The Ongole Bull

The world famous Ongole bull is struggling for survival. This rare and exceptional breed of farm animal has registered a steep drop in its numbers as, unlike in the past, farmers are no longer keen to rear it. And it is this change in their attitude which has now come to pose a serious threat to the breed’s existence. But that is not all since neither is the government doing anything to promote and conserve this breed. The population of Ongole bulls in the country — Andhra Pradesh has 80% of them — is less than 5,000. Emphasising on the need to have the Ongole bull preserved, former minister R Damodar Reddy has said that the government should take steps for the conservation of the bull by launching such measures as the supply of semen free of cost. It does not help its cause either that the Ongole bull is yet to receive a patent with the state bio-diversity board still at work on the documentation of the bull’s genes. “It is believed that the animal migrated from Africa via Pakistan to the northern parts of India before settling down on the river stream of Gundlakamma near Ongole,” explains a senior official form the animal husbandry department. He said that the bull comes from the same stock as the Zebu of Africa. “Short horns and a fatty hump are the typical features of this bull,” he added. According to scientists, the animal developed some unique characteristics upon settling down in the Ongole region. The Ongole bull is quite a standout variety and is easily differentiated from other breeds for its eyelid, hump, ear tips, rear joints, bottom grip, muscles as well as body colour. “It is quite costly to maintain an Ongole bull and, to add to it, revenues from the animal are minimal,” an official said. The Ongole bull’s semen is available at government labs — at Lam farm near Guntur, in Visakhapatnam and Nandyal. Government farms at Chadalavada (Prakasam district), Mahanandi (Kurnool) and Chintala Deevi (Nellore), too, are rearing the animals and their numbers here could be around 1,500. “Labour shortage in villages, breaking down of joint families, mechanization and high cost of rearing are the main reasons for the decline in the numbers of the Ongole bull,” principal scientist (animal breeding and genetics) R Vinoo said. He said that the success of this rare breed fully depended on patronage from farmers since they were ready to provide them with semen. “Right now, we have with us nearly 2 lakh doses of semen. But where are the patrons?” Vinoo asked. But recent campaigns by model-farming advocate Palekar and yoga guru Baba Ramdev promoting cow milk and milk products have had a positive impact on farmers. “Some farmers are looking to keep at least one bull on their farms,” said A Venkatramaiah of Nakirekallu village, owner of an Ongole bull. Mekala Lakshminarayana, recipient of the President’s award for model farming, has said that the animal population could see a jump were the farmers to only return to time-honoured cultivation practices and shun fertilizers.