Children looking at the statue of the famous Ongole bulls in the park, installed as part of the beautification of the city to mark the 57th formation day of Prakasam district, on Sunday in Ongole. | Photo credit: KOMMURI SRINIVAS
The famous Ongole bull breed, once used for demanding agricultural tasks such as plowing and pulling carts, now faces the threat of extinction due to increasing mechanization. The breed is also known to be a costly and labor-intensive variety throughout the ages.
The brand “Ongole” was once so famous that the breeding of this breed became a symbol of pride for industrialists, doctors and politicians. Today, however, the cattle are valued mainly for exhibition purposes – as exhibits at political events or state-run competitions, locals said.
“Ongole cattle used to be famous for drought, milk and beef (abroad). However, the introduction of exotic breeds helped the dairy industry to flourish, which led to a decline in Ongole breeds,” noted renowned ophthalmologist Chunchu Chalamaiah, who used his own Ongole cattle.
Meanwhile, the Ongole Municipal Corporation has installed statues of the Ongole bull across the city as part of a beautification project, to mark the 57th day of the formation of Prakasam district on February 2, 2026.
Published – 1 Feb 2026 21:04 IST