The Andhra Pradesh biodiversity board wants to claim royalty for the Brahma or Brahman bull, a species taken from Ongole and bred widely in Brazil, the United States and Australia for over 100 years.
The bull, scientifically known as Bos indicus, is in great demand as it is known to be resistant to foot and mouth disease and for its flavourful meat. Biodiversity board chairman R. Hampaiah, back recently from a biodiversity conference in Brazil, said steps are being taken to form breeders’ associations of countries using the Ongole or Brahma bull so that the benefits could be shared. Farmers from Andhra and some other parts of India are, ironically, going to the World Brahma Bull Congress in Panama in July to buy Brahma bulls bred overseas. Dr Hampaiah said a Hyderabad-based NGO, Ankush, had recently approached the board seeking to buy these foreign-bred Brahma bulls and seeking the animal husbandry department’s permission to import the cattle.
Said Dr Hampaiah: “We have to apply for the geographical indicator (a WTO requirement to prove ethnicity) for the Ongole bull.” Ongole bulls are found in the area between the Gundlakamma and Alluru rivers in Ongole and Kandukur mandals of Andhra Pradesh. The board will also seek a geographical indicator for Red Sanders and KPV (Krishnapuram vulli) onions grown near Mydukur in the state.
“The Brahma cow gives 45 litres of milk a day. There are several restaurants with Brahma bull beef on the menu in Brazil and the US. They may have improved the breed genetically. But under the AP Biodiversity Act, we have the right to claim royalty,” said Dr Hampaiah.