Thiruvananthapuram: A calf born to a Vechur cow, the smallest cow in the world and a breed listed under the category of ‘Critical Breeds' by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, has created a lot of excitement at Chappath village near Vizhinjam here.
Not just the locals, people are coming from afar too to gaze in wonder at this beautiful white-coloured calf named Devaki and her diminutive mother, Gayathri, both of which are under the care of Santhigram, a voluntary organisation at Chappath.
Hardy breed
Vechur cow, a hardy breed of dwarf cattle indigenous to Kerala, which grows only about a maximum of 100 cm in height, has been generating a lot of interest in recent times following a study report from College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Thrissur that the milk of Vechur cow is rich in beta caseine A2, a milk protein which is protective against diabetes and heart diseases.
There are only about 200 of Vechur cows in the State, almost half of which are being bred by the veterinary college.
The breed would have gone extinct had it not been for a conservation programme that the college launched in 1989.
With all the international attention and recognition it has been receiving, owning a Vechur cow has now become a matter of pride. According to reports, there are only about five Vechur cows in the district.
Vechur cow yields only about three litres of milk daily and the milk has a much higher fat percentage than the milk produced by its cross-bred counterparts.
With the renewed demand for Vechur cows, the veterinary college at Thrissur now gives out Vechur calves bred under its conservation programme to those who submits an application to the college.
Source: The Hindu, 27-11-2010
Not just the locals, people are coming from afar too to gaze in wonder at this beautiful white-coloured calf named Devaki and her diminutive mother, Gayathri, both of which are under the care of Santhigram, a voluntary organisation at Chappath.
Hardy breed
Vechur cow, a hardy breed of dwarf cattle indigenous to Kerala, which grows only about a maximum of 100 cm in height, has been generating a lot of interest in recent times following a study report from College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Thrissur that the milk of Vechur cow is rich in beta caseine A2, a milk protein which is protective against diabetes and heart diseases.
There are only about 200 of Vechur cows in the State, almost half of which are being bred by the veterinary college.
The breed would have gone extinct had it not been for a conservation programme that the college launched in 1989.
With all the international attention and recognition it has been receiving, owning a Vechur cow has now become a matter of pride. According to reports, there are only about five Vechur cows in the district.
Vechur cow yields only about three litres of milk daily and the milk has a much higher fat percentage than the milk produced by its cross-bred counterparts.
With the renewed demand for Vechur cows, the veterinary college at Thrissur now gives out Vechur calves bred under its conservation programme to those who submits an application to the college.
Source: The Hindu, 27-11-2010
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