Ongole bull reared by Sri D T Moses of Pernamitta. This Bull won AP State Award and also the first prize at " Southern regional live stock and poultry show", Palghat, Kerala - 1988.
Ongole cattle as called as Ongolu Gitta are an indigenous cattle breed that originates from Prakasam District in the state of Andhra PradeshinIndia. The breed derives its name from the place the breed originates from, Ongole. The Ongole breed of cattle, Bos indicus, is in great demand as it is said to possess resistance to both foot and mouth disease and mad cow disease.[1] These cattle are commonly used in bull fights in Mexico and some parts of East Africa due to their strength and aggressiveness. They also participate in traditional bull fights in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Cattle breeders use the fighting ability of the bulls to choose the right stock for breeding in terms of purity and strength. The mascot of the 2002 National Games of India was Veera, an Ongole Bull.[2]
This Ongole bull reared by Sri Polavarapu Hanumaiah (third from right) won National Award 1961-62 . Jawaharlal Nehru, the then prime minister of India, seen second from rightOngole Bull reared by Sri D. T. Moses at Pernamitta after winning the Andhra Pradesh State Award in 1988 with Sri N.T. Rama Rao (green turban) then Chief MinisterofAndhra Pradesh and Sri Balaram Jhakar (red turban) then Agricultural Minister, Government of India.
Ongole cattle are famous for their bulls. Traditionally, the Ongole breed have been raised by local farmers, fed by both the Gundlakamma, one of the rivers that originates from the Nallamala Hills, and in the plains, the Paleru river, a tributary of the Krishna River. The Ongole occupy an area no larger than about 100 square miles between the Gundlakamma and Musi rivers.[3]
Ongole cattle are known for their toughness, rapid growth rate, and natural tolerance to tropical heat and disease resistance. It was the first Indian breed of cattle to gain worldwide recognition.[5]
The Ongole is one of the heaviest breeds. They weigh approximately half a ton, are 1.7 meters in height and have a body length of 1.6 meters and girth measuring 2 meters.[4]
The weight of an Ongole female is 432 to 455 kg. Milk yield is 600 kg to 2518 kg. The lactation period is 279 days.[6] Ongole milk has a butterfat content of over five percent. This results in large, well-nourished calves with considerable growth by the time of weaning. Ongole cows stay close to their calves to protect them from predatory animals.[7]
A young Ongole bull
A brown Ongole Bull found in the Philippines
Veera the bull was the mascot of the 2002 National Games
^Breeds of Livestock - Ongole, at Oklahoma State University. Reference: Joshi, N.R., Phillips, R.W. (1953) Zebu Cattle of India and Pakistan, FAO Agriculture Studies No. 19, Publ. By FAO, Rome, 256 pp.
These are the cattle breeds considered in India to be wholly or partly of Indian origin. Inclusion here does not necessarily imply that a breed is predominantly or exclusively Indian.
