Ongole cattle

Ongole Bull of Moses. This Bull won AP State Award and also the first prize at " Southern regional live stock and poultry show", Palghat, Kerala - 1988.


Ongole cattle are indigenous to the Andhra region in the Prakasam District in the State of Andhra Pradesh in India. The breed derives its name from the place name, Ongole. Some also refer to this breed as Nelore cattle as this area was once part of the Nellore area. The bull, Bos Indicus, is in great demand as it is said to possess resistance to both foot and mouth disease and mad cow disease.[1] These cattle are commonly used in bull fights in Mexico and some parts of East Africa due to their strength and aggressiveness. This bull also participates traditional bull fight in Tamil Nadu, Andra pradesh. The cattle breeders use the fighting ability of ongole bulls to choose right bulls for breeding and thus sustaining the breed with purity and strength for so long time.

Origin

This Ongole Bull of Sri Polavarapu Hanumaiah (third from right) won national award 1961 - 62 . Pt. Nehru (second from right) the then prime minister of India.
Ongole Bull of Moses after winning the Andhra Pradesh State Award in 1988 with Sri NT Rama Rao [green turban] the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and Sri Balaram Jhakar [red turban] the then Agricultural Minister, Government of India.

Ongole cattle are famous for their bulls. Traditionally, the Ongole have been raised by local farmers, fed by both the Gundlakamma, one of the rivers that originates from the Nallamala Hills, and in the plains, the Paleru river, a tributary of the Krishna River. The Ongole occupy an area no larger than about 100 square miles between the Gundlakamma and Musi rivers.[2]

Ongole bulls have gone as far as America, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, Indonesia, West Indies, Australia, Fiji, Mauritius, Indo-China and Philippines. The Brahmana bull in America is an off-breed of the Ongole. Ongole is an place located in Andra Pradesh, India where many Ongoles breed cows can be found. The population of Ongole off-breed in Brazil is said to be around several millions. The famous Santa Gertrudis breed developed in Texas, USA have Ongole blood.[3]

Characteristics


Ongole cattle are known for their toughness, rapid growth rate, and natural tolerance to tropical heat and disease resistance. It was the first Indian breed of cattle to gain worldwide recognition.[4]

Ongole bull

The Ongole is one of the heaviest breeds. They weigh approximately half a ton, are 1.5 meters in height and have a body length of 1.6 meters and girth measuring 2 meters.[5]

Ongole cow

The weight of an Ongole female is 432 to 455 kg. Milk yield is 600 kg to 2518 kg. The lactation period is 279 days.[6] Ongole milk has a butterfat content of over five percent. This results in large, well-nourished calves with considerable growth by the time of weaning. Ongole cows stay close to their calves to protect them from predatory animals.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Andhra’s Ongole bulls are prized as they are said to be resistant to mad cow disease - source Outlook India.
  2. ↑ Breeds of Livestock, Reference: Joshi, N.R., Phillips, R.W. (1953) Zebu Cattle of India and Pakistan, FAO Agriculture Studies No. 19, Publ. By FAO, Rome, 256 pp.
  3. ↑ .
  4. ↑ A STUDY ON COAT COLOUR IN ONGOLE CALVES* R. Vinoo, G. Narasimha Rao1, B. Ramesh Gupta2 and K. Babu Rao, Cattle Project, Lam Farm, Guntur - 522 034, India
  5. ↑ Important Breeds of Cattle and Buffalos in India - Ongole Bull
  6. ↑ Characteristics of the Ongole Cattle Breed - Source Department of Animal Husbandry Dairying & Fisheries (DADF) in India
  7. ↑ PRESERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF ONGOLE CATTLE by Mullapudi Narendra Nath* Tanuku - 534 211 (AP), India
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