ramuvel 15019. Solaimalai Anni Konar 10020. Raj Gurusamy 10021 Karthikraj Raj 5022. Kannan Ayyavoo 15023. Kandan 150

Total 4750

During 2006 they formed an informal group called “Alagumalaiyan Paramparia Pulikulam Kidaimadugal Valarpor Suyaudavikulu”. SEVA has facilitated them for initiating this group. Usually they organize monthly meetings or according to their convenient time and pay their monthly savings to the group and deposit in their SB account of their group.

They discuss issues related to the following problems faced by them: Identity card for the members as conservers of Pulikulam cattle breed. Traffic police charges money for crossing the highway (along with cattle) or harass them.

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During rainy season viz Iyppasi–Purattasi–Karthigai (Oct-Nov) cattle are not allowed for grazing customarily in Nagamalai forests over the last 8 years.

Mining parties encroached their cattle penning site in Manappatti village used by them for many decades.

The members regularly attend state level or national level pastoralists meeting for purpose of solving their grazing rights in forests. They represented by themselves to

District Collector, District Forest Officer for this purpose. They all joined together and went on fasting on two occasions to fulfill their demands. Last year they send breed registration formalities by sending their application to State Govrernemt.

Details of Breed ConservationPulikulam cattle are maintained as big migratory herd. The animals are with compact body and powerful. They are swift and vigorous. For bull riding events (Jallikattu) Pulikulam cattle are trained. It is medium sized, horned, strong cattle with good posture. Bulls are very strong, vigorous with well-developed hump, naval flap and dewlap. The hump, neck and some region of face and back are greyish black in colour irrespective of the coat colour of the males. The animals can survive well on grazing in the tropical climate of the area in the open housing system. The animals are contributing significantly in the organic farming of paddy, cotton, banana and many spices crops of the area through manure and draft power. The animals are more resistant to communicable and parasitic diseases as compared to the crossbreds in that area under hot and wet conditions.

Grazing systemThe herds are taken for grazing after pooling 2-3 herds together to the size of 500-1000. They travel to a distance of about 50 k.m. around Madurai i.e. Alagarkoil, Othakadai, Anaiyur, Mattaparai, Sholavnadan etc. Usually 2 herdsmen look after the herd. During rainy season they return to their native place and graze in forests (Nagamalai).

Their cattle are also taken to harvested paddy fields where the available fodder are paddy straw, cholam fodder, pods of Karuvel (Acacia Arabica) and Seemai karuvel (Prosopis juliflora).

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Penning SystemDuring night time they do penning (to provide manure) in farmers field and collect about Rs. 300 per 100 animals. For example Mr. Muthupandi who is maintaining 150 cattle earns income of Rs. 30,000/- from penning; sale of manure through tractor loads (12 loads in a year) Rs. 36,000/- sale of 20 male calves (18 months old) Rs. 50,000/-. After wages for herdsmen he earns net income of Rs.1,25,000/- per annum. Cattle manuring help considerably to reduce fertilizer consumption by more than 50 percent.

Female calves are not usually sold. The sale of calves is usually peak during Dec–Jan; the herders of Pulikulam are selling 2000 calves annually. Their calves are usually sold to be grown as draught animal, for ploughing and for jallikattu (bull riding) during harvesting festival occasion (Jan-Feb). The Pulikulam breed has established itself as proven breed for “Bull Riding” which is locally called “Jallikattu”. These bullocks are good draught animals.

Traditional Knowledge of Communitiesl The animals wherever suffer due to wounds caused by injuries they use the leaves of

Nilakadambu / Muthulinga chedi and lime (calcium hydroxide) and ground together and applied over it.

l For broken legs leaves of Nilakadambu 2 handful, lime 10 gm, jaggery 200 gm, neem oil 100 ml, ladies hair 5 are to be together applied over the broken area after holding it intact.

Address of the Herders Association: Mr. Chinnasamy, President, Alagumalaiyan Paramparia Pulikulam Kidaimadugal Valarppor Suyauthavikulu, Manapatti, Vadapalanji Post, Palkalai Nagar via Madurai District - 625 021. Tamil Nadu. Cell : 99434 62560

Documented by : V. Alagumalai, SEVA 13.11.2011

Annexure-2


Conservation of Toda buffalo by Mr. Themorsh Kuttan

Family backgroundThe breeder, Thiru Themorsh Kuttan, aged 80, belongs to the Toda community, one of the primitive tribal communities of the Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu. He is a permanent resident of Koil Mund, a Toda hamlet, for the past 80 years. Presently, the breeder owns a herd of about 70 Toda buffaloes of various age groups.

Toda buffalo, derive its name from the Todas, an aboriginal tribe who inhabit the Nilgiri hills of Tamil Nadu in South India. Their livelihood depends mainly in keeping a herd of buffaloes. The life of Todas is largely centered on their sacred buffaloes, which form an integral part of their sustenance and cultural heritage. The importance of these buffaloes in cultural activities like birth, marriage and death ceremonies have been well-documented.

Since most of the Toda hamlets are located amidst forest areas and these tribals are entirely dependent on the forest and grasslands for grazing of their buffaloes, the Government of Tamil Nadu has assigned about 5 acres of land for exclusive grazing of buffaloes in recognition of their grazing rights.

Details of Conservation of Livestock Breed The existence and association of this buffalo with the Todas had been traced back to the year 1603. The people and their buffaloes have a history of more than 500 years. The Toda buffaloes are unique in their behaviour and morphological characteristics including the size and shape of horns and significantly differ from other buffaloes of the plains. Bred over generations, these buffaloes are well adapted to the hills and are able to withstand extremes of weather without any shelter. The Toda buffaloes are found to produce moderate quantity of milk under an extensive management system with daily milk yield ranging from two to six litres with a high butted fat content.

In Toda buffaloes, it is very difficult to handle males beyond two years of age. Beyond this age, the males generally escape in to forest and live as ferals. They join the herd only during the breeding season. Selection is not normally practiced in males. However the breeders are very conscious of sound breeding practices and retain the

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best females among the calves as replacement stock. Breed type had also been a criteria for selection with this breeder.

Against odds of terrain, very hostile climatic conditions and continuous threat by wild predator animals, the breeder has carried his buffalo breeding activities through decades and developed a fine herd of Toda buffaloes with typical breed characteristics.

The breeder derives his income from sale of milk to the Co-operative Milk Union.

Full Address of Livestock keeper : Thiru Themorsh Kuttan Koil Mund, Sandynallah Post The Nilgiris - 643 237

Conservation of Toda Buffalo by Mr. Ranjith

Family background The breeder, Thiru Ranjith aged 28, belongs to the Toda community, one of the primitive tribal communities of the Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu. He is a permanent resident of Gaddi Mund, a Toda hamlet. Inherited a fine herd of Toda buffaloes from his father, who has been a breeder of Toda buffaloes for the past 80 years. Thiru Ranjith presently owns a herd of about 30 Toda buffaloes of various age groups.

Toda buffalo, derive its name from the Todas, an aboriginal tribe who inhabit the Nilgiri hills of Tamil Nadu in South India. Their livelihood depends mainly in keeping a herd of buffaloes. The life of Todas is largely centered on their sacred buffaloes, which form an integral part of their sustenance and cultural heritage. The importance of these buffaloes in cultural activities like birth, marriage and death ceremonies have been well-documented.

Since most of the Toda hamlets are located amidst forest areas and these tribals are entirely dependent on the forest and grasslands for grazing of their buffaloes, the Government of Tamil Nadu has assigned about 5 acres of land for exclusive grazing of buffaloes in recognition of their grazing rights.

Details of Conservation of Livestock Breed The existence and association of this buffalo with the Todas had been traced back to the year 1603. The people and their buffaloes have a history of more than 500 years. The Toda buffaloes are unique in their behaviour and morphological characteristics including the size and shape of horns and significantly differ from other buffaloes of the plains. Bred over generations, these buffaloes are well adapted to the hills and are able to withstand extremes of weather without any shelter. The Toda buffaloes are found to produce moderate quantity of milk under an extensive management system with daily milk yield ranging from two to six litres with a high butted fat content.

In Toda buffaloes, it is very difficult to handle males beyond two years of age. Beyond

Annexure-2


this age, the males generally escape in to forest and live as ferals. They join the herd only during the breeding season. Selection is not normally practiced in males. However the breeders are very conscious of sound breeding practices and retain the best females among the calves as replacement stock. Breed type had also been a criteria for selection with this breeder.

Against odds of terrain, very hostile climatic conditions and continuous threat by wild predator animals, the breeder has carried his buffalo breeding activities through decades and developed a fine herd of Toda buffaloes with typical breed characteristics.

The breeder derives his income from sale of milk to the Co-operative Milk Union.

Address of Livestock keeper : Thiru RANJITH Gaddi Mund Sandynallah Post, The Nilgiris - 643 237

Case of Umbalachery Cattle Herder’ AssociationUmbalachery Cattle Herders’ Association is a registered society (Regd.No.73/2001). It was promoted by SEVA an NGO which worked in this area for about 5 years in Nagapattinam District.

The main objectives of the association : In situ conservation of Umbalachery cattle breed, renovation of animal drinking water ponds and common grazing lands and train livestock keepers on herbal medicine for animals. Paddy is the major crop in the wetland ecosystem of this breeding tract/Cauvery Delta region (coastal area of Tamil Nadu). The Umbalachery cattle breed is known for wetland ploughing and transport of agricultural produce in rural areas. The cattle are pooled as temporary herds during Jan-June and each herd size is about 400-500 cattle taken for grazing and they are also penned during night time in farmers field to contribute manure to the wetland. There are more than 25 herds in Nagapattinam and adjoining districts. Paddy is the major crop in wetlands and therefore organic manure (obtained through cattle penning) enriches the soil fertility. In each herd one or two Umbalachery bull will be maintained for breeding through natural service.

The main challenges in breed conservation : The population of cattle is coming down due to - Shrinkage of grazing lands due to encroachment,

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- Animal drinking water ponds meant for animal drinking purpose are not cared or desilted for many decades.

- Availability of good quality bulls of Umbalchery breed are not available to herders.

- Poor women members are in need of female calves of Umbalachery cattle breed for rearing and there is hardly any supporting system for them.

- Veterinary services are not available due to long distance of location of veterinary dispensary.

The activities undertakenAbout 3000 livestock keeping families conserving Umbalachery cattle breed are involved in 20 villages. This association has 480 members in villages viz. Umbalachery, Vattakudi, Oradiambalam, Vadugur, Permalai, Aymur, Kariyapattinam, Sembiyangudi, Melavalakkarai (Nagapattinam District), Kothangudi, Ammanur (Thiruvaroor District). They have undertaken the following activities with help of SEVA:

i) Pond Desiltation work in association with local Panchayat / DRDA : For conservation of animal breeds in situ the need for providing access to drinking water or grazing lands for animals is crucial which requires reviving management of common property resources. The association has identified 9 ponds, which have been used for animal drinking water purposes for many centuries. These ponds were uncared over the last 30 years and some area has been encroached leading to obstruction of path ways and difficulty to animals for access to drinking water. During 2005 the association with the help of DRDA desilted 5 ponds out of 9 identified ponds for cattle drinking purpose in Thalaignayiru block, Nagapattinam District.

The other 3 ponds namely Aerikulam pond and Vellaikuttai of Umbalachery and Thalaiyarikuttai of Vattakudi village have been desilted by local panchayat (ponds viz.., Uthirikuttai, Kalakulam, Manjal kuttai, Vettiyankulam, Nannakulam). The above 3 desilting work was the outcome of its efforts in linking local panchayat with District Rural Development Agency through frequent contacts. Total cost of desilting was Rs 4.8 lakhs and peoples contributed Rs.1.26 lakhs.

ii) Management of Grazing Land : Common grazing lands are available in many villages. The association has been identifying such areas and protect them from encroachment. In Umbalachery village 107 acre pasture land has been cleared off from encroachment and to this effect local Thasildar has given an order of removal of encroachment vide letter No. N.K. 97A. 8828 dated 11.3.2003 (but still some

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difficulties in full utilization of this land).

iii) Calf rearing Programme: Calves of Umbalachery cattle breed have been distributed to 78 members in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Livestock Develop- ment Agency (amounting Rs. 3,34,620) during 2004-2005.

iv) Community Bull Programme : The Association has distributed two bulls of Umbalachery cattle breed during September 2002 to two herd keepers viz Sri. Meenakshisundaram and Sri. Subramanaian in Umbalachery village for revitalizing herd keeping system. One of these herd keepers, Sri. Subramanian has faced difficulties for maintaining the bull due to shortage of feed like paddy straw. In that situation, the herders group came forward for community maintenance of the bull under the overall maintenance and supervision by member secretary Mr. Dheenadayalan. The 2 bulls are under the custody of Mr. Lakshmana Konar of Oradi Ambalam village in Vedaranyam Taluk, Nagapattinam District. The bulls came for servicing during the year 2003. Earlier, the village people were facing problem of non-availability of original cattle bull of Umbalachery breed for servicing. Some people used the available crossbred bull and some others opted for artificial insemination for their cows to impart fertility. Now the village people as well as the people of neighbouring village are relieved from the problem of non-availability of good true to type original cattle breed bull and through this arrangement their cows are being imparted fertility by natural servicing. Two bulls service more than 200 cows in a year not only in the herds but also individual cows brought by livestock keepers then and there.

iv) Training on Herbal Medicine for animals : Totally 452 members have been given training on herbal healing practices for animals (2 days programme) and many health camps for animals oganised with help of Department of Animal Husbandry in the above villages.

v) Networking / Recognition : The secretary has received fellowship from Jamjetji TATA National Virtual Academy for Rural Prosperity through M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation during 2005. The Association has also received “Breed Saviour Award” recognition for the year 2009 from National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai. With the help of NABARD, 2 days workshop on “Umbalachery Cattle Breed Conservation” has been organized on 9.6.2012 and inaugurated by District Collector T. Munusamy. A booklet on Umbalachery cattle breed released.

vi) Challenges : SEVA has mobilized support for the breeders association in the initial period of 5-6 years. Once the support is stopped the association could not be much active or undertake tank desiltation programme or distribution of bulls, calves

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etc. State Government do not have any policy to provide regular support when it is able to spend crores for managing 200 ha breeding farm maintained for conservation of Umbalachery cattle. Practically there is no coordination or any link between breeding farm and breeders association. Even good bulls of the farm are taken outside with out fulfilling needs of local community. However good awareness has been generated among the public on the importance of breed and local export of calves to slaughter house was stopped due to high value generated and the credit goes to the association / NGO.

Association Name : Umbalachery Cattle Herders’ Association

Contact person : V. Dheenadayalan, Secretary 2/76. Middle Street, Umbalachery P.O., Vedaranyam Taluk, Nagapattinam District - 614 711 Tamil Nadu. Phone : 04369 – 239603 Cell : 9965894603 E-mail : [email protected]

Vembur Sheep breed conserved by Mr. Ravi in Vembur village, Thoothukudi district Ravi is 43 years old sheep herder studied upto 7th standard. After his studies he went to other states and has been employed in sweet shops. Later he came back to his native village to take up his traditional family profession i.e. Goat/sheep husbandry. Ravi’s forefathers have been maintaining goats. Ravi in the initial years adopted rearing goats. Then he changed to sheep husbandry. Fifteen years back he selected few best female and one male sheep from Karisalkulam village where a Konar (Yadav) family has been maintaining pure true to type of Vembur sheep breed. Now the one pair has risen to a population of sheep 59 all belong to ‘Vembur’ sheep breed. (59 adults and 10 young ones). His sheep husbandry practices are given below:

Grazing SysytemDaily animals are taken for grazing for distance of about 6-8 km. In the evening the animals will return and in the night it will be penned together with other sheep herds maintained by different herders. Penning will be performed between Feb-September.

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During rainy season the animals are put in their own individual shed and manure will be collected for future sale. He earns income from sheep husbandry through sale of manure and through sale of male lambs and while disposing off aged or old females after 4 lactations.

Penning SystemThe sheep herds of individual herders herd numbering 450 in Vembur village. These animals are penned during night time for manuring the farmers field. For example 1 acre field can be manured in 2 nights. A group of 20 sheep constitute one ‘Moi’. If 60 sheep are maintained by a herder then it will be 3 ‘Moi’. In a month there will be about 24 Mois. If daily penning income is Rs.310 for the entire herd then a person with 60 sheep (3 Mois) will receive 3 days income (Rs.1830) continuously. After a cycle of 24 Mois it will start again fresh. A person with 60 sheep will receive a monthly income of Rs.1800 per cycle (24 days) through penning.

In addition to penning income is obtained through sale of 30 young ones in a year which will be Rs.45,000/- per year. They earn income by selling male and female lambs during July-August and Feb-March or so. Therefore a gross income of Rs.75,000/- is obtained and after deducting labour expenses, cost of concentrate feed the net income will be Rs.50,000/- per annum. The local herders prefer Vembur sheep breed because it is having fast growth rate in the black cotton soil area of Toothukudi district.

He has chosen the original female sheep for offering to god (the sheep will not be sold out and it will be maintained till the point of death and it will be buried after its death). He has been selecting males Males are selected for breeding from the 3rd or 4th lactation ewe.

Attractive physical appearances and quick growing of male lambs are seen as traits for good ones and selected before castrating unwanted males. One breeding ram will be maintained for every flock of 30 ewes. For every 2 years male rams are rotated among the herds of relatives to avoid inbreeding. In male lambs, the growing horns during the age of 6-12 months will be removed so that the second growth of horns will be harder and able to withstand attack of other rams or enemies.

They earn income by selling male and female lambs during July-August and Feb-March or so. Three months old lambs are sold at the rate of Rs.1000/-.

Documented by : P. Vivekanandan, SEVA.

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Kachaikatty Black Sheep Conserved through Sheep Breeders’ Association

Details of Sheep BreedKachaikatty black sheep is being maintained by sheep herders in villages viz. Kachaikatty, Bodinayakanur, Kulasekaran- kottai, Viralipatty, Vadipatty in Madurai District. The Kachaikatty black sheep is known for fighting quality. It is procured to use for sports in villages. There are 30 herds in this breeding tract and the present population is about 1200.

Kachaikatty Black sheep are maintained in small flocks. The animals are medium in size, compact body and colour of hair is complete black. The breed is identified with different types viz. Mooliadu, Sonaiyadu, Ilaikathadu, Kenambadu based on size of ear and horn in ewes. The animals are well known for ram fighting during village festivals or sports. The breed is amenable for penning in farmers fields and it contributes manure in enriching soil fertility and growth of crops like sorghum, groundnut, bajra, maize, sugarcane, paddy and vegetables.

Local shepherds who depend upon sheep keeping for their livelihoods are taking them to open grazing including Vaguthumalai forests of Sirumalai hills. The presence of kettipul, sengettipul (a type of grass) and seppunnerunji (Indigofera ennea phylla) in Vaguthumalai hills are known for nutrious feed for sheep growth. The breed is susceptible to foot and mouth disease if animals are not taken to forests grazing during rainy season.

Details of Breed ConservationSmall and marginal farmers and agriculture labourers belonging to Yadavas, Dalits and Mooppars are involved in rearing of sheep. The average size of the herd is 45. In each herd they keep one or two rams. The lambing interval is during November - January. They dispose male lambs to traders in turn send them for making a fighting ram. They also earn income through sale of manure. The animals are taken for penning during night time in the agricultural field and gets income of Rs.100-120 for a herd of 100 animals.

For instance Mr. Velusamy, who has been maintaining 110 sheeps, has told that he disposes about 60 lambs and earn income of Rs.1,20,000/- per year. In addition they will get a manure value of Rs,10,000/-. The manure is being collected through bags of 50 kg. size and traders from Kerala procures it by paying Rs.30/- per bag for using them as fertilizer for plantation crops. Each day 5 bags of manure can be collected. Penning is usually perform during February-July for a period of six months and daily they collect Rs.100/- during this time. For penning 1 acre field 100 sheeps are needed

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for camp for 5 days. The flock is looked after by two of the family members. Few farmers hand over the sheep herd to a tenant who in turn maintain animals and the income through sale of lambs is shared on equal basis. This is locally called as varathukku viduthal.

Initiatives on the conservation of breedThe main issues faced by shepherds are grazing problem in forests; disease incidence (during rainy season) in the herd.

The sheep herders have been grazing their animals in Vaguthumalai forests for many generations. Tamil Nadu forest department has initiated joint forest management programme during 1997 with the help of Japanese ODA and closed the forest initially for 5 years. But till date the forest is not officially allowed to graze inside.

The disease incidence was due to lack of regular deworming and also herders do not practice any preventive treatment.

During this time Sri. Jothirengan one of shepherds in Kachiakatty village has taken an initiative in forming a breeders association called ‘Neelamega Perumal Karuppu Adu Valarpor Sangam’. The association is regularly organizing animal health camp with the help of animal husbandry department. With the help of SEVA, 6 members constructed sheep shed and 2 members procured Kachiakatty black sheep breed through micro credit programme. The association also referred the forest grazing issue at District Forest Officer level for their intervention and it is still prolonging without any tangible success. Meanwhile the association is helping Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Science University, SEVA and National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal for official registration of this breed.

Documented by : V. Alagumalai, SEVA

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Press Clippings and Reportspublished about Project Activities on Breed Conservation work

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References1. Antonio Borghese (2005): Buffalo Production and Research by Food and

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome. 2. Balasubaramaniyan. C, Vivekanandan. P, Subanandan. S (2004): Umbalachery

Cattle, Booklet in Tamil published by SEVA, 45 TPM Nagar, Viratipathu, Madurai - 625 010; 20pp.

3. FAO (2012): Progress made in stopping decline of livestock genetic diversity - Review article in the Implementation of Global Plan of Action on Animal Genetic Resources – Media Centre, Food and Agricultural Organisation, Rome.

4. Ganapathy, P. Rajendran, Rand Subramaniam. A. (2009) : Distribution and population status of Bargur cattle. Indian Veterinary Journal 86: 971-972.

5. Kathiresan, P. Karthikeyan, S.M.KR. Venkataraman, R. Iyu, M.Mishra, B.P.R.S. Kataria and B.K. Joshi (2012) : Buffalo Genetic Resources of India - Toda - The unique Hill Buffalo of Tamil Nadu, NBAGR, Karnal, 51 pp.

6. Mariadasu, P. (2000) : Goat Breeds of Tamil Nadu and their management practices in Tamil - Gunaseeli Publications, Anna Nagar, Tiruchi - 620 026; 32pp

7. Randhawa M.S. (1980), A History of Indian Agriculture, Vol.1, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.

8. SEVA (2009) : Lingayat Biocultural Protocol, SEVA, 45 TPM Nagar, Viratipathu, Madurai - 625 010; 24 pp

9. TANUVAS (2011) : Conservation of Animal Genetic resources of Tamil Nadu, workshop material distributed by Dept. of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai - 600 007.

10. Thiruvenkadan A.K., Panneerselvam. S, Saravanan. R (2011) : Kanniyadu Goat, Dept. of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal - 637 002, Tamil Nadu, 85 pp.

11. Vasamalli. K, Vivekanandan. P and Subanandan. S (2005) : Toda Buffalo- The Buffalo breed Protecting Livelihood and Culture of Toda Tribe; booklet in Tamil published by SEVA, 45 TPM Nagar, Viratipathu, Madurai - 625 010; 9 pp.

12. Vivekananan. P(2012) : Numvali Velanmai - Quarterly Newsletter in Tamil Vol.21. Issue:1 (April-June 2012) Published by SEVA, 45 TPM Nagar, Viratipathu, Madurai - 625 010; 24 pp.

13. Vivekanandan. P, Subanadan. S, Mariadoss. P, Abdul Razack.G.M., Gnanasundari.R, Muthiah. N (2004): Vembur Sheep. Booklet in Tamil published by SEVA, 45 TPM Nagar, Viratipathu, Madurai - 625 010; 27 pp

13. Vivekanandan. P (2009): Indigenous Herbal Healing Practices for Animals in Tamil - SEVA, 45 TPM Nagar, Viratipathu, Madurai-625 010; 187 pp

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