Rathi Cow: Origin, Features, Significant Uses, and Benefits

In Rajasthan’s desert regions, the common milch breed known as Rathi cattle can be found. The Rathi cow breed is a major source of income for local farmers. It’s also named after one pastoral community of Muslims of Rajput ancestry, which leads a nomadic lifestyle and is known as the Raths. The Lunkaransar Tehsil, often referred to as the Rathi tract, is in the Bikaner district and is home to an unusually large number of Rathi animals.

An Indigenous breed known as Rathi is thought to have developed from the Red Sindhi, Sahiwal, Dhanni, and Tharparkar breeds. It also goes by the name “Desert Rani.” It is thought that the locals of Rajasthan’s Lunkaransar region came up with the term “Rathi.” Rathi means “extremely docile and calm animal” in the Marwari language^[1]. While others claim that the term Rathi may have come from a nomadic pastoral tribe of Muslims descended from Rajputs known as the Raths. The personal residence region of Rathi cattle is in the Bikaner district’s Lunkaransar Tehsil, along with small portions of the Churu, Hanumangarh, and Ganganagar districts of Rajasthan.

The species is well known in the area to have two variations, Rath and Rathi. The Rath is a purebred milk-producing variety of the Rathi cow, a draught breed. The Rath tribe tamed cattle, and the kind was first found in Rajasthan’s Alwar district. The primary characteristics of Rath cattle are their white skin and black or grey markings. In contrast, Rathi cattle are often brown in hue. Rath and Rathi are very different breeds. The Tharparkar and Sahiwal cow breeds are the ancestors of Rathi cattle. Currently, Rajasthan and several other regions of India have access to the breed. Continue reading the article for more details on this breed of cow.

Origin of Rathi Cows

A notable Indian-born breed of cow is the Rathi cow. It is a breed of milk cattle that is mostly employed for the production of milk and draught purposes. The breed enjoys considerable popularity in its home country.

Bos indicus cow, known as “Rathi”, originated in the northwest Indian regions of Bikaner, Ganganagar, and Hanumangarh. It is a highly valuable Indian dual-purpose popular breed that is renowned for its milking & draught mastery. Two variations of the breed, known locally as Rathi and Rath, exist. The Rath is a breed of Rathi cattle that exclusively produces milk.

The Rath tribe domesticated cattle, and the Rajasthani Alwar area is where the variety of these animals first appeared. The primary characteristics of Rath cattle are their white skin and black or grey markings. Whereas Rathi cows are often brown. Rathi and Rath are two very different breeds.

Features of this Desi Indian Cow Breed 

• These animals have a smooth, short body coat, symmetrical body shape, and medium size.
• Their ears are all medium size, and the forehead is broad between the eyes and somewhat curved.
• The head is average in size and slender.
• Horns can be short or medium in length and have upward and inward curves.
• A beautiful black or white shift is present far below the hip as well as the tail is long, elegant, and dropping.
• Well-developed udder and teat with a noticeable milk vein.
• With a range of 1050 kg to 2000 kg, the average lactation milk output is 1500 kg.
• The average first-calving age is between 45 and 57 months, while the inter-calving interval is between 13 and 15 months.
• The dewlap is light, airy, and thick.
• It has loose skin, a noticeable naval flap, and fine, short hair.
• The majority of these creatures are brown, having white patches everywhere around their bodies, yet occasionally you will also see fully brown or creatures with black coats and white patches. The colour of the lower body is often lighter than the rest of the body.
• Females are calm and have good lactating breasts (1320 to 2095 kg per lactation).
• Body weight ranges for bulls are 350–400 kg, and for cows is 280–300 kg.

Significant Use of Rathi Cows

Rathi cows serve two purposes. They are used for both draught and the production of milk. They are used to produce milk since they are among the breeds with the highest milk yields and because they are productive in terms of milk yield. In addition to this, they are used for a draught.

Additionally used for milk production are Rathi cows. Rathi cows have proven their value in terms of milk production capability. They have occasionally faced stiff competition from Sahiwal cows. Rathi cows produce 5 to 10 litres of milk each day on average. Rathi cows occasionally produced 15 to 20 litres of milk each day. This breed of cow has a lactation milk production range of 1700-3200 litres.

Benefits of Rathi Cow Milk

1. Complete Meal: Rathi cow milk is very nutrient-dense and contains a wide variety of nutrients, making it a complete meal all by itself. The abundance of high-quality protein contributes to the building blocks of cells’ abundant strength. There are nine necessary amino acids, and studies have shown that they have amazing health advantages. It is crucial for boosting the immune system and repairing tissues and cells that have been harmed.
2. Strengthens bones and muscles: Rathi cow A2 milk is strongly linked to the growth and development of muscle and bone because it contains a significant amount of calcium. Regular consumption of this milk improves core stability and lowers your risk of chronic diseases and osteoarthritis. The milk is rich in magnesium, phosphorous, vitamin D, and high-quality protein. The mixture of these necessary nutrients is quite advantageous for the overall growth of your body.
3. Good for weight loss: Milk is linked to weight loss because of its tremendous nutritional value and good fat content.
4. Strengthens our immune system: Our body needs vitamin A to maintain strong defences, and it is most usually found in the Rathi cow’s milk. Increased vitamin A intake enhances immune system cell responsiveness and control.
5. Maintains Healthy Blood Pressure: High levels of triglycerides and cholesterol are frequently the cause of high blood pressure. You may be able to lessen your cholesterol by increasing the intake of extra omega-3 fatty acids, which are included in Rathi cow milk. Your blood pressure improves from the potassium in Rathi cow’s milk as well.

Benefits of its Urine

It is believed that the urine of a Rathi cow is unique because it contains unique hormone levels and nutrients. Asthma, kidney, liver, peptic ulcer, fever, leprosy, some skin allergies, psoriasis, and even cancer can all be treated with Gomutra (cow urine), according to Ayurveda.

You should be aware of these incredible health advantages of Rathi cow’s urine:

• Constipation, colic discomfort, leprosy, gas or bloating, or even the risk of cancer can be treated by Rathi cow’s urine.
• It is mixed with ghee, black pepper, and curd and can be used to cure the common cold and fever.
• Rathi cow’s urine with Triphala and cow milk can all be used to cure anaemia.
• Additionally, gastric ulcers, lung diseases and other liver conditions can be treated with Ayurvedic cow urine treatment.
• For treating conditions like epilepsy, cow urine is combined with daruharidra.
• It also cleanses the body from within by eliminating all pollutants and maintaining healthy blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.
• Additionally, pesticides made from Rathi cow’s urine are employed in residential and agricultural pest management.
• Additionally, it is utilised to make cosmetic products like shampoo and soap.

Conclusion

An extremely lovely domestic cow breed from India is called a “Rathi cow.” It is a particularly resilient breed that produces milk of excellent quality. The breed enjoys some popularity in its home country. Additionally, it is among the friendliest cow breeds available. We have covered every important fact about Rathi cows in this post and the advantages of ingesting their milk and pee from a health standpoint.

Read our Article: Rathi Cattle Breed: Origin, Characteristics, Uses & Benefits