Breeds of Ongole
The coastal Andhra town behind the Ongole bull, the great white zebu that became the Nelore of Brazil.
Breeds of this place
Best time: December to January, for the Sankranti bull shows.
Ongole is the main town of Prakasam district on the coast of Andhra Pradesh. Its cattle, large, white and powerful, are among the best known zebu in the world. Ongole bulls were shipped abroad from the nineteenth century, and in Brazil, under the name Nelore, after the old Nellore district, they became the foundation of one of the biggest beef herds on earth.
The Ongole breed
Ongole cattle are tall and long-bodied, white or light grey, with a big hump, a long dewlap and short, stubby horns. They are hardy in heat and resistant to many tropical diseases. At home they are draught animals and give moderate milk. In the Americas they were crossed with other breeds: the Nelore of Brazil and the American Brahman both draw heavily on Ongole blood.
Bulls at Sankranti
In coastal Andhra, Sankranti in January is the season for bull shows and strength contests, in which pairs of bullocks drag heavy stones over a set distance. Prize bulls are fed and groomed for months beforehand. The state and its veterinary university keep breeding herds of pure Ongole cattle, and good bulls are sought by breeders across India.
A trail idea for Ongole
- Ongole town The district town and its markets.
- Village shows at Sankranti Bull shows and stone-pulling contests in January.
- Kothapatnam beach The coast near Ongole, for an evening by the sea.
Written by the EveryCow desk with AI assistance. Background: "Ongole" on Wikipedia. Fair dates, markets and visiting rules change; check locally before travelling, and keep a respectful distance from working animals. If something is wrong, tell us.
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