Kangayam cattle

The Kangayam or Kangeyam is an Indian breed of draught cattle from the state of Tamil Nadu, in South India.[3]: 211  Its area of origin is Kongu Nadu, the region surrounding Coimbatore, close to the border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala,[4]: 214  but it is distributed over a considerably wider area.[5]: 410  The breed name derives from that of the town of Kangeyam.[6] It may also be called Kanganad or Kongu.[2]

Kangayam
Cow
Bull
Conservation status
Other names
  • Kangeyam
  • Kanganad
  • Kongu
  • Cangaian (in Brazil)
Country of originIndia
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    523 kg[2]
  • Female:
    341 kg[2]
Height
  • Male:
    140 cm[2]
  • Female:
    125 cm[2]
Coatgrey, darker in bulls
Horn statushorned
  • Cattle
  • Bos (primigenius) indicus

History
Kangeyam Heritage Cow

The Kangayam is a traditional draught breed of Tamil Nadu. It is not closely related to the other draught breed of the state, the Umblachery, but may have some influence from the Ongole.[4]: 214 [3]: 211  Its area of origin is the region surrounding Coimbatore, close to the border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala,[4]: 214  but it is distributed over a considerably wider area;[5]: 410  the name of the breed derives from that of the taluk of Kangeyam in Tiruppur District.[6]

In 1996 there were 479000 of the cattle;[4]: 214  in 2022 a total population of between 127500 and 152500 head was reported to DAD-IS.[2]

It has been exported to Brazil, where it is called the Cangaian.[7]

Characteristics

The Kangayam is of medium size, with a height at the withers of some 125–140 cm and a body weight of 340–525 kg;[2] two body types are described, a larger and a smaller.[4]: 214 

The calves are red when born, but change to grey by the age of two; cows are grey or dark grey, bulls are darker and may be black on the head and foreparts. The colour of cows and oxen fades as they age, and cows may become completely white.[4]: 214 

Use

The Kangayam was one of the two principal draught breeds used in Tamil Nadu, the other being the Hallikar. The cows give little milk: annual yield is in the range 342–1455 kg, with an average of 540 kg; the fat content is approximately 3.9%.[4]: 214 

Bulls are used in traditional bull races, as are Hallikar and Ongole bulls.[4]: 214  They are also commonly used in the traditional sport of Jallikattu.[6][8]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kangayam cattle.
  1. Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, an annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
  2. Breed datasheet: Kangayam / India (Cattle). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed January 2021.
  3. N.R. Joshi, Ralph W. Phillips (1953). Zebu Cattle of India and Pakistan. FAO Agriculture Studies No. 19. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  4. Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
  5. Marleen Felius (1995). Cattle Breeds: An Encyclopedia. Doetinchem, Netherlands: Misset. ISBN 9789054390176.
  6. Animal Husbandry: Kangayam Cattle. Tiruppur District Administration. Accessed June 2022.
  7. Breed data sheet: Cangaian / Brazil (Cattle). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed January 2021.
  8. L. Rajagopal (14 January 2018). Tamil Nadu: Bull dose Jallikattu revives Kangeyam popularity. New Indian Express. Accessed June 2022.
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