The purchase of Amrita Lakshmi, a Kasaragod dwarf cow, was yet another step taken by our school that carried us forward in our farming venture. We bought this breed of cow keeping in mind the various qualities that they have in terms of their milk, dung and urine. A cowshed has been built for it inside the school campus.
The Kasaragod dwarf cow is a dwarf variety of cattle breed found in Kasaragod. One of the smallest breeds of native cows found in Kerala, it is well suited for hot and humid climates. These cows are excellent milk producers because their feed to milk ratio is quite high compared to other breeds. They give mineral rich milk, require almost zero inputs, and are one among the three prime dwarf cattle in India along with Malnad Gidda and Vechur cattle. Requiring about 2 kg of feed per day, its milk yield on an average is about 1 litre. The milk is nutritious and rich in alpha-2, which makes it particularly beneficial for those suffering from diabetes and hypertension. It has a high fat content and is considered superior to other varieties. Furthermore, it also has high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids that make it more digestible. It is a good option for households as the expense to maintain one of these cows is very low while yielding quality milk.
This breed is in high demand due to the popularity of zero-budget farming. The urine from the Kasaragod dwarf cow has medicinal value. Its dung is rich manure; the dung from one of these cows can be used to fertilize almost 30 acres of land.
