Vechur cow

About Vechur Cow

• It is one of the rare dwarf cattle breeds of India, it is considered to be the smallest cattle breed in the world.
• It is known by the name of a place Vechur - a small place by the side of Vembanad Lake near Vaikam in Kottayam district of South Kerala.
• These are light red, black or fawn and white in colour.
• The animals are well adapted to the hot and humid climate of the area. Milk production is relatively higher than any other dwarf cattle.
• It is docile, short, disease-resistant and easy to maintain with low food requirement as compared to other crossbred species.
• It is resistant to Mastitis (blockage of teats in the udder), foot and mouth diseases, and respiratory infections and require almost no veterinary care.
• The medicinal property of its milk has been accepted by Ayurveda too. Since the Vechur cow milk has got higher proportion of smaller fat globules and saturated fatty acids, it would be therapeutically useful in malabsorption syndrome.
• It is also considered to be the ideal food for children and convalescents.

Q1) What is Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)?

It is a highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact. The disease affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. It does not affect horses, dogs, or cats.

Source: The curious case of Sosamma Iype and the Vechur cow