Smallest breed of cattle
- Who
- Unknown
- Where
- India (Kerala,)
- When
- 21 March 2003
The smallest breed of cattle is the Vechur breed of Kerala, India. Their average height from the ground to the hump (similar to a camel's hump, but near the shoulders of certain cattle) for the cow is 81-91 cm (31-35 in) and 83-105 cm (32-41 in) for the bull.
The hump is present in many, but not all breeds of cattle and is usually more predominant in bulls.
Their average weight is: 95-150 kg (209-330 lb) for a cow and 130-200 kg (286-440 lb) for a bull. Interestingly, this breed produces one of the highest milk-yields (relative to body size) of all cattle breeds, with a cow averaging 3 litres (5.2 pints) per day. Vechur cattle are also very resistant to disease - both these points make the Vechur variety extremely popular for use in genetic engineering and biodiversity.