Nagami becomes the world’s first registered mithun breed, marking a historic milestone for Nagaland’s livestock heritage and science.
Share
DIMAPUR — Nagaland’s iconic mithun entered global livestock history with the registration of ‘Nagami’ as the world’s first recognised mithun breed.
After years of painstaking scientific work, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–National Research Centre on Mithun (ICAR–NRCM), Medziphema, has achieved the historic registration of Nagami with the ICAR–National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal, informed a press statement from ICAR–NRCM, Medziphema, on Sunday.
The recognition formally establishes Nagami as a distinct and scientifically validated breed of mithun (Bos frontalis), the state animal of Nagaland.
For generations, mithun has been far more than livestock for Naga communities. It is a symbol of wealth, status, tradition and social bonding—integral to customary practices, festivals and community life.
Yet, despite its deep cultural roots, mithun populations in Nagaland had never been formally characterised at the breed level, limiting conservation efforts and policy support.
That gap has now been bridged.
Led by Dr. Girish Patil, S, Director at ICAR–NRC on Mithun, and spearheaded scientifically by Dr. Harshit Kumar, the project involved extensive field surveys across Nagaland, detailed phenotypic and morphometric documentation, and advanced molecular and genetic analyses.
The findings confirmed that Nagami possesses a distinct genetic identity, clearly separating it from other mithun populations in the Northeast.
Characterised by a predominantly black coat with distinctive white stockings, a strong and compact body, and remarkable adaptability to forest-based hill ecosystems, Nagami has evolved naturally under Nagaland’s diverse agro-climatic conditions.
It is traditionally reared in free-range, community-managed forest systems, a practice that has shaped its resilience and sustainability over time.
According to ICAR–NRCM, the registration will open new pathways for targeted conservation, scientific breeding programmes, and improved livelihood opportunities for mithun-rearing communities. It also strengthens Nagaland’s claim as a custodian of a unique animal genetic resource of global significance.
The achievement follows a series of milestones for mithun in recent years. In 2023, mithun was recognised as a food animal by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and was also included in the FAO’s Domestic Animal Diversity Information System, placing the species firmly on the international livestock map.
Officials at ICAR–NRCM described the registration of Nagami as a fitting “Christmas gift” to the people of Nagaland, honouring both the animal and the communities that have safeguarded it through generations.
As Nagami steps onto the world stage, it carries with it the story of Nagaland’s forests, traditions and people—now preserved not only in custom, but in science.