Jellicut
(most common name)

(local/other name):
• Kilakad
• Kilakattu
• Kilkad
• Pulikolum
• Pulikulam

The Jellicut, a small to dwarfish compact zebu with short legs, is one of various strains of local cattle found in the southern part of Tamil Nadu (formerly Madras state) in the southernmost part of India.

The Jellicut name derives from the harvest festival sport of Jallikattu — for which they are famous and consists of bull running or bull ‘taming’. In an oblong arena, a bull is let loose and a number of men try to catch the bull, wrestle it down by hanging onto the hump, and then grabbing a flag tied between its horns.

Jellicut bulls are a dark grey; cows are mostly grey. Reddish or brownish markings are also seen on the body. Male Jellicut calves are usually trained as draught animals.

Jellicut varieties include:
• Kappiliyan

(Tamil) Jallikattu = packet of coins (?)
(Tamil) Jellicut = crown of leaves (?)

This page was last updated on: 2023-07-01

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