The erstwhile Pattagars acted as mediators in transactions of bullocks. They facilitated the sales of mhote bullocks from the ryots to other regions and even abroad. They offered free bull service and procured the best progeny for further development of the breed. Due to growing demand, they offered the nucleus for the current District Livestock Farm semen station at Hosur and also the governments of Ceylon, Malaysia and Brazil.
Changing times made the Pattagars to inaugurate cattle fairs and shandies as a point for direct transaction, first at Kannapuram (Kangayam) – from which the name ‘Kangayam’ stuck with the breed, Thavittupalayam (Anthiyur Gurunathaswamy temple), Athikombai (Oddanchatram) and numerous other weekly shandies.
Sadly, as the privy purse was abolished and the District Board system dismantled, the traditional knowledge flow stopped. The renewed interest in the breed has lead to the establishment of various services for the changing times.
- Shandy: A new shandy in the palace environs has been commissioned for direct farmer to buyer transaction of cattle. This transit facilitation point aims at finding homes for Kangayam cattle. It also provides bull service for cows in oestrus
A normal business day at the shandy
Stud bull for service stationed at the shandy
Shandy facilitators’ numbers: +91 97885 80005 , +91 93085 33005
A non-profit online shandy has also been established in Facebook for finding new homes for Kangayam cattle:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/251422208315621/
