An indigenous lesser known population of short cattle facing threat of extinction in a Kerala forest region are being pulled back from the brink, thanks to conservation efforts by a group of passionate cattle rearing farmers living on the banks of the famous River Periyar here.

Conservationists say thriving of the neglected Periyar cow, locally known as “Periyar Kullan” (Periyar dwarf), which produces tasty and nutritious milk with medicinal value, is certain as the Kerala State Livestock Development Board decided to adopt its pair of bulls for semen collection,giving them a chance to bring back older breeds, whose genetic stock was not easily available.
Jose James, Managing Director of KLD Board, said the bulls, aged three and four years, were identified for semen collection.They were selected after conducting detailed examinations at the Centre for Advanced Livestock Genomics (CALG) and State Institute for Animal Diseases under the state government.the Periyar cows get the recognition of a cattle breed.

“After the scientific study, we hope that there will be an eventual recognition of the Periyar breed of cattle, which will be the second breed in Kerala, after the famous “Vechur Cattle”, he said.