Locally known as Thenmala Kullan, the dwarf cow comes with many distinctive features, including a small hump. Reared by tribespeople in Arippa and Thenmala, they are less docile and basically thrive on forest-based fodder from nearby oil palm estates.
The Animal Husbandry department has decided to conserve the cows and launch studies to register it as a unique indigenous breed. “We have identified some cows in the area and Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) will be conducting the necessary studies. At present, we have native breeds such as Vechur and Kasaragod dwarf in Kerala and the project to conserve Thenmala Kullan is in the initial phase only,” Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development J. Chinchurani told The Hindu.
According to department officials, tribespeople from various settlements including Vanchiyidu, Edappana and Kadamankode have been rearing these cows for several decades and the animals have completely adapted to the local agro-ecological conditions. Though they produce the nutrient-rich A2 milk, the quantity is very low and they are reared mainly for calves and manure.
