People who work in animal bio-diversity sphere, scientists, activists and farmers agree in varying degrees that jallikattu could play a role in conserving natural breeds. But they argue that the larger picture of threat faced by native breeds eludes attention.
P.Vivekanandan, Executive Director of SEVA, a Madurai-based organisation that works for the conservation of native breeds, said the bulls engaged in jallikattu could be sold for a higher price and that could be an incentive for the person who reared them. The sport played a marginal role in conservation of the breed. However, issues such as denial of access to water and forests for grazing, were crucial. Cattle had a symbiotic relationship with forests but the forest department would not want to allow them in, he said.
V. Arivudai Nambi, a bio diversity expert and a former member of Tamil Nadu State Bio Diversity Board, said ‘Kangeyam’ was one of the best varieties of cattle. Its conservation depended on the maintenance of Korangadu Silvi Pastoral Region in mid west Tamil Nadu. The relationship of Korangadu and Kangeyam was inseparable, he said.
Minimal needs
The native breeds required less water, could withstand higher temperature and had a low basal metabolic rate. They, therefore, required less food and could sustain on food that was not required by man. However, their milk had poly unsaturated fat, a factor known to lead to metabolic disorders, Mr. Nambi said.
Previously, cattle were used for tilling, pulling carts, and giving milk. Since machines replaced them in some of these activities, and as their milk production was comparatively less than that of hybrid varieties jallikattu seemed to be the last relevance these breeds had.
However, there were other big tasks in their conservation, he said. The Bargur variety faced threat as it relied on grazing in forests whose access had been denied to it. Umbalachery faced threat as its natural tracts and grazing lands had been encroached upon. And the Kangeyam’s water sources were polluted by industry. “India is a repository of domesticated animal bio-diversity and we have 7.75 per cent of world’s total animal breeds. But we lost many valuable breeds. Some of the finer strains of the Kangeyam are with Brazil now. They are crossing them with some other varieties to increase meat production,” Mr. Nambi said. The value of animal genetic resources went beyond their current use. A breed that was of little significance now may be extremely valuable in the future, and hence the need to protect it, he added.
P.T.Rajendran, an innovative farmer, based in Kalasapakkam in Tiruvannamalai, said jallikattu may have symbolic importance in preservation of native breeds. “Native breeds have several advantages than the hybrid varieties. Native breeds can reproduce about 10 times in their life time, whereas hybrid varieties could yield calves only about 3-4 times. Native breeds would graze as a herd and insemination is easier. When it comes to cattle policy, rulers want to see them only as a source of milk. But in the agricultural economy they have multiple uses,” he added.
