Indigenous Cattle Breeds of India

Sr Breed District State Comment Synonym Color

.
1 Sitamarhi, Bihar Bachaur cattle are now White and
Bachaur Darbhanga, concentrated in the areas adjoining Bhuti Grey
Madhubani Nepal border comprising Bachaur a
and Koilpur sub-divisions of
Sitamarhi district.
2 Badri Nanital, Uttara Altitude ranged from 1200 to 2200 Pahadi Black, Brown
Almora, khand msl and sunshine from 6 to 10 or Grey
Bageshwar, hours per day. Major crops grown
Pithoragarh, in the area are wheat, rice, arhar,
Champawat, soyabean, bajra, barley, potato,
Pauri Garhwal, etc.
Tehri Garhwal,
Rudraprayag,
Uttarkashi,
Chamoli
3 Bargur Erode Tamil Animals are very sensitive and fiery NA Brown with
nadu in disposition and are difficult to White
train. They are light in built and are marking
developed mainly for carrying out
agricultural operations in the
uneven and hilly terrain. Cattle of
this breed are unsurpassed in
speed and endurance in trotting.
4. Belahi Ambala, Haryana Breeding tract lies in the foothills of Moorni, Reddish
Panchkula, , Shivalik in Haryana. Deshi Brown & Grey
Yamunanagar Chandig Gujjars known as Langarias, are or White.
arh maintaining the breed for
generations.
5. Binjharp Jajpur, Odisha Whole Jajpur district and adjoining Deshi White. Some
uri Bhadrak, areas of Kendrapara and Bhadrak. animals are
Kendrapara Heavy concentration is in Bari, Grey, Black or
Binjharpur and Dasrathapur area of Brown in
Jajpur district. colour
6. Dagri Godhara/Panch Gujarat Mainly for draught purpose. Gujarat Predominantl
Mahal, Dahod, However, it gives less amount of Malvi y white,
Narmada, milk. Some cows are not milked by sometimes
Chhotaudepur, the farmers at all and milk suckled with grey
Mahisagar. completely by male calf. shade
7. Dangi The Dangs, Gujarat Dangi cattle are extensively used Kandadi White coat
& for ploughing, harrowing and other colour with
 Thane, Nashik, Mahara field operations, and also for red or black
Ahmednagar. shtra carting timber from forest area. spots
The breed is well known for its distributed
excellent working qualities in heavy unevenly over
rainfall areas, rice fields and hilly the body.
tracts.
8. Deoni Bidar, Karnata The breeding tract lies in the Surti, usually
Parbhani, ka, Balaghat range of Sahyadri hills Dongarpa spotted black
Nanded, Maha extending from Kannad taluk of ti, Dongri, and white.
Osmanabad, rashtra Aurangabad to Deglur taluk of Wannera, This breed
Latur Marathwada region of Waghyd, has three
Maharashtra state. The actual Balankya strains viz.
place of origin is Deoni, Udgir and and 1- Complete
Ahmadpur taluks of Latur district. Shevera white
(Balankya).
2.- Complete
white with
partial black
face
(Wannera)
3-Black and
white spotted
(Waghyd or
Shevera).
9. Gangatiri Bhojpur, Bihar, Medium milk producer and possess Eastern Complete
Varanasi, Uttar good draftability. Hariana white
Mirzapur, Pradesh Derived the name from its habitat, or (Dhawar),
Ghazipur, Ballia in the area nearby river Ganga . Shahabad Grey (Sokan)
i

1 Gaolao Balaghat, Madhya This is a fast trotting type breed Arvi, Blackish
0 Chhindwara, Pradesh suitable for quick transportation in Gaulgani white in
Seoni, Durg, , hilly areas. It resembles Ongole males and
Rajnandgaon, Mahara very much except that it is much White in
Wardha, shtra lighter and has greater agility. female. Males
Nagpur Nanda Gawali community has are generally
developed this breed. grey over the
neck.
1 Ghumus Ganjam, Orissa Western part of Ganjam district Deshi Mainly White
1 ari Phulbani and adjoining areas of Phulbani sometimes
district. Heavy concentration is in Grey
Bhanjanagar, Sorada and Aska area
of Ganjam district
1 Gir Amreli, Gujarat Gir cows are good milk producers. Bhodali, Most of the
2 Bhavnagar, Bullocks can drag heavy loads on all Desan, Gir aninmals
Junagadh, kinds of soils, be it sandy, black or Gujarati, are pure red
Rajkot rocky. Kathiawar though some
i, Sorthi, are speckled
and Surati red.
1 Hallikar Bangalore, Karnata The Hallikar breed of cattle is Mysore White to light
3 Chitradurga, ka distributed in almost all the grey with
 Hassan, Kolar, districts of south Karnataka and is darker
Mandya, also found in adjoining areas of shadings on
Mysore, Andhra Pradesh shoulder and
Tumkur hind quarters,
especially in
young
breeding
bulls.
1 Hariana Hisar, Rohtak, Haryana Hariana is a prominent dual Hansi Animals are
4 Sonepat, purpose breed of north India - white or light
Gurgaon, Jind, widely spread in Indo Gangetic grey in
Jhajjar plains. It is primarily reared for colour. In
bullock production . Cows are also bulls colour in
fairly good milkers. between fore
and hind
quarters is
relatively
dark or dark
grey.
1 Himachal Chamba, Himach The ecology of habitat is sub- Pahari, Primarily
5 i Pahari Kangra, al tropical/sub- Desi, black and
Kinnaur, Kullu, Pradesh humid/temperate/cold local, blackish
Mandi, Shimla, mountainous type. The climate is Gauri, brown
Sirmaur, Lahul characterized by seasonal Himdhen
& Spiti variations in temperature, humidity u
and sunshine. There are three
distinct seasons round the year in
Himachal Pradesh; winter (October
to February), summer (March to
June) and rainy (July to
September). A snowfall at the
elevations of about 3000 m is
about 3 m and lasts from
December to March.
1 Kangaya Coimbatore, Tamilna Animals true to the type are Kanganad Coat is red at
6 m Erode, du available in Kangayam and , Kongu birth, but
Dindigul, Karur, Dharapuram taluks of Erode changes to
Namakkal district, and Karur taluk of Karur grey at about
district. Bullocks have a good 6 month of
capacity for work and are used for age. Bulls are
all agricultural operations. grey with
Kangayam bullocks alone are used dark colour in
for sugarcane load hauling, though hump, fore
other draught breeds are available and hind
in the area. quarters, face
and legs.
Bullocks are
grey. Cows
are grey or
white and
grey. The face
 of majority of
cows is dark
grey.
1 Kankrej Ahmadabad, Gujarat, Agricultural operations and road Wadad or Varies from
7 BanasKantha, Rajastha transport in village area are mainly Waged, silver-grey to
Kheda, n carried out by bullocks of this Vagadia, iron grey or
Mahesana, breed. It takes its name from the Talabda, steel grey. In
SabarKantha, name of geographical area i.e. Kank Nagar, males fore &
Kutchchh, taluka of Banaskantha district in Bonnai hind quarters
Barmer, Gujarat. and hump are
Jodhpur slightly darker
than the rest
of the body.
1 Kenkatha Lalitpur, Banda, Madhya Very popular for light draught on Kenwaria Colour veries
8 Hamirpur Pradesh road and for cultivation. from grey on
& Uttar The Kenkantha cattle take their the barrel to
Pradesh name from the river Ken as they dark grey on
are bred along the banks of this the rest of
river in the area of Bundelkhand. body.
1 Khariar Balangir, Odisha Nuapada district and adjoining area Deshi Mainly
9 Kalahandi, in Kalahandi and Balangir district. Brown,
Nowpara Heavy concentration is in Khariar, sometimes
Komna, Sinapali and Boden blocks Grey
of Nuapada district.
Indigenous breed named after the
its native tract "Khariar" in
Nuapada district of Orissa

2 Kherigar Kheri Uttar Some animals are also found in Kheri, Animals have
0 h Pradesh adjoining Pilibhit district. Kharigarh, white coat
Bullocks are very good for draught Khari colour. Some
purposes. They run very fast. This animals have
breed has been named after the grey colour
name of area. distributed all
over body
espeically on
face.
2 Khillar Belgaum, Karnata Bullocks are known for quick Mandeshi Khillaris of
1 Bijapur, ka & draught capability. , Shikari, Deccan
Dharwad, Mahars Originated from Hallikar or Thillar plateau - the
Gulbarga, htra Amritmahal breed of cattle. Khillari Mhaswad and
Bagalkote, means herd of cattle and herdman the Atapadi
Pune, Satara, is known as Khillari or Thillari. Four Mahal type
angli, Solapur, types of Khillari are prevalent in are greyis-
Kolhapur, different parts. Atpadi Mahal in white. Males
Osmanabad Southern Maharashtra, Mhaswad are dark over
in Solapur and Satara area, Thillari the fore &
in Satpura range of hills, and Nakali hind quarters
in adjoining area of this region. with peculiar
grey and
white mottled
 marking on
face. The
Tapti Khillaris
are white
with carroty
nose and
carroty
hooves.
2 Konkan Thane, Mahara Konkan region exhibits peculiar Konkan Animals are
2 Kapila Raigadh, shtra physiographic set up with gidda, of various
Ratnagiri, undulating terrain throughout the Konkan coat colours,
Sindhudurg, region, except coastal plains. The predominant
Palghar area ranges in elevation from mean being reddish
sea level up to 200 to 1425.50 brown
meter. followed by
The animals are useful to the black.
farmers in all kinds of agricultural However
operations.In some of the Konkan white/grey,
area, Konkan Kapila cows are the mixed, brown
only source of milk due to non- or fawn coat
availability of dairy milk because of colour
lack of transport facilities. animals are
also available.
2 Kosali Raipur, Durg, Chattisg Predominately seen in the plain Mainly light
3 Bilaspur, Janjgir arh area of Chhattisgarh. The ancient red (60-65%),
name of this region was ‘Kowshal’, followed by
named after the maternal uncle whitish grey
house of Lord Ram.Farmers (30-35%).
particularly Yadava/Rawuth Few animals
community are keeping this cattle (3-5%) having
generation after generation. black coat
colour or red
with white
patches also
seen
2 Krishna Belgaum, Gir cattle from Kathiawar, Ongole Krishna The common
4 Valley Bijapur, from Andhra Pradesh, Kankrej from Valley colour is grey
Raichur, Satara, Gujarat and local cattle having - white with a
Sangli, Solapur Mysore type blood in them have darker shade
contributed to the origin of Krishna on fore &
Valley breed. This is a heavy hind quarters
draught breed and used exclusively in males.
in the black cotton soil of the Adult females
watershed of river Krishna. are more
whitish in
appearance.
Brown &
white, black
& white, and
mottled
 colours are
often seen.
2 Ladakhi Leh, Kargil Jammu It is a high altitude desert. The Mostly black
5 & main source of water is the winter followed by
Kashmir snowfall on the mountains. The brown.
regions on the north flank of the
Himalayas—Dras, the Suru valley
and Zanskar—experience heavy
snowfall and remain virtually cut
off from the rest of the country for
several months in the year.
Summers are short, although long
enough to grow crops. The
proportion of oxygen is less than in
many other places at a comparable
altitude because of lack of
vegetation. Naked barley, normal
barley and wheat are the staple
crops all over Ladakh, along with
mustard (for oil), lentils and other
pulses, and vegetables.
2 Lakhimi Assam Assam The indigenous cattle of Assam Brown & Grey
6 locally called as Lakhimi are found
in the entire state of Assam.
Bullocks are excellent draft animals
for carting and ploughing especially
in the muddy fields for paddy
cultivation.The milk produced by
Lakhimi cattle is rich in fat for
which it fetches a high price.
2 Malnad Chikmagalur, Karnata They play a major role in the rural Gidda, The
7 Gidda Dakshina ka economy of this region by Uradana ( predominant
Kannada, providing milk, manure and draft Meaning coat colour is
Hassan, power with negligible inputs. village black with
Kodagu, The word Gidda means dwarf and cow), light shades
Shimoga, Uttar Malnad means a place receiving Varshaga of fawn on
Kannada, heavy rainfall, where these cattle ndhi thigh and
Udupi are inhabited. Malay means hilly, (gives one shoulder
Nadu means place (Malay+Nadu= calf every region.
Malnad) and gidda means small. year)

2 Malvi Rajgarh, Madhya Also found in Ratlam district and Mahadeo Malvi cattle
8 Shajapur, Pradesh adjacent areas of Madhya Pradesh. puri, are white or
Ujjain Well known for quick Manthani white greyish
transportation, endurance and - darker in
ability to carry heavy load on rough males, with
roads. Named after its place of neck,
origin viz. Malwa region shoulders,
hump and
quarters
almost black.
 Cows and
bullocks
become
nearly pure
white with
age.
2 Mewati Gurgaon, Haryana Mewati cattle are powerfull and Kosi and Mewati cattle
9 Faridabad, , docile, and are useful for heavy Mehwati are usually
Alwar, Rajastha ploughing, carting and drawing white with
Bharatpur, n& water from deep wells. neck,
Mathura Uttar Similar to Hariana but there are shoulders and
Pradesh traces of influence of Gir, Kankrej quarters of a
and Malvi breeds. darker shade.

3 Motu Malkanagari Oddisa Southern part of Malkangiri district Deshi Mainly Brown
0 and adjoining area of Chhattisgarh (Reddish)
and Andhra Pradesh. Heavy sometimes
concentration is in Motu, Kalimela, Grey. Few
Podia and Malkangiri area of animals are
Malkangiri district in Orissa. Sandy white in
and clay type soil is predominant. colour
Most of the area is covered with
forest. Indigenous breed. Named
after local area "Motu" of
Malkangiri district in Orissa
3 Nagori Bikaner, Rajastha Home tract is Nagaur district but Generally
1 Jodhpur, n animals are also found in adjoining white or light
Nagaur Jodhpur district and Nokha tehsil of grey. In some
Bikaner district. Nagori takes its cases head,
name from its home tract i.e. face and
Nagaur district of Rajasthan in shoulder are
Western India slightly
greyish.
3 Nari Banas Kantha, Gujarat, Majority of the Nari cattle Sirohi Varies from
2 Sabar Kantha, Rajastha population are found surrounding white or
Pali, Sirohi n the Aravali forest range.These greyish white
regions are slightly hilly and in colour in
undulating area. The climate of the majority of
region is semi-arid tropical and has animals and
higher mean temperature. The bulls are
maximum temperature may go up either white,
to 450C during hottest months i.e. greyish white
April to June. The annual rainfall in or black
the area ranges from 300 to 668
mm.
3 Nimari Khargaon / Madhya Mainly in Central parts of Khargaon, Brownish red
3 West Nimar, Pradesh Khargaon, Badwani districts and Khargoni, (Copper
Badwani very few in the bordering Dhar Khurgoni colour) and
district and adjacent areas of white giving
Madhya Pradesh and adjoining spotted
districts of Maharashtra state.
 Used for all agricultural operations appearance
as well as for transportation. (Chitkabri)
3 Ongole East Godavari, Andhra The breeding tract extends all Nellore Ongole have
4 Guntur, Ongole PRadesh along the coast from Nellore to a glossy white
/ Prakasam, Vizianagram. Ongoles have been coat called
Nellore, exported to several countries. USA padakateeru
Kurnool imported it for beef; Brazil for beef by the
and milk; Sri Lanka, Fiji and Jamaica breeders.
for draught; Australia for heat Males have
tolerance and beef; and dark grey
Switzerland for disease resistance. markings on
head, neck
and hump,
black points
on knees and
pasterns,
black muzzle
and black
eye-lashes.
3 Poda Nagarkurnool Telenga Amrabad forest and its adjoining Thurpu Light brown
5 Thurpu na areas of Achampet, Amrabad, to dark brown
Lingal, Padra Mandals are the patches on
native habitat of the Poda Thurpu white coat.
cattle breed. Majority of this cattle
population and uniformity/purity
of the breed is found in the
surrounding areas of Amrabad
forest. Bullocks are powerful and
very good for heavy ploughing and
carting heavy loads. They are quick
and agile.
3 Ponwar Pilibhit Uttar This breed is found in the Puranpur Purnea Ponwar cattle
6 Pradesh tehsil of Pilibhit district. Animals are usually
true to the breed are found in brown or
Mainakot, Mazara, Bhirkhera, black with
Faizulaganj and Rajpur Semra white
villages falling under Madhotanda patches.
veterinary Hospital area of There is no
Puranpur. particular
pattern but
black and
white patches
are
intermixed.
3 Pulikula Madurai, Tamilna Bulls are used in Bull riding Palingu Dark grey in
7 m Sivaganda/Pas du (Jallikattu) which is very popular maadu, males and
umpon muthu game in the area. Mani white or grey
thevar, The animals survive well on maadu, in females.
Virudhunagar/ extensive grazing in the tropical Jallikattu
Kamarajar climate of the area in the open maadu,
housing system. mattu
 maadu,
Kilakattu
maadu
3 Punganu Chitoor Andhra The breed tract is confined to the Punganur
8 r PRadesh taluks of Punganur and adjacent cattle are
taluks of Vayalpad, Madnapalli and white, grey or
Palamaner in Chittoor district of light brown to
Andhra Pradesh. These animals are dark brown
used for agricultural operations on or red. White
light soil. Bullocks are used for mixed with
carts like tongas and for special red or black
races. colour
animals are
also available.
Combination
of white with
brown or
black patches
is not
uncommon.
3 Purnea Madhepura, Bihar Purnea cattle are distributed in Primarily grey
9 Purnia, Katihar, Seemanchal region of Bihar followed by
Araria, comprising entire districts of red and black.
Kishanganj, Araria, Purnea and Katihar, and the
Supaul adjoining areas of Kishanganj,
Supaul and Madhepura districts.
Very good drought and heat
tolerant capabilities.
4 Rathi Bikaner, Rajastha Rathi animals are particularly Usually
0 Ganganagar, n concentarted in Loonkaransar brown with
Jaisalmer tehsil of Bikaner district which is white patches
also known as Rathi tract. It takes all over the
its name from a pastroal tribe body, but
called Raths who are Muslims of animals
Rajput extraction and lead a having
nomadic life. Rathi cattle seems to completely
have originated from the mixture brown, or
of Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar black coat
and Dhanni breeds apparently with with white
a preponderance of Sahiwal blood. patches are
often
encountered.
4 Red Ahmadnagar, Mahara Pure Red Kandhari animals are Lakhalbun The colour is
1 Kandhari Parbhani, shtra found in Kandhar, Mukhed, da uniform deep
Beed, Nanded, Nanded and Biloli tehsils of Nanded dark red, but
Latur distrcit; Ahmadpur, Parli and variations
Hingoli tehsils of Latur district. from a dull
Bullocks are used for heavy work. red to
Origin almost brown
are also
found. Bulls
 as a rule, are
a shade
darker than
cows.
4 Red Pakistan The original breeding tract is in Malir This breed
2 Sindhi Pakistan but some organised herds (Baluchist has distinctly
are available in Orissa, Tamil nadu, an), Red red colour.
Bihar, Kerala and Assam states of Karachi Red shades
India. and vary from
Sindhi. dark red to
dim yellow.
Though
patches of
white are
seen on
dewlap and
sometime on
forehead, no
large white
patches are
present on
the body. In
bulls, colour
is dark on the
shoulders and
thighs.
4 Sahiwal Ferozpur, Punjab, A few herds of pure Sahiwal cattle Lambi Brownish red
3 Amritsar, Rajastha are available aound Fazilka and Bar, Lola, colour,
Ganganagar n Abohar towns of Ferozepur district. Montgom shades may
One of the best dairy breed of zebu ery, vary from a
cattle. It is being utilized for Multani mahogany
improvement of local stock. and Teli red brown to
more greyish
red.
Extremities in
bulls are
darker than
rest of body
colour.
Occasionally
there are
white
patches.
4 Shweta North Goa, Goa Farmers and elder persons in the Gaunthi/ White
4 Kapila South Goa Valpoi and Seekeri region (North Gavthi
Goa) are of the view that the milk dhavi
from Shweta kapila cows is having
medicinal properties.
4 Siri Darjeeling, West Bullocks are the only source of Trahbum Animals are
5 Sikkim North, Bengal, draught power. either black
Gyalshing, Sikkim with white
 Namchi, patches or
Gangtok, brown with
Sikkim East, white
Sikkim West, patches. In
Sikkim South. some cases
they are
totally black
or brown.
4 Tharpark Kutch, Barmer, Gujrat, Tharparkar animals are found along White Animals are
6 ar Jaisalmer, Rajastha the Indo-Pak border covering Sindhi, white or light
Jodhpur n Western Rajasthan and upto Rann Grey grey. Face
of Kutch in Gujarat. Sindhi, and
The name of Tharparkar has been Thari extremities
derived from the place of its origin are of a
i.e. the Thar desert. darker shade
than the
body. In bulls
neck, hump,
and fore and
hind quarters
are also dark.

4 Thutho Nagaland Nagalan Thutho cattle are available in all Ameshi, Black or
7 d districts of Nagaland. Climate is hot Sheapi, brown,
to warm sub-tropical. Annual raifall Chokru, sometimes
ranges from 1400-1800mm. Well Tseso white patches
adapted to hilly region and able to on face and
graze on hill slopes even during body
rainfall
4 Umblach Nagapatinam, Tamilna All unions of Thiruvarur district; Jathimadu Red at birth
8 ery Thiruvarur du Keelalyur, Kelvelur, Nagapattinam, , which
Thalaignayar, Thirumarugal and Mottaima changes to
Vedaranyam unions of dhu, grey at three
Nagapatrtinam district of Tamil Molaimad to four
Nadu. These are light built draught hu, months of
animals developed for work in Southern, age. Bulls are
marshy paddy fields. Tanjore, dark grey
Therkuthi with black
madhu extremities.
Bullocks are
grey in colour
with light
dark
extremities.
Cows are grey
in colour and
light dark
grey is
present in
face, neck
 and hip
region.
4 Vechur Alappuzha / Kerala Kuttanad, a unique agricultural Animals are
9 Alleppey, tract, which covers Alappuzha, light red,
Kottayam, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta; and black or fawn
Pathanam Kasaragod districts of Kerala. Milk and white.
Thitta, production in Vechur cattle is
Kasargode relatively higher than in other
dwarf cattle available in this area.
5 Amritma Chikmagalur, Karnata Famous draught breed known for Doddadan Grey, but
0 hal Chitradurga, ka its power and endurance. Animals a, Jawari varies from
Hassan, are fiery and active. Bullocks are Dana, white to
Shimoga, especially suited for trotting and Number almost black.
Tumkur, quick transportation. Dana White grey
Davanagere markings are
present on
face and
dewlap in
some
animals. Dark
shades on
neck,
shoulder,
hump and
hind quarters.
5 Kasarago Mangalore and Karnata Excellent milking ability and gives
1 d Gidda Kasaragod ka and mineral rich milk
Kerala