Kangayam cattle

The Kangayam or Kangeyam is an Indian breed of draught cattle from the state of Tamil Nadu, in South India.^[3]: 211 Its area of origin is Kongu Nadu, the region surrounding Coimbatore, close to the border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala,^[4]: 214 but it is distributed over a considerably wider area.^[5]: 410 The breed name derives from that of the town of Kangeyam.^[6] It may also be called Kanganad or Kongu.^[2]

Kangayam

Cow
Bull
Conservation status	FAO (2007): not at risk[1]: 135  DAD-IS (2021): not at risk[2]
Other names	Kangeyam Kanganad Kongu Cangaian (in Brazil)
Country of origin	India
Traits
Weight	Male: 523 kg[2] Female: 341 kg[2]
Height	Male: 140 cm[2] Female: 125 cm[2]
Coat	grey, darker in bulls
Horn status	horned
Cattle Bos (primigenius) indicus

History

A yoked pair

The Kangayam is a traditional draught breed of Tamil Nadu. It is not closely related to the other draught breed of the state, the Umblachery, but may have received some influence from the Ongole of Andhra Pradesh.^{[4]: 214 [3]: 211} Its area of origin is the region surrounding Coimbatore, close to the border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala,^[4]: 214 but it is distributed over a considerably wider area;^[5]: 410 the name of the breed derives from that of the taluk of Kangeyam in Tiruppur District.^[6]

In 1996 there were 479000 of the cattle;^[4]: 214 in 2022 a total population of between 127500 and 152500 head was reported to the DAD-IS database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.^[2]

It has been exported to Brazil, where it is called the Cangaian.^[7]

Characteristics

The Kangayam is of medium size, with a height at the withers of some 125–140 cm and a body weight of 340–525 kg;^[2] two body types are described, a larger and a smaller.^[4]: 214

The calves are red when born, but change to grey by the age of two; cows are grey or dark grey, bulls are darker and may be black on the head and foreparts. The colour of cows and oxen fades as they age, and cows may become completely white.^[4]: 214

Use

The Kangayam was one of the two principal draught breeds used in Tamil Nadu, the other being the Hallikar. The cows give little milk: annual yield is in the range 342–1455 kg, with an average of 540 kg; the fat content is approximately 3.9%.^[4]: 214

Bulls are used in traditional bull races, as are Hallikar and Ongole bulls.^[4]: 214 They are also commonly used in the traditional sport of Jallikattu.^[6][8]