The cattle of this breed are docile and have an energetic and vigorous appearance. The animals subsist mostly on grazing and on agricultural by-products. These are extremely hardy animals and stand well even under the heavy rainfall conditions.

Characteristics:

• This is a big-boned, low-set, well-built breed with a rather loose skin.
• The color of this breed is black and white in patches.
• The head is usually small with a comparatively large and protruding forehead, with a prominent poll.
• The horns are short and thick, and sometimes like blunt stubs. They spring backwards from their roots, and then upwards and forwards. The fancy breeders train the horns to get a particular shape.
• The eyelids, inside of the ear, switch of the tail, skin surrounding the vulva and teats in females, and scrotum in males are black.
• The eyes are bright, large and deeply set in the sockets with black eyelids. The upper lids have loose skin folds.
• The face is long with slightly loose skin and the muzzle is jet black.
• Neck is usually short and thick with very prominent hump in males.
• Dewlap is thick, pendulous with folds and extends from lower jaw to navel flap.
• Chest is medium, deep and well developed.
• Shoulders are broad and clean set.
• Fore-legs are set well apart, straight and medium in size, with black strong hoofs and a little interdigital space.
• The pasterns are long and sloping.
• The barrel is long, rounded, capacious, and well developed.
• The back is straight but dipping slightly towards the hump.
• The ribs are broad and well sprung.
• The navel flap in both the sexes is long and pendulous.
• The hind-quarters are fairly broad, muscular and well developed.
• The hips are fairly. wide and slightly sloping.
• The thighs are flat and muscular while the inside of the thighs is slightly curved with plenty of room between the legs.
• The buttocks are muscular and angular but not well rounded.
• The tail is of medium length and thick with black switch.
• Legs are well set, placed apart with strong black hoofs.
• The hoof is particularly hard.
• The skin is loose, soft and pliable with glossy hair.
• The udder is medium sized with black teats, which are fairly big. The skin of the udder is black.
• Ears are short, fairly broad and black from inside. Long black hair line the fringe of the ear.
• These are low milk-yielders with the average peak yield of 2.9 liters.
• Height averages at 127 cms. for males and 119 cms. for females.
• Body length averages at 118 cms. for males and 102 cms. for females.
• Body weight averages between 364 to 455 kgs. for males and 270 to 365 kgs. for females.
• Average chest girth is 173 cms. for males and 157 cms. for females.