The smallest cow in the world | Weird | News | Express.co.uk

The animal measures just 61.5cm from her hooves to her withers but is still treated with reverence on the farm where she lives.  The tiny mammal resides with her fully-sized pals at farmer

and environmentalist Balakrishnan Nambukudy's farm in the town of Atholi in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Mr Nambukudy got the cow when she was a newborn, but despite feeding and

raising her like a normal cow, she didn't reach full size. He said: "She looked different from the others. I realised that she wasn't gaining height like other cows of the

same breed. "She is a special creature. Manikyam is like a family member now. She is very important and responds when you call her name."  Despite her short stature, Manikyam does

not suffer from any physical deformities. Manikyam was declared the world's shortest cow last year - smashing the previous record by more than three inches - and a five-member Guinness

World Record team visited the village to verify the record.  And the cow, who is part of the Vechur breed, is allowed into the family's home ad treated like a pet. Mr Nambukudy said:

"This cow is like a family member. With us at all times. It is a very important and very intelligent cow. She comes when you call." Dayanand Kumar, a local villager, added:

"We treat cows as a form of God. It is a divine blessing to see such a cute cow."