General Information

Species

Buffalo

Breeding Tract

Nilgiri (Tamilnadu)

Main Use

Work – Draught; Socio-cultural – Religious ceremonies

Origin

The Toda breed is known after its herdsmen, the Toda tribe of the Nilgiris.

Herd Book Or Register Established

No

Breed Societies (If Any)

No

Adaptability to Environment

This is one of the important breeds of buffalo other than Kaziranga buffaloes of Assam which thrives well in the high rainfall and high humid area.

Morphology

Color

Calf is generally fawn at birth. In growing calves, at about 2 months, the fawn colour changes to ash grey. In adult buffaloes the predominant coat colours are fawn and ash-grey.

Number Of Horns

2

Horns Shape And Size

Horns long (62cm) and are variable in shape. They are usually set wide apart, outward, slightly downward and upward with the points being recurved inward, forming characteristically a cresent shape or semicircle. Horns are thick at the base.

Visible Characteristics

A narrow band of dense hair covering the top line from the crest of neck to the point of origin of tail, two chevron markings – one just around the jowl and the other anterior to the brisket.