Keeping the cattle fit and happy is the first concern for any dairy farmer. Feeding them nutritional food, providing proper shelter, adequate water, regular veterinary check-ups, and employing right dairy equipment are vital elements for high-quality milk production and overall herd management. But, is that all that takes away most of your worries regarding your livestock’s health? Probably not. Choosing the right breed of dairy animals complementing to the terrain and milieu is equally essential. So, which type of animal must you keep and is most suitable for your dairy farm if you’re a dairy farmer in India? Let’s analyze.

1.) Which animal (cows, buffalos, or both) should you select for your dairy farm?

There’re many factors involved in choosing the right species of livestock for your farm. While cows produce more milk than the buffalos do, the buffalo milk is high in FAT content comparatively. That is why farmers prefer milking the buffalos for local selling as their milk reaps more money than the cows. For commercial trading, the farmers milk cows for they can quickly get accustomed to milking machines as compared to buffalos. Though buffalos are more resilient, the cows are more economical, and their heat cycles can be easily detected which is not in the case of buffalos. However, many farmers keep buffalos for they produce high-quality milk while some nurture both cows and buffalos. Ultimately, it’s your call to what should you choose. Both cows and buffalos, prove profitable with marginal differences in farm output.

2.) What types of buffalos are available in India?

There’s an array of diverse breeds of buffalos found all over India. These races vary in size, type, color, weight, feeding habits, milk production capacity, lifespan, and other factors. You’ll find different breed in a specific region. And they’re namely-

BREED	HABITAT
Murrah	Rohtak, Hisar & Jind districts in Haryana, Nabha and Patiala districts in Punjab
Nili Ravi	Ferozpur district in Punjab
Bhadawari	Agra & Etawah districts in Uttar Pradesh, Gwalior district in Madhya Pradesh
Jaffarabadi	Kutch & Jamnagar districts in Gujarat
Surti	Kaira & Baroda districts in Gujarat
Mehsana	Mehsana region in Gujarat and neighboring areas of Maharastra state
Nagpuri (or) Ellichpuri	Nagpur, Akola & Amrawati districts in Maharashtra
Godavari	Godavari & Krishna deltaic area
Toda	Nilgiris in south India
Pandharpuri	Kolhapur & Solapur districts in south Maharashtra

3.) Which breed is appropriate for dairy farming?

It entirely depends on the region where your farm is sited and the kind of breed available there. You can choose any as per the availability, topographical conditions, price, and other dairy farm management factors suitable to you. However, the Murrah breed is mostly favored by the dairy farmers.

4.) What is the milk-producing capacity of Murrah breed in buffalos?

A Murrah buffalo yields between 8 to 18 liters of milk a day, depending on the feed intake and upkeep.

5.) How much does a Murrah buffalo cost?

A Murrah buffalo costs you anywhere between ₹60,000 to ₹80,000. If the buffalo produces high-grade milk, it can fetch you up to ₹2 to 3 Lakhs.

6.) What factors affect the cost of a Murrah buffalo?

The factors that determine the cost of a Murrah buffalo incorporate:

1. Body features (size, structure, etc.)
2. Milk yielding capacity
3. Lactation cycle
4. Hereditary history

7.) For how many days a Murrah buffalo can be milked?

The milking period of a Murrah buffalo ranges from 250 to 300 days.

8.) For how long does a Murrah buffalo’s dry period last?

A Murrah buffalo cannot be milked for up to 65 to 100 days provided you do not miss any of its heat cycles; else it could take even longer.

Closure

It is always recommended to gain enough knowledge and expert advice before you head to set up a dairy farm. Though it requires tremendous hard-work, dairy farming is equally and more rewarding. Learn the basics of dairy farming and herd management practices beforehand and leverage the same for a futuristic and successful dairy farming business.LABELS: