The Kherigarh cattle are a draught breed of cattle. It is an indigenous cattle breed of India originated in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh state.
Main breeding tract of the breed includes ‘Kheri’ district and a few animals are also found in adjoining Pilibhit district. And the breed has been named either after this area or from a village named ‘Kherigarh‘.
The Kherigarh cattle are also known by some other names such as Kheri, Kharigarh and Khari. They are closely related to the Malvi cattle breed.
Though the horn formation is typical of the lyre-horned Malvi type, the animals of the breed are much lighter in general appearance than the Malvis.
The Kherigarh cattle are mainly raised as a draught breed. The bulls are used for light draft works. Read some more information about the breed below.
Kherigarh Cattle Characteristics
The Kherigarh cattle are relatively smaller sized animals. They are usually white or grey in color with small and narrow face. Both bulls and cows usually have horns.
And their horns are thin and upstanding. The bulls have relatively large horns measuring about 1 to 1.5 feet. And the cows have smaller horns than the bulls.
Ears of the Kherigarh cattle are small and they have bright eyes. They have short neck which looks powerful. The bulls have well developed hump, and the cows have relatively small humps.
Dewlap of the Kherigarh cattle is thin and pendulous and starts from right under the chin and continues right down to the brisket.
They have broad and deep barrel and moderately tight and short sheath. Their tail is long ending in a white switch and limbs are tight. The cows have small sized udder which is tightly attached to the body.
Average body weight of the mature bulls is about 476 kg. And the cows on average weight about 340 kg. Info from ansi.okstate.edu and photo from Wikipedia.
Uses
Kherigarh cattle are very powerful animals. They are primarily used as a draught animal.
Special Notes
The Kherigarh cattle are smaller in size but very active and hardy as compared to their body size. They are excellent grazers and can thrive on grazing only.
The bullocks are very good for light draft and also good for quick and light transport. They become suitable for working at their 4 years of age. It is claimed that the bullocks can haul about 1.5 tons of load in a cart at a rate of 3 to 4 miles per hour and a distance of 30-35 miles in a day.
The cows are poor milkers, and their milk production vary from 300 to 500 kg per lactation.
Today the Kherigarh cattle are raised mainly on zero input system. Review full breed profile of this cattle breed in the chart below.
| Breed Name | Kherigarh | |
| Other Name | Kheri, Kharigarh and Khari | |
| Breed Purpose | Draught | |
| Special Notes | Active, very hardy, good stamina, good for agricultural works | |
| Breed Size | Small | |
| Bulls | 476 kg | |
| Cows | 340 kg | |
| Climate Tolerance | Native climates | |
| Coat Color | Mainly white or grey | |
| Horned | Yes | |
| Milk Yield | Poor | |
| Rarity | Common | |
| Country/Place of Origin | India |
