Vechur Cattle facts for kids
The Vechur Cow is a special and rare type of cattle. It gets its name from the village of Vechoor in Kerala, India. This cow is super small! It's known as the smallest cattle breed in the world. The Guinness World Records even says so.
Even though it's tiny, the Vechur Cow is very valuable. It gives a good amount of milk for how little food it needs. For a while, these cows were almost gone. But thanks to people like Professor Sosamma Iype and her students, they were saved! They started working to protect the cows in 1989. Then, in 1998, a special group was formed to keep helping the cows and farmers.
The Vechur cow was very common in Kerala until the 1960s. But then, farmers started mixing local cows with other types of cattle. This made the Vechur cow very rare. In 2000, it was even put on a list of animals close to disappearing. Today, there are only about 200 Vechur cows left. About half of them live at a special Veterinary College.
What Makes Vechur Cows Special?
These cows are usually about 90 centimeters (about 3 feet) tall. They weigh around 130 kilograms (about 286 pounds). A Vechur cow can give up to 3 liters of milk each day. This might be less than other cows, but Vechur cows don't need much food or special care.
Medicinal Milk
Many people believe the milk from Vechur cows has special healing powers. It's also easy to digest. This is because the fat in the milk has very tiny parts. Old Indian medicine, called Ayurveda, has always said this milk is good for you.
New studies also show that Vechur cow milk is special. It has more of a protein called A2 beta-casein. Other types of milk often have A1 beta-casein. Some people think A1 protein might be linked to health problems.
Amazing Proteins in Milk
The milk from Vechur cows also has a protein called lactoferrin. This protein helps fight germs. Scientists found that the lactoferrin in Vechur milk is even better at fighting germs than some medicines! Lactoferrin is in the milk of all mammals. It helps protect against germs, viruses, and swelling. But in Vechur cow milk, these helpful powers are much stronger.
Healthy Ghee
Ghee is a type of clarified butter. Vechur ghee is also famous for being very healthy. It has special proteins and other good things that are helpful for people who are getting better after being sick.
