All breeds
Exotic dairy breed
Jersey
Rich, buttery milk — the connoisseur's cow.
Avg. Yield
12–15 L/day
Milk Fat
3.5%
Lifespan
7–9 lactations
Climate
Adaptable
01Origin
Native to
Jersey Island, English Channel
Coat: Light fawn to dark brown with white markings. Classification: Exotic dairy breed.
02
Production Performance
Average Milk Yield12–15 L/day
Peak Milk Yield22–25 L/day
Lactation Period305 days
Milk per Lactation4,500 – 5,500 L
Milk Fat3.5%
SNF9.2%
Protein3.8%
Suitable for
GheeButterPaneerCurdCheese
03
Economics
Approximate purchase cost by life stage
Calf
₹18,000 – ₹28,000
Heifer
₹40,000 – ₹55,000
First Calving
₹60,000 – ₹75,000
Lactating Cow
₹70,000 – ₹90,000
Pregnant Cow
₹65,000 – ₹85,000
04
Feeding
Under typical Karnataka conditions
Green Fodder25 kg/day
Dry Fodder6 kg/day
Concentrate Feed6 kg/day
Mineral Mixture80 g/day
Salt50 g/day
Water60 L/day
05
Daily Feeding Cost
Reference pricing — actual costs vary by region and season
| Feed Type | Quantity | Daily (₹) | Monthly (₹) | Yearly (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Fodder | 25 kg | 75 | 2,250 | 27,375 |
| Dry Fodder | 6 kg | 60 | 1,800 | 21,900 |
| Concentrate Feed | 6 kg | 180 | 5,400 | 65,700 |
| Mineral Mixture | 80 g | 10 | 300 | 3,650 |
| Salt | 50 g | 2 | 60 | 730 |
| Total Daily Feed Cost | ₹327 | ₹9,810 | ₹1,19,355 |
06
Labour Requirement
Total labour
2.0 hrs/cow/day
Man-hours required per cow per day for a healthy operation.
01Feeding
35 min02Cleaning
30 min03Milking
30 min04Grooming
12 min05Health Inspection
8 min06Record Keeping
5 min07
Housing
Covered Area35 sqft/cow
Open Area70 sqft/cow
VentilationNatural cross ventilation adequate
Floor TypeGrooved concrete with rubber mats
DrainageSloped 2% toward central drain
BeddingPaddy straw
08
Health
Disease ResistanceBetter than HF in tropical conditions
Heat StressModerate — comfortable up to 32°C
Tick ResistanceModerate
Mastitis SusceptibilityModerate susceptibility
Veterinary CareBi-monthly veterinary check-up
Common diseases
MastitisMilk Fever
09
Reproduction
Age at First Calving22–26 months
Gestation Period279 days
Calving Interval12–13 months
FertilityGood
Artificial InseminationAI preferred
Natural BreedingPracticed in smaller farms
10
Environmental Suitability
Heat
Moderate tolerance
Rain
Good tolerance
Cold
High tolerance
Humidity
Moderate tolerance
Best regions in Karnataka
Mysuru, Mandya, Tumakuru, Kolar — most of Karnataka's plateau
11
Business Suitability
Small FarmsMedium FarmsCommercial FarmsOrganic Dairy
12
Expert Ratings
Relative scores on a 0-100 scale
Milk Yield72/100
Milk Quality92/100
Feed Efficiency88/100
Maintenance Cost68/100
Disease Resistance70/100
Heat Tolerance62/100
Labour Requirement70/100
Profitability86/100
Beginner Friendly78/100
13Expert Recommendation
Best suited for
Farmers targeting ghee, paneer and premium milk markets across Karnataka.
Not recommended for
Farms optimizing purely for volume against fluid milk contracts.
Estimated Monthly Operating Cost
₹14,000 – ₹17,000 per cow
Expected Monthly Milk Production
450 – 550 L
Expected ROI
20 – 26 months
Advantages
- Highest fat and SNF among common dairy breeds
- Adaptable to Karnataka climate
- Excellent feed conversion efficiency
Challenges
- Lower total volume than HF
- Small body frame — care during calving
- Milk fat pricing must be available locally
14Gallery
