Siri

Characteristics:

• Siri is also known as kongu and konganad.
• Originated in Kangeyam, Dharapuram, Perundurai, Erode, Bhavani and part of Gobichettipalayam taluk of Erode and Coimbatore district.
• Siri bulls are usually grey with dark colour in hump, fore and hind quarters.
• Their horns are widely spread apart and that too nearly straight with a slight curve backwards.
• Cows are grey or white.
• Siri cattle have eyes that are dark and prominent with black rings around them.
• Moderate size with compact bodies.
• These cattle are bred in the south and south east taluks of Coimbatore in Madras Presidency. They are exported in large numbers for work in South India and Ceylon and are strong, active work-animals particularly economical to maintain but the cows are generally poor milkers. They are of very good constitution and are said to last from 10 to 12 years in work.
• This type of breed is a very small sized, draught purpose breed. And they beong to hilly region of West Bengal and Sikkim. The breed is also known as “Trahbum”.
• The breeding tract of the breed includes Darjeeling district of West Bengal and Sikkim north, Gyalshing, Namchi, Gangtok, Sikkim east, Sikkim south and Sikkim west of Sikkim.
• The breed is either black or brown with white patches, though totally black or brown animals are also available. The hump is cervico-thoracic type with tuft of hair on it. Siri have horns that are medium sized and are curved outward, forward and are slightly upward with sharp and pointed tips.
• Siri breed animals is capable of grazing in the steep slope of hilly forest. These animals are maintained in slope of hills in open houses. The males are mainly reared for draught purpose in the hilly area and sometimes they are the only source of draught power.
• They are average milk producers only. Their milking capacity averages around 425.8 kg per lactation with a fat percentage varying from 2.8 to 5.5%.