Kangeyam bull
Encyclopedia
The Kangeyam bull or Kangayam cattle conform largely to the Zebu
Southern Indian Mysore type, though there is evidence of the blood of the gray-white Ongole cattle in their appearance. These genes may have given the breed its larger comparative size. The breed gets its name from Kangayam in the present Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu, where this breed is predominantly grown. This breed, in its native area, is also known by the names of Kanganad and Kongu Nadu
though the name Kangayam is popular. They are bred in the Southern and Southeastern area of the Tiruppur district of the Tamilnadu State in India
. There are two varieties of Kangayam cattle, one smaller than the other. The smaller variety is more prevalent in Kangayam, Dharapuram
, Udumalpet, Pollachi
, Palladam
and Erode
while the larger variety is found mainly in Karur
, Aravakurchi and Dindigul
subdivisions.
The neck is short and thick. The back is short, broad and level. The body is compact, with well sprung ribs. The quarters are slightly drooping. The dewlap is thin and extends only up to the sternum. The sheath is well tucked up to the body. The hump in bulls, though well-developed, is firm. The hair is fine and short and the skin is dark in pigment and fine in texture. The tail is of moderate length with a black switch reaching well below the hocks.
Kangayam color is usually grey or white. The males generally are gray with black or very dark gray coloring on the head, neck, hump and quarters. In the cows, the prevailing color is white and gray with deep markings on the knees, and just above the fetlocks on all four legs. The calves are light or dark brown with gray or white on the inside of the thighs, ears and forelegs, and occasionally with grey or white rings on the pasterns and fetlocks. At two years the heifer turns gray or dark grey and retains this color but with advancing age after maturity the color fades and becomes white. Male calves become dark gray or iron gray with black shading over the head, neck, hump, dewlap, fore and hind quarters. With maturity the black shading becomes intensified. Castrated males, however, show fading of the color and turn milk white.
Kangayam cattle are of moderate size, active and powerful, and are highly prized draft animals. The cows are generally poor milkers but there are encounters of fair producing abilities.
Zebu
Zebu , sometimes known as humped cattle, indicus cattle, Cebu or Brahmin cattle are a type of domestic cattle originating in South Asia, particularly the Indian subcontinent. They are characterised by a fatty hump on their shoulders, drooping ears and a large dewlap...
Southern Indian Mysore type, though there is evidence of the blood of the gray-white Ongole cattle in their appearance. These genes may have given the breed its larger comparative size. The breed gets its name from Kangayam in the present Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu, where this breed is predominantly grown. This breed, in its native area, is also known by the names of Kanganad and Kongu Nadu
Kongu Nadu
Kongu Nadu is a region comprising the western part of the Tamil Nadu India. The region is bounded on the west and north-west by the Karnataka state, on the west by the Kerala state, on the east by Tondai Nadu, on the south-east by Chola Nadu and on the south by Madurai regions of...
though the name Kangayam is popular. They are bred in the Southern and Southeastern area of the Tiruppur district of the Tamilnadu State in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. There are two varieties of Kangayam cattle, one smaller than the other. The smaller variety is more prevalent in Kangayam, Dharapuram
Dharapuram
Dharapuram is a town and a municipality in the Tirupur district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Dharapuram one of the Oldest Town in Tiruppur District. Dharapuram, then known as Rajarajapuram was the capital of Kongu Nadu under Kongu Cholas. The Amaravathi River flows through the ancient...
, Udumalpet, Pollachi
Pollachi
Pollachi is a taluk of Coimbatore Rural district of the Tamil Nadu state of India. It lies in the southern part of the Coimbatore city around 40 kilometres from downtown Coimbatore. This is the second largest town in the District after Corporation of Coimbatore. Owing to the proximity to the...
, Palladam
Palladam
Palladam is a suburb of the city Coimbatore in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is a town panchayat of Tirupur district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.It was recently merged with the newly formed Tirupur district, but it is still considered to be associated with the Coimbatore city by a lot...
and Erode
Erode
Erode is a city, a municipal corporation and the headquarters of Erode district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.It is situated at the center of the South Indian Peninsula, about southwest from the state capital Chennai and on the banks of the rivers Cauvery and Bhavani, between 11° 19.5"...
while the larger variety is found mainly in Karur
Karur
Karur is a large town and a municipality in Karur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu situated on the banks of Amaravati. Karur district was formed on 30 September 1995 by trifurcating Tiruchirappalli district. It is the administrative headquarters of Karur District. Karur has a very long...
, Aravakurchi and Dindigul
Dindigul
Dindigul is a town and municipality in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India. The name Dindigul comes from the Portmanteau of “Thindu” meaning pillow and “kal” meaning Rock and refers to the bare hill dominating the city’s both land and skyscape...
subdivisions.
Characteristics
Both varieties of this breed are strong and active, with compact bodies and short, stout legs with strong hooves. Horns in the smaller variety spread apart nearly straight, with a slight curve backwards. In the larger variety, the horns are much longer, curve outwards and backwards and almost complete a circle at the point where they approach the tips. The head is of moderate size with only slightly prominent forehead. The head is more proportionate to the body with a straighter profile than in most of the Mysore type cattle. The ears are small, erect and pointed. The eyes are dark and prominent with black rings around them.The neck is short and thick. The back is short, broad and level. The body is compact, with well sprung ribs. The quarters are slightly drooping. The dewlap is thin and extends only up to the sternum. The sheath is well tucked up to the body. The hump in bulls, though well-developed, is firm. The hair is fine and short and the skin is dark in pigment and fine in texture. The tail is of moderate length with a black switch reaching well below the hocks.
Kangayam color is usually grey or white. The males generally are gray with black or very dark gray coloring on the head, neck, hump and quarters. In the cows, the prevailing color is white and gray with deep markings on the knees, and just above the fetlocks on all four legs. The calves are light or dark brown with gray or white on the inside of the thighs, ears and forelegs, and occasionally with grey or white rings on the pasterns and fetlocks. At two years the heifer turns gray or dark grey and retains this color but with advancing age after maturity the color fades and becomes white. Male calves become dark gray or iron gray with black shading over the head, neck, hump, dewlap, fore and hind quarters. With maturity the black shading becomes intensified. Castrated males, however, show fading of the color and turn milk white.
Kangayam cattle are of moderate size, active and powerful, and are highly prized draft animals. The cows are generally poor milkers but there are encounters of fair producing abilities.