Why Kankrej Cow?
Royal Kankrej Cow Breed
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A Dual-Purpose Marvel
The Kankrej is one of India's most distinguished and heaviest dual-purpose cattle breeds, renowned for its strength as a draft animal and its milk-producing capacity in arid climates. Often referred to as "Royal" due to its majestic appearance and high value, the breed is a pride of its native region.
Key Characteristics
1. Color: The coat color typically ranges from silver-grey to iron-grey or steel black. Bulls often have darker shading on the forequarters, hump, and hindquarters.
2. Build: It is a large and muscular breed with a prominent hump, broad forehead, and loose, pendulous dewlap and skin, which aids in heat dissipation.
3. Horns: A distinctive feature is the strong, lyre-shaped horns that point outwards and upwards, often covered with skin up to a higher point than other breeds.
4. Ears: They have characteristic large, pendulous, and open ears.
Gait: The Kankrej has a peculiar, smooth gait known as "Sawai chal" (meaning 1¼ paces), where the head is held noticeably high.
Origin and Distribution
Native Tract: The Kankrej breed is indigenous to the arid and semi-arid regions of Gujarat (particularly the area southeast of the Rann of Kutch, including the Kankrej taluka in Banaskantha district) and adjoining areas of Rajasthan.
Other Names: It is also known by regional names such as Wagad, Wadhir, Wadhiar, Talabda, and is famously known as Guzerat in Brazil, where it was instrumental in developing the American Brahman breed.
Utility and Productivity
1. Dual-Purpose: The Kankrej is highly valued for both milk production and powerful draught work. Bullocks are prized as fast, strong animals for heavy agricultural operations and road transport.
2 Milk Yield: While considered a moderate milk producer, the cows are fair yielders, especially given the harsh conditions they thrive in.
3 Average Lactation Yield: Typically ranges from 1,700 to 1,800 kg per lactation (approx. 300 days). Exceptional cows have a much higher genetic potential, with yields sometimes reaching over 3,000 kg.
4 Milk Quality: The milk is known for its high-fat content, averaging around 4.8%, making it excellent for traditional dairy products like ghee.
5 Resilience: The breed is exceptionally hardy and well-adapted to hot and arid climates, exhibiting strong resistance to heat stress, tick fever, and low incidence of contagious diseases.
The Kankrej cow is a symbol of resilience and utility, forming a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture and dairy farming in India's tough western regions.