Puliakulam/Pulikulam Cattle (Tamil breed: cow/bull)

Breeding status: Conservation

Country: India

Home or breeding tract: Pulikulam cattle Maintained as migratory herds in Madurai, Sivagangai and Virudhunagar districts of Tamil Nadu.

Accession number of this breed: ‘01 Pulikulam Tamilnadu INDIA_CATTLE_1800_ PULIKULAM_03035.’

Body: Strong and active with the packed body and short legs.

Body colour: Pulikulam cows are generally grey or white in colour and The Pulikulam Bulls are dark grey.

Markings over the body: White markings can be spotted in the forehead, limb and tail.

Skin: Tight

Head: Dark

Forehead: Prominent, Fore Head is broad and has a groove at the centre in Pulikulam breed.

Face: Narrow

Ears: Small, pointed

Neck: Dark

Dewlap: Thick

Shoulder hump: Big and dark

Penis sheath flap: Very small

Horns: Extend Curved outward, upward, backwards and then inward, ending with sharp pointed tips spaced wide apart

Production traits: Pulikulam cows are Poor milkers as like most of the Tamil Indigenous cattle breed (Ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 kg per day).

Ability as draught purpose: This cattle playing a significant role in the rural livelihood of communities rearing them for draught and organic agricultural production especially of spices.

Anything else: This pulikulam cattle population is famous for a local game Jallikattu.

Other Names: Palingu madu, Kilakattu madu, Mani madu, Jallikattu madu and Mattu madu.

Pulikulam Village:

“Pulikulam is a village located in Sivaganga which was part of the erstwhile composite Ramanathapuram district”

local myth says that the village got its name Puli Kulam (Tiger Pond) because the village some five hundred years ago was surrounded by thick forest consisting Karuvelam (Acacia Nilotica) trees and tigers used to come and quench their thirst in the pond.

The bulls here in the village are believed to be so raging that they would fight the Tigers before going down.

“Ninety-nine per cent of the cattle is bred and maintained by the traditional cowherds belonging to Yadava caste and remaining one per cent is maintained by members of Mukkulathor caste.”

Source: The Hindu.

Puliakulam Herd & Herders Video

Konar livestock keepers travelling with her Pulikulam herd of over 1000 cattle from Aruppukottai to Perungudi /Near Madurai Airport area. They sell dung to traders in the local market and Kerala for organic farming.

Video Source: Komakkambedu Himakiran Anugula

Pulikulam cattle herd in Sirumalai Southern foothills

Video Source: Yuvasenthil Ramalingam

Sakkimangalam Pulikulam Cattle Pen:

This pulikulam breed is semi-domesticated and penned cattle will attack without warning. They are not harnessed with nose ropes and the only way to hold them is to embrace their hump, and that’s how the sport started.

Video Source: Komakkambedu Himakiran Anugula

Need Support:

We are currently searching for additional photographs and information on this breed. If you have materials which we could borrow or if you know of a potential source please contact us using the comment form below.

[mlink subhd=”Bargur Cattle Breed” link=”https://nativebreed.org/blog/bargur-breed-cattle/”]Read more aboutBargur [/mlink]

[mlink subhd=”Alambadi Cattle Breed” link=”https://nativebreed.org/blog/alambadi-breed-cattle/”]Read more about Alambadi [/mlink]

[mlink subhd=”Puliakulam Cattle Breed” link=”https://nativebreed.org/blog/umblachery-breed-cattle/”]Read more about Umblachery [/mlink]

Read More: Other Native cattle

For More information and purchase on different indigenous breeds

Alambadi Cattle | Amrit Mahal Cattle | Bachaur cattle | Bargur Cattle | Gir Breed |Kasaragod Dwarf Cattle | Kherigarh Cattle | Krishna Valley cattle | Malnad Gidda Cattle | Mewati Breed | Ongole breed cattle | Ponwar Breed | Pulikulam Cattle | Umblachery Cattle | Vechur Cattle Breed

Read More: Native Dog breed

For More information on Indian native dog breeds.

Banjara Greyhound | Bully kutta mastiff  | Chippiparai Hound | Gaddi Kutta mastiff | Indian Spitz | Jonangi breed | Kanni hound dog  | Kombai/Combai hound dog  | Mudhol Hound | Pandikona Hound | Rajapalayam Hound  | Rampur Hound

Also Read : Other Blog

How to Recognise Native British Cattle Breeds | The American Bison  | Recognized indigenous cattle breeds of India | List of Bos Indicus Breeds – Zebu Breed | First Domesticated Cattle in the World : Origin of Modern Cows Traced | 40 million cows to get Aadhaar like number at cost of Rs 50 crore in 1st phase : Budget 2018 | Registration of livestock/poultry breeds rises to 169: Govt | Chennai to host expo of indigenous native cattle breeds on Jan 6 and 7. | Kerala Sets up a special reproduction centre to help grow Vechur cattle population | Andhra pradesh well poised to become a seed hub, says Bill Gates | Using Cow Dung of Indigenous Breeds, This Farmer Makes Lakhs from Organic Papaya | Kampala to host 2017 livestock show | Cargill to plough millions into animal nutrition business in India | Supreme Court issues notice to Tamil Nadu government on PETA plea against jallikattu | Haryana govt plans PGs for cattle to boost milk production | Molecular Characterisation of Rathi and Tharparkar Indigenous Cattle (Bos indicus) | Embryo transfer technology to be used to carry out 440 embryo transfers in cattle in 9 days | ‘Rettamalai Ondikaruppu’ Temple Bull , is no more | Decline in indigenous cow breeds: NGT summons official | Maharashtra moos to boost desi/Indigenous cow varieties | Soon desi cow’s milk will be sold through medical stores: Warns Rajasthan minister | Telangana ties up with Brazil to improve Desi milk production | Project Mooo: supporting India’s dairy farmers with sustainable technology | Government allocates ₹2.5 cr. for protection of native cattle breeds | Project to preserve indigenous cattle – Karnataka.| Alanganallur was the most crowded village today in India! | Tamils Gathered in America, To show Support Jallikattu!! |