Kasaragod Dwarf
A one-metre zebu from the hills of Kasaragod district, kept for its milk
A small zebu breed from the mountain range of Kasaragod district in Kerala, India, standing about a metre at the withers. Cows are known as good milkers with mineral rich milk, and the cattle graze for themselves, needing little from the farmer.
- A zebu breed from the mountain range of Kasaragod district in Kerala, India
- Grown bulls average 107.3 cm at the withers and cows 95.83 cm, about one metre
- Cows are known as good milkers and their milk is described as mineral rich
- One of India's four prime dwarf cattle, with Malnad Gidda, Punganur and Vechur
- Turned out to graze, they find their own way home afterwards
What do Kasaragod Dwarf cattle look like?
The Kasaragod Dwarf is a small zebu, or Bos indicus, breed from Kerala in southern India. Zebu cattle carry a hump over the shoulders; this breed is a compact form of that type. A grown bull stands about 107.3 cm at the withers, the ridge between the shoulder blades, and a cow about 95.83 cm, so the average animal is roughly one metre tall. That small frame keeps them cheap to keep. Cows are noted as good milkers, and the milk they give is described as mineral rich. The breed also converts feed into milk at a favourable rate.
Where does the Kasaragod Dwarf come from?
The breed comes from Kasaragod district in Kerala, southern India. Its home is given as the mountain range that runs through that district, and it is from there that the cattle are said to have come. Along with the Malnad Gidda, the Punganur and the Vechur, it is counted as one of the four prime dwarf cattle breeds of India. Of that group it is the breed tied to Kasaragod.
What the Kasaragod Dwarf is known for
These are clever cattle. A herd turned out to graze will find its own way back to the homestead afterwards, and that is one reason they are thought easy to manage. They ask little of the farmer, living mostly on what they can find for themselves, so the cost of keeping them stays low. Small size helps here too: a short, light cow suits a smallholding.
How the Kasaragod Dwarf is bred and kept
Management is simple. The herd grazes on its own and no great deal of bought-in feed is used. Because the cattle are short, housing and handling cost little, and a cow will fit a smallholding. Breeders have long favoured the milking side of the stock: the cows are known as good milkers, and the milk returned for the feed eaten is said to be high. The habit of finding their own way home means they can be turned out without a herder.
Kasaragod Dwarf, drawn
What the Kasaragod Dwarf is kept for
Milk is the point of the breed. Its cows are known as good milkers, and the milk they give is described as mineral rich. The cattle also turn feed into milk at a high rate, so a small ration goes a long way. Kept out at grass and fed very little extra, they suit a household that wants a steady daily supply of milk without much outlay.
The land and climate of the Kasaragod Dwarf
The breed belongs to the mountain range of Kasaragod district in Kerala. These are hill cattle, grazing the land around the district on small farms. Their light build and modest needs fit that setting: a large cow would be harder to feed on a smallholding, while an animal of about a metre makes do with what the grazing offers.
At a glance: where it belongs
Land and climate
Keeping Kasaragod Dwarf cattle
The animals are easy to keep. A cow stands about a metre high, so housing and handling are straightforward, and the herd feeds itself at grass with very little bought-in fodder. Turned out to graze, the cattle come back to the homestead on their own, which saves the work of going to fetch them.
From the Kasaragod Dwarf
Questions people ask about Kasaragod Dwarf
Where does the Kasaragod Dwarf come from?
It belongs to Kasaragod district in Kerala, southern India, and its home is given as the mountain range of that district. Kasaragod is the only place named for the breed.
What is the Kasaragod Dwarf kept for?
Milk. Its cows are known for milking well, and their milk is described as mineral rich. The breed also returns a high amount of milk for the feed it eats, which makes it useful on small farms where fodder is limited.
How big does it grow?
It is a dwarf breed, about one metre tall on average. Bulls measure roughly 107.3 cm at the withers and cows about 95.83 cm. The small frame is what makes the cattle cheap to feed and simple to house.
Is it hard to keep?
No. The cattle graze for themselves and need very little bought-in feed. After a spell out at pasture they find their own way back to the homestead, and their short legs and small bodies make them easy to handle.
Which other breeds are similar?
India has four prime dwarf cattle, and this is one of them. The others are the Malnad Gidda, the Punganur and the Vechur. Each is a small breed tied to its own home district.
Good reading and sources
- Kasaragod Dwarf on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Kasaragod Dwarf", 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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