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MITHUN - AN IMPORTANT BOVINE SPECIES OF INDIAN ORIGIN

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

Neelam Gupta
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P.O. Box No.129, Karnal -132 001, Haryana, INDIA
S. C. Gupta
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P.O. Box No.129, Karnal -132 001, Haryana, INDIA
N. D. Verma
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P.O. Box No.129, Karnal -132 001, Haryana, INDIA
RK. Pundir
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P.O. Box No.129, Karnal -132 001, Haryana, INDIA
B. IK. Joshi
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P.O. Box No.129, Karnal -132 001, Haryana, INDIA
A. E. Nivsarkar
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P.O. Box No.129, Karnal -132 001, Haryana, INDIA
R Sahai
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P.O. Box No.129, Karnal -132 001, Haryana, INDIA
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Summary

The Mithun (Bos frontalis) is a heavily built semi domesticated bovine species originated in north eastern hill region of India. In some folklore, Mithun have been referred to as the descendent of the Sun. There are interesting and divergent legends about the orig of mithun among different in tribes. Even today, mithun is used as a holy sacrificial animal to appease the Gods by the tribesman. It is a woodland animal found at an elevation of between 2 000 and 9 000 feet. The habitat of mithun extends like a long curved belt of hills from the Akasan hill and Chin Hills of Burma through the Chittagong hill tracts of Bangladesh and the Lushai (Mizo) hills of Manipur and Naga hills of India. The geographic zone is covered with tropical evergreen rain forests. At higher elevations mithun territories are also shared by yak (Poephagus grunniens), while at lower altitudes domestic cattle and mithun co-habit. The information contained in the article is primarily based on a field survey carried out on mithun of Porba village of Nagaland. Some data collated and published by other departments is also included.

Resume

Le Mithun est une espèce bovine bien structurée, semi domestiquée et qui a son origine dans les régions de collines nordorientales de l'Inde. Dans certaines etes traditionnelles, le Mithun est considéré comme descendant direct du Soleil. Parmi les différentes tribus il existe des légendes intéressantes et contraposées au sujet de Porigine du Mithun. Encore aujourd'hui, le Mithun est utilisé dans les tribus comme animal de sacrifice en remerciement aux Dieux. C'est un animal de forêt qui vit dans les zones d'une altitude de 2 000 à 9 000 pieds. L'habitat du Mïthun s'étend tout au long d'une longue franche qui va des collines de l'Akasan et de Chin, dans la région de Burma, à travers les collines du Chittagong du Bangladesh et celles de Lushai (Mizo), Manipur, et des Naga en Inde. La zone géographique est couverte de forêt pluviale tropicale toujours verte. A des altitudes plus élevées le Mithun partage son territoire avec le yak (Poephagus grunniens), par contre, aux altitudes plus basses il cohabite avec des animaux domestiques. L'information recueillie dans cet article se base principalement sur une enquête de terrain menée dans le village de Porba au Nagaland. En outre, on a inclus des données recueillies et publiées par d'autres sources.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 1995

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References

REFERENCES

Gupta, N., Verma, N. D., Gupta, S. C., Kumar, P. and Sahai, R 1995. Chromosomes of Mithun (Gaveaus frontalis), Indian J. Anim. Sci. 65(6)Google Scholar
Simoon, F. J. and Simoon, E. S. 1968. Ceremonial Ox of India, The mithun in nature, culture and history, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison.Google Scholar