Ongole Cow
The Ongole cow of India is a breed of zebu, a form of domestic cattle known for its distinctive hump. The Brahma cows of the United States are bred from Ongole cattle. These cows are named for the Ongole region of India, where the breed originated.
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Mammalia
Order - Artiodactyla
Family - Bovidae
Subfamily - Bovinae
Genus - Bos
Species & Subspecies - B. taurus indicus
Common Name – Ongole Cow, Nellore Cow
Ongole cattle are typically docile, though bulls are well-known for their strength and can be aggressive.
Ongole cows develop quickly and can begin reproducing at just under four years of age. Their bodies are developed to specifically handle the difficulties associated with pregnancy and lactation. Gestation usually lasts around 285 days. The young mature quickly due to the high butter fat content on the mother’s milk.
The Ongole cow shares the distinct features of the Zebu, a type of domestic cattle from south Asia, including a pronounced hump, short horns, and large ears. Ongoles are one of the heaviest breeds of cattle, with bulls weighing up to 1,000 lbs. They are hardy and resistant to many diseases, and can tolerate tropical heats. They are usually white in color, though not always.
The breed originates from the Ongole region of India, and is sometimes called the Nellore cow due to that area previously belonging to the Nellore district. The Ongole is derived from the zebu.
Ongole cattle are used as work animals, as well as for their milk and meat. They are quite desirable due to their hardiness and quick growth rate, and have been exported all over the world, leading to derivative breeds like the Brahma. Ongole and their derivations are believed to number in the millions.