Kerala youth claims shortest cow of the world is his Kozhikode

Kozhikode: A Keralite youth has claimed that the shortest cow in the world is the one owned by him which is just 74 cm tall, shorter than the existing record holder 'Swallow' from the United Kingdom.

Keen to get his six-year-old cow into the Guinness Book of World Record, Suryaprkash from Muipoth village near here has also dented the recent claim of the Kerala Agricultural University that the 77-Cm tall Diana in its farm is all set to beat the British cow's status.

Aptly named as "Chotti" (means small one in Hndi) Prakash's pet had delivered thrice and is pregnant again.

Though a student of Charted Accountancy, it was his interest in farming and live-stock rearing that prompted Suryaprakash to have a cow belonging to the breed known in Keala as "Kasargode Dwarf", when it was just a calf about six years back.

"I learnt from some farmers that the milk of this variety of cow has high nutritional and medicinal value. But what really sparked my interest was its short-stature, amiable disposition and adaptability," Suryaprkash told PTI.

"It never scares or kicks. Even children can go near and play with it.It adapts itself easily to the sorroundings of rearing but prefers to grze in open space for fresh green grass, instead of relishing artificial cattle feed or hay", he said.

"Chotti" yields an average 2.5 litres of milk per day and its dung and urine are of higher bio-fertiliser value than those of the common varieties, he said.

Praksh said he would be making a request to the Guinness authorities with the height of his cow getting certified by a competent veterinary surgeon.The Centre for Animal Genetics and Breeding uner the Kerala University last month claimed that 77 cm tall Dina at its farm is the shortest cow, which can erase the record of 83-cm tall "Swallow", a Dexter cow from Britain.

Diana belongs to a breed called "Vechur cows", saved from the brink of extinction through a conservation programme in late 1980s.

The 'Vechur' cows derived their name from a villge near the temple town Vaikom in Kottayam district, where they were reared in large numbers in the past on account of high quality of their milk.

After extensive searches as part of conservation effots in the late 1980s, eight cows of the breed were traced in the state, with which the University started the conservation project.At present there are 100 'Vechur' cows at the college of Veterinary and animal Sciences.

They also stand out on account of their short stature and quality of milk and the first calving is possible at 36 months and inter-calving period being 14 months, according to experts

Source: Deccan Herald , 4-12-2010

Vechur cow gets a lifeline

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

Formula milk puts babies' health at risk: Study

LONDON: In one more reason why mothers should breastfeed their babies as long as possible, scientists in UK have found that formula milk contain 40 times more aluminium than breast milk, potentially putting the toddlers' health at risk.

Researchers at the Keele University, Staffordshire, who examined 16 of the UK's leading formula milk brands meant for children up to the age of one, found that traces of the metal in those products are much higher than is legally allowed in water.

One formula made by Cow & Gate — specifically marketed for premature babies — had the highest level of all, with more than 800 micrograms per litre, the researchers said.

European law states water can contain no more than 200 micrograms of aluminium per litre, the Daily Mail reported.

Dr Chris Exley, who led the study, said: "We've known about the high aluminium content in infant formula for many years and there is evidence to show it is potentially quite dangerous.

"It has been linked to neurological diseases and bone defects in later life and there are even links with dementia.

"Everyone has aluminium in their bodies but infants are especially prone to absorbing it and are not so good at getting rid of it."

However, Dr Exley stressed that it is not the case that a child is not going to drop down dead if they drink it.

Manufacturers say they do not add aluminium to their products, but many formulas are often packaged in aluminium foil.

It also occurs naturally in soya plants due to the acidic soil they are grown in, so experts advise soya milk formulas should be used only on the advice of a GP.

The Food Standards Agency does not provide a 'safe' limit for aluminium in formula milk, but Dr Exley said manufacturers should lower the level dramatically or print it on the label so parents have an informed choice.

Dr Exley said: "It is concerning, especially when the product with the highest level of aluminium we found was aimed at premature babies, who are likely to be the most vulnerable of all. It is really shocking.

"Millions of parents have no choice but to feed their children this milk. I would advise if they are using ready-made milk to switch to powder as it contains lower levels."

Source: The Times Of India, 3-9-2010