DCCF – The Pulikulam Breed

SOME WORDS ABOUT US

Well-coordinated teamwork speaks About Us

We love what we do

A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.

Our working process

She packed her seven versalia, put her initial into the belt and made herself on the way.

DCCF - The Pulikulam Breed

Dhenu Cattle Conservation Foundation (DCCF) is a grass root organisation founded in 2017 to,

Research, conserve and promote the Pulikulam breed of indigenous cattle native to Sivagangai & Madurai districts of Tamizhnadu.
Work with Pastoralists & Farmers to implement sustainable solutions for their problems. DCCF propagates cattle-conservation based livelihood opportunities that can better rural lifestyle.

Developed by Xtemos Studio @ 2021.

Why DCCF?

As a result of growing urbanisation, “imbalanced development” and chemical pollution, we are losing our biodiversity, breeds, pastures, herders, ancient skills, & practices. The Pulikulam cattle have seen a huge downfall in its numbers with multiple issues plaguing the pastoralists rearing them - encroachment of grazing land, lack of labour, unsupportive government mechanism & policies, being some of them.

Most critical issue is the disappearance of a self-sustainable agricultural system due to the disconnect between the farmers & pastoralists. This has had a huge negative impact on the agriculture of that region, adversely affecting the farmers, the pastoralists and directly contributing to the degradation of the cattle & the environment.

What we Do

DCCF propagates in-situ conservation of the Pulikulam cattle based on the principles of sustainability and local empowerment. The foundation promotes a model of livelihood that encompasses the local biodiversity, the livestock, and the local culture in harmony with the environment.

Through our work, we aim to bring systemic change to the local communities at the grass root level - To maintain the quality and renewability of natural resources over time, to preserve biodiversity and to guarantee the integrity of ecosystems.

Developed by Xtemos Studio @ 2021.

DCCF focusses its efforts on two main fronts,

Improvement of the Pulikulam cattle by establishing a Foundation herd and implementing effective breeding practices. The Foundation Herd is formed with the best of the cows available in all the Pulikulam herds of today. This herd will serve as a genetic reservoir from which the cows and stud bulls can be provided to villagers / pastoralists.

To re-establish the system of “kidai amaithal (கிடை அமைத்தல்)- penning of cattle” and thereby, reconnect farmers & pastoralists. This system allows pastoralists access to year-round free grazing for their Pulikulam herds and the farmers to rich organic manure deposited in their fields. This will immediately result in reduced expenses for both the farmers & pastoralists while improving soil fertility and biodiversity over time.

Developed by Xtemos Studio @ 2021.

About the Breed

The Pulikulam cattle are one of the oldest breeds of South India and is endemic to the Sivagangai, Ramnad & Madurai districts of Tamizhnadu. This is a draught breed that played a crucial role in the erstwhile natural farming systems of before. These cattle were officially recognised as a distinct cattle breed by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) in 2012.

The cattle are strong willed with good bone structure and compact barrels, making the bullocks ideal for draught purposes. The cows are lighter in colour compared to the bulls with long tapering horns. The breed is quite aggressive in nature with even new-born calves exhibiting aggression towards strangers. This natural aggressiveness makes Pulikulam bulls excel in bio-cultural sports like Sallikattu and Rekla races.

"Kidai maadu (கிடை மாடு)– Penned cattle” The pulikulam cattle are generally reared as semi-nomadic herds and played a very important and fundamental role in the agriculture of the region before the onset of chemical farming. The herds would graze the common grazing lands and were penned in the fallow fields for the night. This way, the cattle would deposit their dung and urine in the fields, thereby fertilizing the fields for the next agricultural season and creating a self-sustainable system. This process is called “kiddai amaithal” and hence the name “kidai maadu”.