Umblachery
The Umblachery is an Indian breed of zebuine cattle.[4] It is distributed in the coastal plains of the districts of Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Thanjavur in the state of Tamil Nadu in South India. It was bred for draught work, particularly in the rice paddies of the area.[3]: 319 [5]
 Bull | |
 Cow | |
| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | India |
| Distribution | Tamil Nadu |
| Traits | |
| Weight | |
| Height | |
| Coat | grey, bulls darker than cows[3]: 319 |
| Horn status | small horns in both sexes[2] |
| |
History
The Umblachery of eastern and central Tamil Nadu is thought to have derived from cross-breeding of local cattle with animals of the Kangayam cattle breed of the same state.[3]: 319 It is distributed in the coastal plains of the districts of Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Thanjavur.[6] A census in 2000 found 283157 head.[2] In 2007 its conservation status was reported by the FAO as "endangered".[1]: 59 In 2013 the breed population was reported to be between 39000 and 72000; in 2020 the conservation status reported to DAD-IS was "not at risk".[2]
Characteristics
The Umblachery is a small breed, standing just over a metre at the withers. Cows are grey, with darker markings on the face and neck and on the hindquarters; bulls are darker, and may have white markings such as white socks or a white star on the face. The horns are small in both sexes. Calves are born a reddish colour, which changes to grey within the first year of life.[3]: 320
Use
The Umblachery was bred for draught work, particularly in the rice paddies of the area.[3]: 319 [5] It may also be milked: the milk has a fat content of about 4.9%; the annual yield is approximately 400 kg.[3]: 319
References
- Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed January 2017.
- Breed data sheet: Russkii Tyazhelovoz / Russian Federation (Horse). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2020.
- Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
- Breed data sheet: Umblachery/India. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed March 2017.
- R. Rajendran, T. V. Raja, A. K. Thiruvenkadan, A. Mahalinga Nainar, P. Thangaraju. (2008) Morphobiometrical characteristics and management of Umblachery cattle from coastal region of Tamilnadu, India. Livestock Research for Rural Development 20 (3). Accessed June 2020.
- R. Rajendran (2007). Lactation performance and milk constituents of Umblachery breed of cattle (Bos indicus) in its native coastal ecology of Tamilnadu, India. Livestock Research for Rural Development 19 (5). Accessed June 2020.
Further reading
- Premkumar V. Thomas (1995). Breed Characteristics and Performance of Umblachery Cattle, doctoral dissertation. Available from the Krishikosh Institutional Repository of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.