The Leaping Oxen of Kanjwani

Owais Mughal

Kanjwani is a small town on Nankana Sahib-Shorkot Cantt Railway section. By road it is connected to the next big towns of Samundri (15km) and Faisalabad (55km). Kanjwani is famous for its annual cattle fair where people from all over the area bring their cattle to show-off. The festivities include tent pegging, Kabaddi, horse dance etc. There is also a beauty contest of cows, oxen and buffaloes as well as an ox-cart race. The following breath taking photo was taken by Amir Mukhtar on January 13, 2008 at the Kanjwani festival.

Photo Credits: Amir Mukhtar

The area around Kanjwani is famous for its cattle breeding. The most famous breed is called Sahiwal named after the city of Sahiwal (35 km from Kanjwani). The Sahiwal breed of cows/oxen is considered one of the best in the world. According to the reference below:

This breed of cows and oxen is tick-resistant, heat-tolerant and noted for its high resistance to parasites, both internal and external. Cows average 2270 kg of milk during a lactation while suckling a calf and much higher milk yields have been recorded. Due to their heat tolerance and high milk production they have been exported to other Asian countries as well as Africa and the Caribbean.

The breed called Sahiwal was also introduced into Australia where it came from New Guinea in the early 1950’s. Two Australian tropical dairy breeds were produced from it which are the Australian Milking Zebu and the Australian Fresian Sahiwal.

It is a matter of pride for Pakistan on how a small rural area around Kanjwani has been producing one of the best cattle in world.

Reference: Sahiwal