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National Research Centre on Mithun

About ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun

Mithun (Bos frontalis), the domesticated free-range bovine species, is an important component of the livestock production system of North-Eastern hilly region of India. This unique bovine species is believed to be domesticted more than 8000 years ago. Mithun is the domesticated from of wild gaur. At present, both mithun and gaur are taxonomically grouped into the species Bos frontalis. This animal is mainly available in the four North-Eastern hilly states Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. Besides, it is also avilable in many pockets of the neighbouring countries. According to 18th livestock census of India in 2007, total mithun population of India is 2,64,279. In the previous livestock census in 2003, some of the hybrids of Yak and local zebu cattle were wrongly recorded as Mithun, but was corrected later on by consultation with the Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir. Presently, out of the total population of mithun in India, Arunachal Pradesh is home to 82.84% ( 2,18,931) of mithun followed by 12.63% (33,385) in Nagaland, 3.79% (10,024) in Manipur and 0.73% (1,939) in Mizoram.
Currently, farmers rear this animal under free-grazing system in forests. This animal is well adopted with humid climate and hilly terrain at an elevation of 300 to 3000 m above mean sea level. Mithun is an extremely efficient grazer on steep hilly slopes compared to other animals. Mithun is primarily reared as meat animal and highly preferred among the tribal people of North-Eastern region of India. Neverthless, mithun is also used as a ceremonial animal and plays important role in economical, social and cultural life of the tribal people of North-Eastern India. Like buffalo, mithun milk contains high protein and fat. Evidences are there that mithun-cattle hybrids are used as milk animal in some pockets of North-Eastern India and Bhutan. Therefore, this species may also be explored as a supplementary component of the milk production system in the region. Besides, it is now established that superior quality leather can be obtained from mithun skin. However, the optimum production potentiality of this animal has not been explored fully till date and in coming days major efforts are needed to develop a scientific and sustainable mithun production system for the people of the North-Eastern hilly region.
Website: http://www.nrcmithun.res.in/
Office Address: National Research Centre on Mithun,
Jharnapani, Medziphema
Dist.: Dimapur
Nagaland
797106

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