Kangayam
The Kangayam breed of cattle of Tamil Nadu is best known for its superior draught qualities, adaptation to poor nutrition and longevity. Bullocks are primarily used for transport of agricultural produce, besides being used for various agricultural operations. The breed derives the name from its home tract, viz. Kangayam taluk in Tiruppur district. As per the estimate of 1996, the size of Kangayam population in the breeding tract was 0.479 million (4,79,179). According to the Survey of Animal Husbandry Department, Kangayam cattle population had been reported to be dwindling from 11.74 lakh in 1990 to around 4.44 lakh in 2000.
Based on breed survey conducted in 2012, total population of Kangayam estimated was 1,93,445 among this the pure Kangayam is around 80,620, remaining 1,12,825 animals are graded. Considering the decreasing rate of population of Kangayam breed, the Kangayam Cattle Research Station was established by Govt. of Tamil Nadu with a budget outlay of 250 lakhs under NADP funding during 2017-2018.
The most significant benefit of using GPS for farm animals is the ability to track the real-time location of each animal in the herd. Kangayam cattle are often allowed to roam freely across large grazing areas, and keeping track of them can be challenging. With GPS tracking devices installed on the cattle, farmers can monitor their location at all times, ensuring they are within safe and designated grazing zones.
