Rajapalayam, Sippiparai dogs to be monographed
MADURAI:
Scientists and veterinarians are in the process of producing a
monograph of Tamil Nadu's indigenous dog breeds Rajapalayam and
Sippiparai for the first time, which is expected to bring out the outstanding features of these breeds.
The two-year study being conducted by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal Haryana was launched in Rajapalayam on Monday. According to Dr S Kathirvel, associate professor and head Veterinary University Training and Research centre (VUTRC), Rajapalayam, this is the first time that monograph preparation is being taken up for the canine breeds, though it has been done for cattle such as the Kangeyam breed and many goats and sheep in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu including Ramanathapuram.
re are over 10 to 15 indigeThenous dog breeds in India, of which four - Rajapalayam, Sippiparai, Kanni and Kombai - are confined to Tamil Nadu. The animals would be continuously monitored for a period of two years under the programme and their genotype such as height, weight, colour and other features would be taken into account for a gene analysis.
These dogs, which have outstanding features such as height and body structure, are much more superior to the exotic foreign breeds such as German Shepherds and Labradors in terms of being disease resistant. The Rajapalayam and Sippiparai varieties are reared in Rajapalayam and Tirunelveli regions. Once the monograph is completed it will be published and prove helpful to dog breeders and buyers. Rajapalayam breeds are distinguished by their features such as pure white colour, pink nose, pointed ears, long tail and height which can go up to 60 cm.
So far, there is no proper data on the availability of these dog breeds, as no census was conducted. As of now, there are about 300 to 400 dogs of the Rajapalayam breed in this region, Kathirvel said. Another problem with these dogs was that many of them had been produced through genetic inbreeding, where the crossing was done between sibling dogs, that is sister-brother mating, where there were chances of 1/1000 pups becoming blind or deaf due to genetic disorders. The breeders in this region lacked awareness on this important aspect, which could affect the dog population, said Kathirvel.
The principal investigator of this programme is scientist K N Raja, co-investigator A K Mishra from NBAGR. The others in the team include Dr Deivendran, head, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu and Dr G Srinivasan (VUTRC), from Rajapalayam.
The two-year study being conducted by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal Haryana was launched in Rajapalayam on Monday. According to Dr S Kathirvel, associate professor and head Veterinary University Training and Research centre (VUTRC), Rajapalayam, this is the first time that monograph preparation is being taken up for the canine breeds, though it has been done for cattle such as the Kangeyam breed and many goats and sheep in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu including Ramanathapuram.
re are over 10 to 15 indigeThenous dog breeds in India, of which four - Rajapalayam, Sippiparai, Kanni and Kombai - are confined to Tamil Nadu. The animals would be continuously monitored for a period of two years under the programme and their genotype such as height, weight, colour and other features would be taken into account for a gene analysis.
These dogs, which have outstanding features such as height and body structure, are much more superior to the exotic foreign breeds such as German Shepherds and Labradors in terms of being disease resistant. The Rajapalayam and Sippiparai varieties are reared in Rajapalayam and Tirunelveli regions. Once the monograph is completed it will be published and prove helpful to dog breeders and buyers. Rajapalayam breeds are distinguished by their features such as pure white colour, pink nose, pointed ears, long tail and height which can go up to 60 cm.
So far, there is no proper data on the availability of these dog breeds, as no census was conducted. As of now, there are about 300 to 400 dogs of the Rajapalayam breed in this region, Kathirvel said. Another problem with these dogs was that many of them had been produced through genetic inbreeding, where the crossing was done between sibling dogs, that is sister-brother mating, where there were chances of 1/1000 pups becoming blind or deaf due to genetic disorders. The breeders in this region lacked awareness on this important aspect, which could affect the dog population, said Kathirvel.
The principal investigator of this programme is scientist K N Raja, co-investigator A K Mishra from NBAGR. The others in the team include Dr Deivendran, head, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu and Dr G Srinivasan (VUTRC), from Rajapalayam.
Know Our Own Dog Breeds, Kombai, Kanni, Alangu, Chippiparai and Rajapalayam
Let us identify these Dog breeds of Tamilnadu. Feel Free to put in your answers in comments.
To know more about these dogs…
Kombai
Appearance
The Kombai is usually red or brown with a black mask, and with a dark line along the back. The chief differences between the Rajapalayam and the Combai breeds are that the Combai has more powerful jaws, often with a black mouth, much more pendent ears, rich red colour and a savage temper. It has, like Rhodesian Ridgeback, a ridge of fur along its back.
The Kombai is usually red or brown with a black mask, and with a dark line along the back. The chief differences between the Rajapalayam and the Combai breeds are that the Combai has more powerful jaws, often with a black mouth, much more pendent ears, rich red colour and a savage temper. It has, like Rhodesian Ridgeback, a ridge of fur along its back.
Their coats are easily maintainable and
are less prone to skin disorders, fungal and yeast infections, and
ticks-fleas infestation. The breed, having evolved naturally many
centuries ago, are very immune to most diseases that haunt the
man-designed breeds.
History
The Combai is a very ancient breed of dog, used in hunting as early as the 9th century B.C. when the Marava Kings held sway over South India. The Combai was used for hunting boar, bison and deer. Once available in large numbers throughout Southern India, the Combai is now restricted to certain parts of Tamilnadu and to some special kennels.
The Combai is a very ancient breed of dog, used in hunting as early as the 9th century B.C. when the Marava Kings held sway over South India. The Combai was used for hunting boar, bison and deer. Once available in large numbers throughout Southern India, the Combai is now restricted to certain parts of Tamilnadu and to some special kennels.
Chippiparai
The Chippiparai is a sight hound breed of
dog from the south of India. Thought to be a descendant of the Saluki,
today it is found in the area around Periyar Lake. It is used primarily
for hunting wild boar, deer and hare. It is said to be an excellent
hunter, and is also used for guarding the home.
Appearance
The typical color is a silver-grey, with
very limited or no white markings. Other colors, particularly variations
of grey and fawn, also occur. This is a handsome dog, tall (27-32
inches at the withers) and powerful. It has a short coat that is very
close; on the whole the coat if kept groomed has a shine on it. A
shining, shell-like appearance is greatly desired. This kind of coat
makes it ideal for hot climates. This hound is also less prone to ticks
and fleas, with their short coat providing easy detection. The overall
appearance is very similar to that of the Sloughi, or the Rampur Hound.
Kanni
The Kanni, which means maiden, is a rare
indigenous South Indian dog breed found in the state of Tamil Nadu. The
breed is a further extension of the Caravan or Mudhol Hound, and is also
a descendant of the Saluki. However, the Kanni does not possess the
grand features of these breeds. It is used mainly for hunting.
Appearance
In general appearance, the Kanni is
similar to a smooth-coated Saluki or a Doberman Pinscher with natural
ears and tail. The dog is usually black and tan in colour, perhaps with
limited white on the feet and chest. There also exists a cream-coloured
variety of the breed, which is known as “Paalakanni”. The Kanni is
agile, slim, graceful, and moderately built, with a deep chest and slim
body. The dog stands about 25 inches at the withers, the bitch about 22
inches.
History
The Kanni is found in and around
Tirunelveli, Pollachi, Kovilpatti, Kazhugumalai, Kileral, Kodangipatti,
Sivakasi, and Madurai. It is said that the name Kanni ( which means
Unmarried Girl) comes from the fact that the dog used to be given as a
gift to the bridegroom just before the marriage. They are usually of
four colours, brown, cream, black & tan and brindle. The Kanni is
kept by families who do not sell them but may gift them if a promise is
made to look after them well. They are not allowed to roam on the
streets and brought up as pet animals. They are given a diet of milk in
the morning, corn porridge in the afternoon and a “Ragi” porridge in the
evening. Meat is given once a week or once a month only. The breed is
now extremely rare, and on the verge of extinction. Efforts to revive
the breed have not been taken up, as specimens are few, and there exists
little information about them.
Alangu
Appearance
This is a tall breed with a noble
carriage and short coat. The dogs may be red, fawn or brindle, markings
vary. The muzzle is black and the skin around their neck and mouth is
loose. The brisket is deep, and the limbs are well muscled. The back is
long with the tail tapering to a fine point. The ears are set high on
the skull and pricked. It has a long and graceful stride. Their height
varies between 73,6 to 76,2 cm. (29-30 inches).
History
The Persian Army used Indian mastiffs,
but just for guarding and were introduced into Greece by Xerxes the
First when he marched towards this country in 486-465 B.C..
The Indian Mastiff originated in and
around the desert area of Kachchh, the Rajasthan area and Bhawalpur area
of Punjab. A part of the Kutch area in Rajasthan was under the Sindh
District and so the other name of this breed is Sindh Mastiff. Alongside
the Kumaon Mastiff, the Indian Mastiff were used for hunting large
games. A sudden change in the hunting practises saw the Indian Royal
families to use cheetahs for hunting instead. This changed the Indian
Mastiffs job to guard dogs and dogs used for fighting instead. With time
most people forgot the breeds and the Indian Mastiff became rare. The
people who used the Indian Mastiffs to fight dropped its height a couple
of inches for performance sake. Its height was originally, 30-34 inches
(76,2 – 86,3 cm), but as 150 years has passed the height of the breed
has dwindled to 29-30 inches (73,6 – 76,2 cm).
The Indian Mastiff are used as fighting
dogs in Pakistan, where they then are called Bully Kutta, alongside the
proper Bully Kutta, since most Pakistani dog fighters are accustomed to
calling all Mastiff breeds used for fighting Bully Kutta. The Indian
Mastiff are still used in Pakistan as excellent Fighting Dogs and also
as one of the most dangerous guard dogs, known to excel the true Bully
Kutta.
Rajapalayam
The Rajapalayam is an Indian Sighthound.
It was the companion of the royalty and aristocracy in Southern India,
particularly in the town Rajapalayam from where it gets its name.
Appearance
It is a large dog, usually measuring
about 65-75 cm (25-30 inches) at the withers. It is a hound, and
therefore should be kept in optimum working condition. It tends to be
heavier boned than most sighthounds, but shares the depth of chest and
basic body structure. Its facial structure is considerably different
from that of, say a Caravan, as it is meant primarily for hunting wild
boar. The tail has a slight curl.
The most prized colour is milk white, with a pink nose and golden eyes. However, other colours including spotted or solid, black, and brown, are known to occur. In the past, puppies of colour were usually culled from the litters since the owners preferred the pure white dogs. The coat is short and fine. An extremely handsome and graceful dog, the Rajapalayam has a gait similar to the trotting of a thoroughbred horse.
History
It’s history still remain’s unknown.
The most prized colour is milk white, with a pink nose and golden eyes. However, other colours including spotted or solid, black, and brown, are known to occur. In the past, puppies of colour were usually culled from the litters since the owners preferred the pure white dogs. The coat is short and fine. An extremely handsome and graceful dog, the Rajapalayam has a gait similar to the trotting of a thoroughbred horse.
History
It’s history still remain’s unknown.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete