TARO CATTLE STUDY AS GIANYAR DISTRICT ICONS

                                                                                                                        TARO CATTLE AS GIANYAR DISTRIK ICONS

Taro cattle is a Bali cattle that has a color abnormality that is white. Bali cattle have a brick red color at birth, both in the sex of the male and female. Color changes occur in bulls after reaching adulthood becoming black, while females remain throughout their lives. However, the white color on the four legs, the buttocks and inner ear feathers, and the black color on the nose glass, horns, nails, tail feathers, and the black line on the back to the base of the tail are owned by both sexes of Bali cattle. The color is a standard color as one of the cattle nation in the world.

This white cattle or Taro cattle has the characteristics of a white body including eyelashes and tail, there is no black line on the back like a typical Balinese cattle. The nose glass, the edges of the eyes, the horns, and the nails are pink (pink), like an "ivory" cattle due to the absence of pigmentation. Judging from the appearance of the outside, such as from the shape of the body, head, horns, legs, and body size is not much different from the Balinese cattle which has a standard color.

The preservation of white cattles associated with the traditional or religious needs of the Hindu community in Bali needs attention and policy considerations to realize the island of Bali as the location of pure Bali cattle breeds. In addition to Bali cattle, there is also a group of white bulls with a very small population and very limited life in the village of Taro, Tegalalang, Gianyar Bali. The total number of Taro white bulls in the middle of 2015 was 41 cows and according to FAO (2000) was categorized as critical (critical breed), because the population was below 100 cattles (a critical population limit). If left unchecked, more and more neglected biological wealth can result in the loss of genetic wealth we have.

According to Oka (1995), white oxen are found in several villages in Bali, such as Taro Village, Tampaksiring (Gianyar Regency), Sibang Gede Village (Badung Regency), and Manggis Village (Karangasem Regency). It was also reported that the highest number of white cattles was found in Taro Village, which was 14, in Tampaksiring Village, only two males, in Sibang Gede Village, one male and one female, and in Manggis Village only one female. Reported by the Supreme Master Etrya Narayana (person of Camphu Windara Segara Temple, Padanggalak, Kesiman, Denpaar), as many as two white cattles were also found in Catur Village, but one was slightly reddish.

According to Madriana (2012), the origin of the white Taro cattle in the area of ​​Pura Dalem Pingit, Taro Village is closely related to the Great Temple of Mount Raung in the village. It is said that the white calf was brought by Rsi Markandheya with his followers from India to Swarna Dwipa Island (Java), then to Bangsul Island (Bali) for the purpose of working on agricultural land. The presence of white bulls in the village of Taro is a special attraction, because it is different from the color of bali cattle in general.

Judging from the color, the usual Balinese cattle (standard color) is rather unique, because the color of the male and female fur after adulthood is different, namely black in the male, while the female is brick red, whereas at birth both sexes have the same color, namely red brick (Oka, 1995). It was also reported, if the black bulls were castrated, the color changed to brick red from the back towards the front and head. Skin color, horns, nails, nose and lips are black, sometimes rather gray. Black back line extends like an eel to the base of the tail. The characteristics mentioned above differ from the characteristics of white taro cattles that are white all over their bodies, both male and female.

Taro Kaja Village is a village located in Tegallalang District, Gianyar Regency. The location which is close to the Kintamani area makes the temperature in Taro very cool both in the day and night, this is also supported by the trees that are still preserved, because here there is still a lot of land that is used as agricultural land. With a geographical location that supports, now the Taro Village community is very enthusiastic to make this region a tourist village.

Today the Taro Village area has changed, neatly arranged where forest conservation is carried out and managed by Pekraman Taro Village covering an area of ​​27 hectares including white cattle that have been caged. This arrangement turns out to be related to the planning of the area to be a tourist attraction. Placement of the statue of Lord Shiva who rides a white bull in the middle of the area is a symbol of local people's confidence in the safety of the white bull as a phenomenon that needs attention for the preservation of culture and the environment.

The Taro white calf is believed to have purity that exceeds other animals commonly used by Hindus as a means of upakara. The white bull is believed to be the "Nandini Ox", the vehicle of "Lord Shiva". This ox is very purified, so that no one dares to disturb or treat it like an ordinary Balinese cattle (standard color) and get special treatment. Taro white cattle are widely used in the implementation of yadnya ceremonies by Hindus in Bali, such as: Dewa Yadnya (empehan), Rsi Yadnya (Murwa Daksina), and Pitra Yadnya Measuring or ngasti (Anon., 2012).

White ox is also believed to cure various medical and non-medical diseases, the medicine of which is taken from feces, semen or milk. Many experts have also examined the efficacy of white cattle dung, both scientists from Bali and from outside Bali who heard about this rare animal. Another special thing about this white ox, in addition to the white body is the eye of the ox is also pink (pink) where most other cows have black eyes (Anon., 2015). The people of Pakraman Taro Kaja Village firmly believe in the sanctity of the white bull, even none of them dares to care for the white bull personally. What if there is a resident's domestic cattle giving birth to a white child, when it has been handed over to the village of Taro for six months.