Indian buffalo head for the catwalk

Around 30 water buffaloes are to take to a specially-made catwalk in northern India, officials said Friday, as part of a display to promote the high-yield breed.

The selected bovine beauties will be paraded under spotlights, cameras and the gaze of thousands of spectators in a stadium in the state of Haryana on February 22, said Sadhu Ram Sharma, joint director of the state's animal husbandry department.

The aim of the event was to showcase the Murrah breed of water buffaloes, prized the world over for its high milk yield. Indigenous to Haryana, the breed has been used to improve dairy production in countries as far afield as Italy and Egypt.

“This world-famous breed yields up to 25 litres of milk per day, much more than an indigenous cow that would ordinarily give a maximum of 13 litres per day,” Sharma said.

“We want to underline the fact that with growing urbanisation and declining pastures, it is difficult to raise a cow while the water-buffalo can be easily maintained in small area as all it needs is a pond.”

Special arrangements were being made for the event, to be held in the state's Jind district, as the animal is crowd-shy and prone to erratic behaviour.

“We will put barricades along both sides of the ramp. Besides owners will be asked to accompany their buffaloes on the ramp,” the husbandry department's chief KS Dangi said.

Around 70 prize-winners from national and regional fairs were to attend rehearsals a day before the event. “We will drop shy animals to avoid any risk to the event and select 30 buffaloes to participate in the catwalk,” expected to be attended by 25 000 people, Dangi said. - Sapa-dpa