All breeds
Indigenous (Bos indicus)
Gir
The regal indigenous breed with prized A2 milk.
Avg. Yield
8–10 L/day
Milk Fat
4.5%
Lifespan
10–12 lactations
Milk Type
A2
01Origin
Native to
Gir forests of Gujarat, India
Coat: Reddish-brown with white patches; distinctive domed forehead. Classification: Indigenous (Bos indicus).
02
Production Performance
Average Milk Yield8–10 L/day
Peak Milk Yield18–22 L/day
Lactation Period310 days
Milk per Lactation3,000 – 4,500 L
Milk Fat4.5%
SNF9.0%
Protein3.5%
Suitable for
A2 MilkGheeButterCurdAyurvedic Products
03
Economics
Approximate purchase cost by life stage
Calf
₹30,000 – ₹45,000
Heifer
₹65,000 – ₹85,000
First Calving
₹95,000 – ₹1,25,000
Lactating Cow
₹1,10,000 – ₹1,50,000
Pregnant Cow
₹1,00,000 – ₹1,35,000
04
Feeding
Under typical Karnataka conditions
Green Fodder20 kg/day
Dry Fodder5 kg/day
Concentrate Feed4 kg/day
Mineral Mixture70 g/day
Salt40 g/day
Water45 L/day
05
Daily Feeding Cost
Reference pricing — actual costs vary by region and season
| Feed Type | Quantity | Daily (₹) | Monthly (₹) | Yearly (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Fodder | 20 kg | 60 | 1,800 | 21,900 |
| Dry Fodder | 5 kg | 50 | 1,500 | 18,250 |
| Concentrate Feed | 4 kg | 120 | 3,600 | 43,800 |
| Mineral Mixture | 70 g | 8 | 240 | 2,920 |
| Salt | 40 g | 2 | 60 | 730 |
| Total Daily Feed Cost | ₹240 | ₹7,200 | ₹87,600 |
06
Labour Requirement
Total labour
1.8 hrs/cow/day
Man-hours required per cow per day for a healthy operation.
01Feeding
30 min02Cleaning
25 min03Milking
25 min04Grooming
15 min05Health Inspection
8 min06Record Keeping
5 min07
Housing
Covered Area35 sqft/cow
Open Area80 sqft/cow
VentilationNatural ventilation sufficient
Floor TypeRammed earth or grooved concrete
DrainageSloped 2% toward central drain
BeddingPaddy straw or dry leaves
08
Health
Disease ResistanceExcellent — highly disease resistant
Heat StressVery high tolerance
Tick ResistanceExcellent
Mastitis SusceptibilityVery low susceptibility
Veterinary CareQuarterly veterinary check-up
Common diseases
Occasional FMDRare mastitis
09
Reproduction
Age at First Calving36–42 months
Gestation Period285 days
Calving Interval14–16 months
FertilityGood
Artificial InseminationAI available; natural common
Natural BreedingWidely practiced
10
Environmental Suitability
Heat
Excellent tolerance
Rain
Excellent tolerance
Cold
Moderate tolerance
Humidity
Excellent tolerance
Best regions in Karnataka
All Karnataka — especially Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Raichur, Kalaburagi
11
Business Suitability
Small FarmsMedium FarmsOrganic DairyPremium A2 Dairy
12
Expert Ratings
Relative scores on a 0-100 scale
Milk Yield55/100
Milk Quality95/100
Feed Efficiency82/100
Maintenance Cost82/100
Disease Resistance94/100
Heat Tolerance95/100
Labour Requirement82/100
Profitability78/100
Beginner Friendly88/100
13Expert Recommendation
Best suited for
Premium A2 dairy, ghee brands, organic and low-input farms across Karnataka.
Not recommended for
Farms selling on pure volume-based fluid milk contracts.
Estimated Monthly Operating Cost
₹10,000 – ₹13,000 per cow
Expected Monthly Milk Production
300 – 400 L
Expected ROI
24 – 32 months (higher margin per litre)
Advantages
- Prized A2 milk with premium pricing
- Extraordinary heat and disease tolerance
- Long productive life — 10+ lactations
Challenges
- Lower total volume
- Longer age at first calving
- Requires access to A2 or premium markets
14Gallery
