The Khillari is the breed of cattle, of the Bos indicus sub-species, native to Dharwad, Bijapur and Belgaum districts in Karnataka, Satara, Kolhapur and Sangli regions of Maharashtra in India.
The Khillari breed possibly owes its origin to the Hallikar breed of cattle from Mysore. The name comes from “Khillar” meaning a herd of cattle, and Khillari meaning the herdsman. Mostly Khillari bulls are basically from Satara District of South Maharashtra.& also these animals are found in neighboring districts of Sangli, Kolhapur & Solapur of Western Maharashtra and North Karnataka.
In the Satpura ranges, the Khillaris are bred by professional breeders known as Thillaris. These breeders produce bulls and bullocks for which there is always a very good demand. Besides their extensive use in their home tracts, they are used in the adjacent districts of Pune, Ahmednagar, Nasik, and Bijapur.
Killari Breed Seed Bulls
Khillari Cattle – Breeding status: Conservation
Country: India
Home or breeding tract: Killari cattle (cow/ bull) belongs to South Maharastra and North Karnataka.
Body: The Khillari is around 5 feet tall and weighs between 350 to 450 kgs.
Body color: The Khillaris of the Deccan plateau, the Mhaswad Khillari, and the Atpadi Mahal types are greyish white in color, the males having deeper color over the forequarters and hindquarters, with peculiar grey and white mottling on the face. The Tapti Khillari is white with reddish nose and hooves. The Nakali Khillari is grey with tawny or brickdust color over the forequarters. Newly born calves have rust red colored polls, but this disappears within a couple of months.
Markings over body: The typical Khillari animal is compact and tight skinned, with clean-cut features and squarely developed hindquarters. The appearance is compact with stout strong limbs. The pelvis is slightly higher than the shoulders
Skin: Tight
Head: Khillaris have a long narrow head
Forehead: Prominent
Face: Narrow
Ears: The ears are small, coloured yellow inside, pointed and held sideways
Horns: longhorns sweeping back and then upward in a distinctive bow, and tapering to a fine point.
Production traits: Khillaris Cow is Poor milkers as like most of the Indigenous cattle breeds.
Ability as draught purpose: Khillaris bullocks are active, hardy and subsist on scanty ration. They are not fast trotters but suitable for the heavy draught.
Anything else: Khillaris are nine types, they named after their origin
- Atpadi
- Mhaswad
- Pandharpuri
- Kosa
- Harnya
- Daphlya
- Bramhani
- Dhangiri
- Nakli.
Breeding:
Breeding is carried out by the Government of Mahararashtra at Hingoli, Jath and Junoni and by the Government of Karnataka at Bankapur.