All breeds
Indigenous — primarily draught, moderate milk
Hallikar
Karnataka's native heritage draught & household milch cow.
Avg. Yield
3–5 L/day
Milk Fat
4.5%
Purpose
Draught + Milk
Heritage
Karnataka native
01Origin
Native to
Old Mysore region, Karnataka
Coat: Grey to dark grey, with a distinct forehead. Classification: Indigenous — primarily draught, moderate milk.
02
Production Performance
Average Milk Yield3–5 L/day
Peak Milk Yield4–5 L/day
Lactation Period270 days
Milk per Lactation500 – 800 L
Milk Fat4.5%
SNF8.8%
Protein3.4%
Suitable for
Household MilkGheeCultural & Ritual Use
03
Economics
Approximate purchase cost by life stage
Calf
₹15,000 – ₹25,000
Heifer
₹30,000 – ₹45,000
First Calving
₹40,000 – ₹55,000
Lactating Cow
₹45,000 – ₹65,000
Pregnant Cow
₹42,000 – ₹60,000
04
Feeding
Under typical Karnataka conditions
Green Fodder15 kg/day
Dry Fodder4 kg/day
Concentrate Feed2 kg/day
Mineral Mixture50 g/day
Salt30 g/day
Water35 L/day
05
Daily Feeding Cost
Reference pricing — actual costs vary by region and season
| Feed Type | Quantity | Daily (₹) | Monthly (₹) | Yearly (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Fodder | 15 kg | 45 | 1,350 | 16,425 |
| Dry Fodder | 4 kg | 40 | 1,200 | 14,600 |
| Concentrate Feed | 2 kg | 60 | 1,800 | 21,900 |
| Mineral Mixture | 50 g | 6 | 180 | 2,190 |
| Salt | 30 g | 2 | 60 | 730 |
| Total Daily Feed Cost | ₹153 | ₹4,590 | ₹55,845 |
06
Labour Requirement
Total labour
1.2 hrs/cow/day
Man-hours required per cow per day for a healthy operation.
01Feeding
22 min02Cleaning
18 min03Milking
12 min04Grooming
10 min05Health Inspection
6 min06Record Keeping
4 min07
Housing
Covered Area30 sqft/cow
Open Area70 sqft/cow
VentilationNatural ventilation sufficient
Floor TypeRammed earth acceptable
DrainageSimple gravity drainage
BeddingDry leaves or straw
08
Health
Disease ResistanceExcellent
Heat StressExcellent tolerance
Tick ResistanceExcellent
Mastitis SusceptibilityExtremely low susceptibility
Veterinary CareHalf-yearly veterinary check-up
Common diseases
Very rare FMD
09
Reproduction
Age at First Calving42–54 months
Gestation Period285 days
Calving Interval16–20 months
FertilityGood under natural systems
Artificial InseminationLimited AI availability
Natural BreedingPredominant
10
Environmental Suitability
Heat
Excellent tolerance
Rain
Excellent tolerance
Cold
Good tolerance
Humidity
Excellent tolerance
Best regions in Karnataka
Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan, Chamarajanagar — its native belt
11
Business Suitability
Small FarmsHeritage & Conservation FarmsCultural Dairy
12
Expert Ratings
Relative scores on a 0-100 scale
Milk Yield22/100
Milk Quality78/100
Feed Efficiency62/100
Maintenance Cost92/100
Disease Resistance95/100
Heat Tolerance96/100
Labour Requirement92/100
Profitability45/100
Beginner Friendly78/100
13Expert Recommendation
Best suited for
Heritage conservation, cultural farming, household dairy, and organic homesteads.
Not recommended for
Commercial milk-focused dairies.
Estimated Monthly Operating Cost
₹5,500 – ₹7,500 per cow
Expected Monthly Milk Production
60 – 90 L
Expected ROI
Not primarily a commercial ROI breed
Advantages
- Native Karnataka heritage
- Extremely low input requirements
- Very long productive life
Challenges
- Very low milk yield
- Limited market for surplus milk
- Suitable primarily for cultural/heritage goals
14Gallery
