In a significant milestone and proud moment for Nagaland state, the Nagami Mithun breed of Nagaland has been officially registered by the Breed Registration Committee of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
The Breed Registration Certificate for Nagami Mithun was presented by Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhand in the presence of Dr Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR; Dr. Raghavendra Bhatta, DDG (Animal Sciences), ICAR; Varsha Joshi, IAS, Additional Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Government of India and Dr NH Mohan, Director, ICAR – National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal.
The Breed Registration Certificate was formally received by Dr Girish Patil S, Director, ICAR–National Research Centre on Mithun (NRCM), Nagaland, Dr Harshit Kumar, Scientist along with other team of Scientists, during the Animal Breed Registration Certificate & Breed Conservation Award Distribution Ceremony held on January 14 at the AP Shinde Hall, NASC Complex, New Delhi.
The Nagami Mithun breed registration was applied by a multidisciplinary team comprising Dr Harshit Kumar, Dr Girish Patil S, Dr Kobu Khate, Dr SS Hanah, Dr Kathiravan Periasamy, Dr K Vupru, Dr Abhijit Mitra, Dr MH Khan (ICAR–NRC on Mithun, Nagaland), Dr SS Mukharjee and Dr A Mukherjee (ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal). The breed has been registered with the accession number
INDIA_MITHUN_1400_NAGAMI_08001.
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Nagami Mithun is predominantly distributed across Kohima, Peren, Chümoukedima, Zunheboto, Phek, Tuensang, Kiphire, Noklak, Shamator, Mon, Wokha, Tseminyu and Longleng districts of Nagaland. The breed is characterized by a strong and well-built muscular body, predominantly black coat colour with white stockings, though white-patched and piebald patterns are also observed. Animals possess an inverted triangular face with a straight forehead, a prominent dorsal ridge in both sexes, and massive, corrugated horns at the base that curve upward with pointed tips.
Nagami Mithun is mainly reared for meat production and ceremonial purposes. Adult males generally weigh 470–500 kg, while cows produce about 184–193 kg of milk over a lactation period of approximately 300 days. The breed holds high social, economic and cultural significance among the tribal farming communities of Nagaland, with an estimated population of around 23,000 animals as per the last livestock census held in 2019.
Dr Girish Patil S highlighted that this achievement would strengthen policy support, breed improvement programmes, and livelihood opportunities for Mithun-rearing communities of Nagaland and the wider Northeast region.
ICAR – National Reserach Centre on Mithun, Nagaland in an effort to conserve this magnificent breed has established two conservation units in Khonoma and Thevopisumi in Nagaland. Further, support is being provided to Mithun farmers to establish semi intensive Mithun units across Nagaland state. Capacity building programs are also being organized to train Mithun farmers on scientific Mithun production.
