KOZHIKODE: The Guinness World Records officials visited the village of Atholi in Kozhikode to confirm Manikyam (indigenous Vechur cow) as the shortest cow in the world and a photo shoot was also held on Saturday.
The five member team comprising photo editor Michael Whitty, Ronald Mackechnie, Jack Fillery, Mathew Musson and Sidharth Lama visited the Atholi natural park to verify the claim of the six year old Manikyam.
Though the officials confirmed the record, it would appear only in the Guinness Book of World Records to be published in September 2015.
Manikyam is 61.5 cm tall and is owned by farmer and environmentalist N.V. Balakrishnan. At present, the shortest cow is Blaze, which measures 69.07 cm (2 ft 3.19 in) from the hoof to the withers, as verified in Sanford, Florida, USA, on July 7, 2013. Blaze is an 8 –year-old miniature Zebu cow born on September 12, 2005 and owned by Steven DeMoor and Christian Agnew.
The programme was organised by Earth Care Foundation Trust and Kamadhenu Natural Farm.
“Our aim is to create awareness among the public about the indigenous varieties of cow and also to encourage rearing such breeds,” said Earth Care Foundation Trust secretary Padmanabhan Uralungal.
The photo shoot was inaugurated by Mr Purushan Kadalundi MLA. District panchayat president Kanathil Jameela was also present.
