Abstract

Omblachery breed The district of Tanjore, familiarly known as the "granary of the South", is also reputed from time immemorial, for its sturdy cattle, in relation to its agricultural economy. The ryots of the district have been depending for long, for their agricultural operations on a well- suited local breed of cattle known as the "Omblachery breed", taking its name from a village called Omblachery, in the Taluk of Tiruturaipundi. The bullock of this breed is a sturdy worker, both at the wheels and at the plough. It is of medium size with a comparatively small head. Its com- plexion is, generally, bluish grey, and it has a white star on its fore-head. It has shining dark eyes and wears a few thick hairs, on its chin. Its tail is black above the thighs and ends with a lotus like brush of snow-white hair, soft and glossy like silk. Its hoofs are equally white and resemble ivory, in their finish. The pure bred pedigree sire is generally ferocious by nature. Owing to the large demand for this breed of cattle and due to lack of organised effort in breeding in the past decade, its population in the village of Omblachery has slowly dwindled. At present, the pure stock is very rare and outnumbered by those of mixed blood. The pure breed is known throughout the district, as the jathi madu.

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