Kangeyam Native Bull Breed and Traditional Cattle Husbandry of Tiruppur

The Kangeyam cattle breed, indigenous to the Kangeyam region of Tiruppur district, is one of India's most prized draught breeds — known for its extraordinary stamina, heat tolerance, and disease resistance. Kangeyam bulls were historically used for long-distance cart transport across the dry Kongu plain, pulling heavy cotton bales to Coimbatore and Salem markets. The breed's straight back, medium frame, and distinctive lyre-shaped horns are maintained through selective breeding by Gounder community cattle keepers. Jallikattu — the traditional bull-taming sport — is centred on Kangeyam bulls, with the Alanganallur and Palamedu events drawing hundreds of Kangeyam bulls from Tiruppur and Dindigul. The breed is now registered in the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources as a protected indigenous genetic resource.