The breed is officially recognised as an indigenous Indian cattle breed, with Maharashtra and Karnataka recorded as its native tract. Its registered accession number is INDIA_CATTLE_1108_KHILLAR_03014.
The Kangayam is one of Tamil Nadu’s most celebrated indigenous cattle breeds—a compact, muscular and
The history of the Amritmahal is closely connected with the rulers of Mysore. The term “Amrit Mahal” has commonly been interpreted as referring to an establishment or department created for maintaining cattle associated with the royal household. The original herds reportedly included recognised Mysore cattle types such as Hallikar, Hagalvadi and Chitaldroog or Chitradurga cattle.
Hallikar cattle originated in Karnataka and are officially recognised by the ICAR–National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources as an indigenous Indian cattle breed. The breed has been assigned the national accession number INDIA_CATTLE_0800_HALLIKAR_03008.
The tiger has occupied a prominent place in Indian culture for centuries, appearing in art, royal emblems, coins, folklore and temple traditions. Its association with strength, sovereignty and the natural world contributed to the Royal Bengal Tiger being declared India’s National Animal in 1972.
The National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources recognises Rathi as a distinct Indian cattle breed originating in Rajasthan, while the National Dairy Development Board classifies it primarily as a milch breed. Its recognised home tract includes Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar and Jaisalmer districts, with a particularly strong concentration around Lunkaransar in Bikaner. Rathi cattle are also reared in Hanumangarh and adjoining parts of north-western Rajasthan.
The breed developed in the Sindh region of undivided India, particularly around Karachi and Hyderabad and the adjoining Las Bela region of present-day Balochistan. It is also known by names such as Sindhi, Red Karachi and Malir. India recognises Red Sindhi as an indigenous milch breed, with organised populations maintained in states including Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Kerala and Assam.
The breed emerged within the historic Punjab region and takes its name from Sahiwal, formerly known as Montgomery, in present-day Pakistan. Following Partition, important Sahiwal populations continued to be maintained in India, particularly in Punjab and Rajasthan, along with organised herds at research institutions and government farms.
Originating in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, the Gir belongs to the Indian zebu group, scientifically classified as Bos indicus. It is officially recognised by the ICAR–National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources as an indigenous Indian cattle breed, with Gujarat recorded as its home tract.
Known scientifically as Bos indicus, and also described in some classifications as Bos taurus indicus, zebu cattle originated in South Asia. India’s many zebu breeds developed within distinct landscapes, from the deserts of Rajasthan and the dry plains of Gujarat to the humid coasts of Kerala, the black-soil tracts of the Deccan and the high-altitude valleys of Ladakh.
