All breeds
Indigenous — dual purpose (Bos indicus)
Kankrej
Silver-grey dual-purpose breed of the arid west.
Avg. Yield
8–10 L/day
Milk Fat
4.2%
Purpose
Milk + Draught
Climate
Arid
01Origin
Native to
Kutch region, Gujarat & Rajasthan
Coat: Silver-grey to iron-grey with dark points. Classification: Indigenous — dual purpose (Bos indicus).
02
Production Performance
Average Milk Yield8–10 L/day
Peak Milk Yield12–14 L/day
Lactation Period300 days
Milk per Lactation2,000 – 3,000 L
Milk Fat4.2%
SNF8.7%
Protein3.3%
Suitable for
Drinking MilkGheeCurd
03
Economics
Approximate purchase cost by life stage
Calf
₹25,000 – ₹35,000
Heifer
₹55,000 – ₹70,000
First Calving
₹75,000 – ₹95,000
Lactating Cow
₹85,000 – ₹1,10,000
Pregnant Cow
₹80,000 – ₹1,00,000
04
Feeding
Under typical Karnataka conditions
Green Fodder18 kg/day
Dry Fodder5 kg/day
Concentrate Feed3 kg/day
Mineral Mixture60 g/day
Salt40 g/day
Water40 L/day
05
Daily Feeding Cost
Reference pricing — actual costs vary by region and season
| Feed Type | Quantity | Daily (₹) | Monthly (₹) | Yearly (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Fodder | 18 kg | 54 | 1,620 | 19,710 |
| Dry Fodder | 5 kg | 50 | 1,500 | 18,250 |
| Concentrate Feed | 3 kg | 90 | 2,700 | 32,850 |
| Mineral Mixture | 60 g | 7 | 210 | 2,555 |
| Salt | 40 g | 2 | 60 | 730 |
| Total Daily Feed Cost | ₹203 | ₹6,090 | ₹74,095 |
06
Labour Requirement
Total labour
1.6 hrs/cow/day
Man-hours required per cow per day for a healthy operation.
01Feeding
28 min02Cleaning
22 min03Milking
20 min04Grooming
12 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
BeddingDry straw
08
Health
Disease ResistanceExcellent
Heat StressExcellent tolerance
Tick ResistanceExcellent
Mastitis SusceptibilityVery low susceptibility
Veterinary CareQuarterly veterinary check-up
Common diseases
Rare occurrences of FMD
09
Reproduction
Age at First Calving36–48 months
Gestation Period285 days
Calving Interval14–18 months
FertilityGood under natural conditions
Artificial InseminationAI available
Natural BreedingCommon in rural setups
10
Environmental Suitability
Heat
Excellent tolerance
Rain
Good tolerance
Cold
Moderate tolerance
Humidity
Good tolerance
Best regions in Karnataka
North Karnataka — Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Raichur, Ballari
11
Business Suitability
Small FarmsDual-Purpose FarmsOrganic Dairy
12
Expert Ratings
Relative scores on a 0-100 scale
Milk Yield42/100
Milk Quality82/100
Feed Efficiency78/100
Maintenance Cost85/100
Disease Resistance92/100
Heat Tolerance94/100
Labour Requirement85/100
Profitability68/100
Beginner Friendly82/100
13Expert Recommendation
Best suited for
Semi-arid North Karnataka farms wanting a hardy dual-purpose animal.
Not recommended for
Volume-focused urban dairies.
Estimated Monthly Operating Cost
₹8,500 – ₹11,000 per cow
Expected Monthly Milk Production
240 – 300 L
Expected ROI
26 – 34 months
Advantages
- Extremely hardy — thrives on low inputs
- Dual-purpose income (milk + draught)
- Very low veterinary cost
Challenges
- Lower daily yield
- Longer calving interval
- Limited high-yield genetics
14Gallery
