The Farm

Over the years, The Sagwadi farm has seen many changes. The vast expanse of open grassland that once constituted this beautiful property, bordering on one side, the wildlife reserver called Victoria Park, and on the other, the outlying marshes of the Bor-Talav or the Gauri Shankar lake, was eventually gifted to K.S. Bahadursinhji, by the Maharaja of Bhavnagar. K.S. Bahadursinhji continued the cattle breeding activities, and was the relations with Brazil flourished over the years. When K. S. Pradipsinhji Raol, the eldest son of K.S. Bahadursinhji, came of age, he joined the farm and was invited to Brazil by Mr. Celso Garcia Cid to visit Brazil. in Brazil, he was welcomed and treated like family. 


He was trained in various veterinary and cattle identification skills, and was also taught how to converse in Portuguese. This visit proved to be an important event in the Gir cattle industry of Brazil. On his return to Bhavnagar, K.S. Pradipsinhji immersed himself fully in the cattle breeding activities and was soon expanding the Brazilian experience in India. He assisted Mr. Cid and has family to obtain the highest quality bloodlines of Gir, Kachchi (Vadhiyara), and Nelore cattle and, with strong support and assistance from his younger brother, K.S. Vishwadeepsinhji, was able to convert the Sagwadi farm into its present state.

Although, over time the farm has greatly reduced its total land spread, it is still the most unique and beautiful cattle farm in the region. Apart from various high quality Zebu bloodlines of cattle, the farm also houses some 5 or so pure-bred Kathiawari horses, privately owned by K.S. Pradipsinhji, along with some very good specimen of the Jaffarabadi buffaloes, which are quite undoubtedly the largest breed of buffalo in the world. There is also an artificial insemination and collection laboratory, the only authorized facility of its kind in India, at this farm. 

With the rapidly increasing population of the city of Bhavnagar, this beautiful farm faces much pressure in the present day.  The farm is now surrounded by housing and commercial enterprises. Extreme human pressure and resultant pollution have a significant effect to the natural environment that was once available to this unique and beautiful cattle farm. With the legacy of many years, and some of Brazil and India's most well known cattle experts finest specimen, this farm continues to flourish even in such extreme times.


Here are some resources:

• Article on the Bhavnagar farm from the Times of India
• Link to the Brasil Gir Farms