Bus driver turned dairy farmer breeds hope for Malnad Gidda

Mangaluru: What began as a father’s quest to find healthy milk for his children has evolved into a conservation movement at Bellare in Sullia in Dakshina Kannada.Praveen Bellare, a dairy farmer, is focusing only on the indigenous Malnad Gidda cattle breed. From starting with just two cows during the Covid-19 pandemic, he now owns 49 cows including three bulls, representing nearly 10 varieties and colour patterns of the native breed at his farm, Swarna Kapila Gau Swarga.His efforts have attracted attention far beyond Karnataka. Cattle from his farm have already been sent to a temple in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, and he is now in the process of sending a pair of Malnad Gidda cows to Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura through a businessman from north India. Interestingly, Praveen’s journey into cattle conservation began while he was working as a driver on a private bus operating on the Bengaluru-Puttur route.He said, “I wanted desi cow’s milk for my children. Although my father owned Holstein Friesian cows, I knew very little about indigenous breeds. During the pandemic, I began researching native cattle breeds and understood the significance of Malnad Gidda cows, and the health benefits associated with their A2 milk. That is when I purchased two cows,” he recalls.Despite facing ridicule from many who dismissed Malnad Gidda as a low-yielding breed, Praveen persisted.“The initial days were difficult. I survived on my savings from my job as a bus driver. For nearly three years, I earned no income from the venture, but I continued my research and focused entirely on conservation,” he said.Today, his farm boasts some of the rarest colour variants of the breed, including Vyagravarnada Kapila, Swarna Kapila and Shwetha Kapila. The cattle display a wide range of colours and patterns, including striped, black, brown, grey, white and mixed shades. Praveen does not rely on artificial insemination. He maintains three breeding bulls to preserve the purity and genetic characteristics.“What worked for me was branding the species and creating awareness about its uniqueness. People’s perception of Malnad Gidda has changed significantly over the years. Buyers are willing to pay up to Rs 5 lakh for a Vyagravarna bull I own. References to the breed can even be found in mythology,” he said.Apart from selling milk from these cows at Rs 100/litre, he also markets gomutra (cow urine) at Rs 20/litre. “My farm is spread across only 40 cents of land. Every year, we get around 25 calves, “ he said, adding that he has no plans for expansion.One of the oldest residents of the farm is Bhagya, a 20-year-old cow. Praveen notes that Malnad Gidda cattle can live up to 35 years. He has earned several awards and recognition. “I want more youngsters to come forward and take up dairy farming and indigenous cattle conservation.”