The Kuruma tribes in the Wayanad district of Kerala have traditionally raised the Wayanad Dwarf Cattle. This study employs a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology using unstructured interviews and thematic analysis to delve into the perceptions of Kuruma cattle keepers regarding the crucial biological attributes of the Wayanad Dwarf Cattle. The findings reveal notable perceived characteristics, including higher levels of non-fat solids and fat in the milk, superior quality dung, and the ability to rear these animals without resorting to expensive concentrates. The Wayanad Dwarf Cattle’s robustness emerges as a significant perceived biological attribute, accompanied by advantages such as minimal housing requirements, rare disease occurrences, and resilience to diverse climates and terrains. Key recurring themes that were arrived at through the process of thematic analysis encompass the adaptability of these animals during water-scarce seasons and their distinctive grazing behavior, utilizing straight pointed horns to extract softer, green inner parts of tree stems by digging into the hard barks of tall trees in Wayanad forests. Any policy interventions aimed at fostering sustainable community-based conservation of the Wayanad Dwarf Cattle must necessarily consider the perspectives of the traditional stakeholders in this sector.

Highlights

• Identification of the biological features of the Wayanad Dwarf cattle as perceived by the Kuruma tribes people.
• Hermeneutic Phenomenological approach with thematic analysis of narrated lived experiences.