Kangayam bulls steal the show in cattle fair

The three-day cattle festival organised by Vanavarayar Foundation to showcase the beauty and special qualities of native breed of bulls began with a ‘kho’ pooja on Friday. The main event of the festival was the cattle show on Saturday. Organisers said that over the years the event has been attracting several thousands of cattle and spectators as well. 

“In the inaugural fair in 2015, over 500 animals were part of the event. Then the number rose to 700 last year. This year it is set to cross the 1000-mark as we have one more day, Sunday, to go,” said one of the organisers M Velliangiri on Saturday. 

He thanked the jallikattu protesters for creating better awareness on native breed of bulls. “The footfalls at the event has increased several times this year, thanks to the pro-jallikattu protest,” he added.  The event was conceptualised by a group of native cattle breed enthusiasts who foresaw the threat that native breeds would face about six years ago. While a major share of the participating cattle was of the Kangayam breed, the other native breeds that participated were Umbalacheri (Thanjavur), Pattimadu or Malaimaadu (Theni), Bargur (Erode) and Alambadi (Erode). 

In all 26 competitions were conducted for the cattle in various age and sub-breed categories. The Kangayam breed alone had 15 competitions separately for the Mayilai (white), Sevalai (brown or red), Kari (black), Poochi and Kura (other colours). 

Ten judges including seven veterinarians of the Animal Husbandry Department and three expert breeders judged the winners on a host of criteria such as their height, teeth, hooves, horns, hump, face, barrel size and tail. A few Sahiwal breed cows from Haryana, Gir from Gujarat and Ongole from Andhra Pradesh, dwarf goats, rams, horses and camel that are raised by native breed enthusiasts in Pollachi and nearby areas were also on display at the fair. 

Last year 15 jallikattu bulls took part in the event despite the ban on the sport. “Only five are here this year as the rest are away at Avaniyapuram to prove their strength at the jallikattu encounter on Sunday,” another organiser M Sabari Prakash said. 

On Sunday, a competition for native breed dogs, goats, roosters and other animals will be conducted. This will be followed by the championship show where winners of all the native breeds will compete in the evening. The winner gets a two sovereign gold coin. With the ban on jallikattu and rekla race almost permanently lifted, breeders and enthusiasts strongly feel that the native breeds have got a new lease of life. “I will participate with more native breed bulls and cows in the competition next year,” says M Murugan whose bulls and cows won prizes in the event last year.