The Manda buffalo found in the Eastern Ghats and the Koraput plateau region of Odisha has got national recognition as a unique breed.

The National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) has declared it as the 19th unique breed of buffaloes found in the country.

“With national recognition of Manda buffalo, all efforts will be made by the government of Odisha and Government of India to conserve this unique buffalo genetic resource of Odisha, efforts will be made to enhance their productivity through breeding strategy and market the produce — milk, curd, ghee — at a premium price resulting improvement of stakeholders in the native tract,” said a media release issued by the Odisha government.

Manda buffaloes are small-sized, sturdy animals and both male and female are used for ploughing agricultural land in the native tracts of Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts in southern Odisha.

“The buffalo germplasm was first identified and a detailed survey conducted by the animal resources development department in collaboration with Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology under the leadership of then director Bishnupada Sethi (now working as principal secretary, revenue and information and public relations) and Sushant Kumar Das, an animal geneticist.

“The finding of the project was put to NBAGR for recognition of the indigenous unique buffalo Manda at the national level. Now it has been declared as the 19th breed of buffalo in the country,” an official said.

The buffalo has ash grey and grey coat with copper colour hair. The lower part of the legs upto elbow is light coloured with copper colour hair at the knee. Some animals are silver white in colour, the release said.

There are around 100,000 buffaloes of this breed in the native tracts mostly contributing to the family nutrition of the households and all the agricultural operations in the undulating landscape of the hilly terrain of Koraput.

“Average milk yield of these buffaloes is 2 to 2.5 litres in single milking with more than 8 per cent fat. However, a few of those yield upto four litres. Manda buffaloes mature at around 3 years and drop the first calf at around 4 years. Every 1.5 to 2 years they give birth to a calf for the whole life of around 20 years,” an official said.