Umblachery

Characteristics:

• It is a draught breed of the Zebu type, similiar to Kangayam but smaller. They are gray with white spots. These bulls are mainly tamed to be used in the sport of Jallikattu or bull-taming, which is entirely different from the Spanish custom of matadors and running of the bulls.
• It is also known as Jathi madu, Mottai madu, Molai madu, Therkathimadu.
• Their originis actually inThanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagappattinam districts of Tamil Nadu.
• Suitable for wet ploughing and known for their strength and sturdiness.
• Umblachery calves are generally red or brown at birth with all the characteristic white marking on the face, on limbs and tail.
• The legs have white markings below the hocks like socks.
• The practice of dehorning of bullocks is peculiar in Umblachery cattle.
• A noted draught cattle breed of Tamil Nadu, Umblachery is famous for its sturdiness and strength. It derives its name from a small village with same name (Umblachery) considered as native tract of the breed. It is also known as “Jathimadu”, “Mottaimadhu”, “Molaimadhu”, “Southern”, “Tanjore” and “Therkuthimadhu”.
• The breeding tract includes Nagapatinam and Thiruvarurdistricts of Tamil Nadu. Usually these animals are redcolour at birth and then they change to gray colourduring development.
• Umblachery males are dark grey in colour with black extremities.But their cows are grey usually with light dark grey area in face, neck and hip regions. There are white markings on face, limb and tail and the marking on the leg resembles socks.
• Umblachery bullocks are suitable for ploughing, carting, threshing and leveling in marshy paddy fields because of its medium size. Most of the cows are not milked and calves are allowed to suckle the dam. These variety of cows gives an average recorded milk yield is 494 Kg per lactation and with an average milk fat of 4.94%.