Kasaragod cattle
Kasaragod is the northern most district of Kerala flanked by a vast coastal area in the west and plains in the South and hilly tracts towards the North. The local cattle found in Kasaragod are of the dwarf type, with a uniform coat color black and varied shades of red.

They are well adapted to the hot and humid climate of the region and possess high heat tolerance and disease resistance.

Kasargod bull.

Conservation efforts have already been taken up by Sosamma Iype Professor in Kerala Agricultural University with financial assistance from Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi and the work is continued by the Vechur Conservation trust to preserve this genetic resource.

Kasargod cow with a crossbred cow at the back

The calves weigh only 10.5 Kg at birth. Males attain a weight of 86.8 Kg at one year and 194.3 Kg at adult stage. Females attain a weight of 61.1 Kg at one year and 147.7 Kg at adult stage. The bulls are on an average 107.3 cms tall while the cows have a height of 95.83 cms. Kasargod male calves gain about 7.8 times the birth weight at one year of age and this kind of growth rate is observed to be the highest ever reported for any Indian cattle at this stage. This points out the potential of this local cattle to emerge as a small beef breed, a finding that can be advantageously utilised by the livestock sector of Kerala.