Andhra Pradesh government has sanctioned Rs 70 crore for advanced research on the famed Punganur dwarf cow breed. The native virgin Punganur breed cattle became almost an endangered breed. The AP government is planning to launch Mission Punganur. Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy also directed the officials concerned to take necessary steps to protect the native breed including Punganur and Ongole cattle breed.Punganur Cow (Cattle) is the World’s smallest Bos indicus cattle originated in Punganur town in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. This breed is known for its short stature, high milk production efficiency and efficient reproductive characters. In Ancient Ayurvedic scriptures such as Charaka Samhita, Shushruta Samhita and Brahad-Wagbhatt mention various medicinal properties of cow urine. It is used as an insecticide and in disorders like intestinal gas, acidity, and cough.This particular cow breed is known for its high fat content and rich medicinal properties.It has a high milk fat content of 7-9%.  It also has several health improving properties and it helps infants gain better immunity .The lactation milk yield is approximately 540 litres and lactation length is 260 days.The average milk fat content is 5 to 8 % and their average daily feed intake is 5 kg.The bulls are more docile than the females .It is widely known as an efficient milch breed.The Centre for Advanced Research on Livestock Ltd at Pulivendula in Kadapa district submitted a detailed 5 year project report for conservation of Punganur cattle under ‘Mission Punganur’ research project by utilising IVF Technology for genetic up gradation.The government said the Mission Punganur project is aimed at not only protecting the breed but also ensure its rapid multiplication through in vivo and in vitro embryo production. Efforts will be made to use low genetic cows as surrogates and produce more offspring.Efforts are being made to replicate the breed’s characteristics and develop them in a regular cow breed under this project.This breed is on the verge of extinction. The decline of this pure Indian breed is mainly due to an earlier policy decision taken by the Government to “better” Indian cattle breeds by cross-breeding the Punganur with the Holstein-Friesian and Jersey cattle while banning the rearing of native bull breeds.Available only in small numbers, the Punganur cow has become a craze, a status symbol, among the wealthy in the Andhra Pradesh capital of late.The Punganur cattle are now being reared mainly on the Government Livestock Farm, Palamaner, Chittoor district, while a small informal group of private breeders are also working on reviving this revered species. 
Punganur dwarf cattle which originated from the Chitoor District of Andhra Pradesh in southern India is among the world’s smallest humped cattle breeds.The Punganur breed’s milk has a high fat content. While cow milk normally has a fat content of 3 to 3.5 per cent, the Punganur breed’s milk contains 8 per cent.The breed is named after the town of its origin, Punganur, in Chittoor district situated in the south-eastern tip of the Deccan Plateau. Animals are white and light grey in colour with a broad forehead and short horns. Its average height is 70–90 cm and its weight is 115–200 kg. The cow has an average milk yield of 3 to 5 litres/day and has a daily feed intake of 5 kg. It is highly drought resistant, and able to survive exclusively on dry fodder.

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