Kenwariya

Origin

The Kenwariya are also known as Kenkatha. They get their name from the River Ken, as they are bred along the banks of this small river in the hilly area of Bundelkhand. These cattle are also bred in territories of Panna, Charkhari, Bijawar and Ajaigarh which are part of Vindhya Pradesh in India.

Characteristics

The Kenwariya cattle are small, sturdy and fairly powerful, varying in color from gray on the barrel to dark gray on the rest of the body. The head is short and broad and the forehead is dished. Horns emerge from the outer angles of the poll in a markedly forward direction and terminate in sharp points. Ears are sharply pointed and do not droop. The body is short, deep and compact. The back is straight but the quarters are drooping. The limbs are short but powerful and the feet are hard. The hump is well developed. The sheath is somewhat pendulous and ends with a black tip. The dewlap is moderately heavy. The tail is of medium length with a black switch reaching below the hocks.

 This breed is very popular for light draft on the road and for cultivation. They are observed to thrive on poor feed. Because of the hilly nature of the region and the poor grazing, only animals which can cover long distances and have strong feet can thrive.

Reference: 

Joshi, N.R., Phillips, R.W. (1953) Zebu Cattle of India and Pakistan, FAO Agriculture Studies No. 19, Publ. by FAO, Rome, 256 pp.

Photographs: 

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Added April 24, 1997