Amaravati, February 01, 2026: The famed Ongole bull, a pride of Andhra Pradesh's coastal belt, stands on the brink of extinction in its homeland. Rising farm mechanisation has slashed demand for these powerful draught animals, once essential for agriculture in regions like Ongole and Guntur.
Farmers now favour tractors and exotic crossbreeds for faster work, making the breed costlier and less practical to maintain.
Population has dropped dramatically from around 1.5 million in the mid-20th century to far lower numbers in recent counts while the breed thrives abroad, notably in Brazil where selective breeding has made it among the world's most valuable cattle for beef and resilience.
