Bachaur
A small, compact draught breed from the Mithila region of north Bihar, a brisk trotter
Bachaur is a small, compact draught breed from the Mithila region of north Bihar, India, its home tract the Madhubani, Darbhanga and Sitamarhi districts. The bulls trot briskly and work as medium draught animals; the cows give more milk than most other Indian draught breeds.
- Home tract: the Madhubani, Darbhanga and Sitamarhi districts of Mithila, north Bihar
- Bulls are medium draught animals with a brisk, even trot
- Cows give more milk than the cows of other Indian draught breeds
- Cows breed on a regular cycle, so calves come steadily
- A familiar breed across Bihar in the East India Company era
What do Bachaur cattle look like?
Bachaur are small, compact cattle, among the lighter breeds of India. Their build is neat and workmanlike rather than heavy, which suits the work asked of them. The breed they most resemble is the Haryanvi, and the likeness is close enough that the comparison comes up whenever the two are described. Bulls and cows are used differently. The bulls supply medium draught power for pulling jobs such as ploughing and carting, and they move at a brisk, even trot. The cows give milk in useful amounts for animals classed with the draught types, and they come round to breed again regularly, without long gaps, which keeps the flow of calves steady.
Where does the Bachaur come from?
The native home of the Bachaur lies in the Mithila region of north Bihar, in India. Three neighbouring districts form its tract: Madhubani, Darbhanga and Sitamarhi. The breed has been around a long while. When the East India Company was active in the province, these cattle were a familiar and much-liked sight across Bihar. In type they stand close to the Haryanvi, a breed of northern India, which is the firmest link the breed has to the wider cattle of the country.
What the Bachaur is known for
Two qualities set the Bachaur apart. The first is pace: the bulls are natural trotters, steady and quick, moving along briskly rather than plodding. The second is the regular breeding rhythm of the cows, which come round again reliably and so calve on a steady cycle. Their milk yield deserves notice too: set against the other draught breeds of India, Bachaur cows give noticeably more. For a small breed, that mix of steady work, a fair flow of milk and dependable breeding makes them practical animals on a farm.
Bachaur, drawn
What the Bachaur is kept for
The bulls are the working animals. They are used for medium draught, the ordinary pulling jobs of a holding, and they do it at pace, covering ground briskly rather than slowly. The cows are kept for milk. Though the breed sits among the draught types, its cows out-yield the milking lines of those other draught breeds, so a household with Bachaur can count on both field power and a regular supply of milk. The cows' habit of breeding on a steady cycle adds to their usefulness, since calves follow one another without long pauses, keeping both the milk and the working lines renewed.
At a glance: where it belongs
Celebrations
Questions people ask about Bachaur
Where do Bachaur cattle come from?
Their native tract is the Mithila region of north Bihar in India, and more exactly the three neighbouring districts of Madhubani, Darbhanga and Sitamarhi. The breed has been known in Bihar since the days when the East India Company traded there.
What are Bachaur cattle kept for?
Mainly for work and milk. The bulls are medium draught animals and are noted for moving at a brisk pace, while the cows give more milk than the cows of the other draught breeds of India.
How big is a Bachaur?
It is a small, compact breed, among the lighter cattle of India. That build suits the medium pulling jobs the bulls do and goes with their brisk, even way of moving.
Do the cows give good milk?
For a draught breed, yes. Bachaur cows are known to yield more milk than the cows of India's other draught breeds, and they breed regularly too, so calves and milk follow one another on a steady cycle.
Is the Bachaur related to any other breed?
It resembles the Haryanvi closely, and the two breeds are alike enough in type to be mentioned together. Otherwise the Bachaur is classed with India's draught breeds.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Bachaur cattle", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryCow rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Sizes, colours and customs differ from one herd, valley or breeder to the next. Folk beliefs are described as tradition, never as advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-16.
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