Castration of bulls, made mandatory under the Kerala Livestock Improvement Act of 1961 for promoting hybrid cattle varieties, is still done in the State though many endemic pure breeds have either disappeared or are on the verge of extinction in the State.

As per the data available with the Animal Husbandry Department, 2,694 bulls were castrated during 2012-13. Shaji Thundathil, district coordinator, Zero Budget Farming, who received the data under the Right to Information Act, told The Hindu on Tuesday that as pure endemic cattle varieties were on the verge of extinction in the State, concerted efforts were needed to protect Kasaragod dwarf, Vechur, Cheruvally, and other endemic breeds. He said that a survey should be conducted to identify the number of pure-bred cattle varieties.

Acts in conflict

“While the Biodiversity Act, 2002, lays stress on protecting natural breeds, the Kerala Livestock Improvement Act is in conflict with the former,” he said. Artificial insemination being propagated in the State had affected the healthy growth of the endemic breed.

Under threat

While 20 per cent of the cattle in the country were local varieties, their number was even fewer in the State.

The Vechur cow, known as the world’s shortest cattle breed, and other endemic cattle species had to be protected through government intervention. Local breeds should be protected for the high fat content in milk, low feed requirement, and high resistance to diseases, he said.

Long-term plan

Sosamma Ipe of the Vechur Conservation Trust, Thrissur, which prepared a long-term plan for conservation of endemic cattle, said that lack of government policy and concrete planning had affected the survival of the endemic cattle species.

Only through government action, such breeds could be protected now.

No medicinal property

Crossbreeding had affected the purity of the cattle species and there were instances of hybrid cattle being sold to farmers in the guise of Vechur cow, she said, adding that there were no medicinal properties to its milk as claimed by certain quarters.

Mr. Shaji said that a campaign for protecting pure breeds would be launched.

Biodiversity Act 2002 lays stress on protecting natural breeds

2,694 bulls castrated during 2012-13

1961 Act made castration of bulls mandatory to promote hybrid varieties.