🐃buffalodairy📍 Origin: Odisha
Chilika Buffalo
चिल्लिका भैंस • Native Tract: Puri, Khordha, Ganjam, Chilika Lagoon
Unique semi-aquatic indigenous buffalo of Odisha that grazes while swimming in the brackish waters of Chilika Lake
Estimated Market Price
₹50,000 – ₹85,000
Price depends on lactation parity, daily yield & pedigree
Pashu KCC Limit:₹54,000 / animal
Lactation Yield
1450 L
1200 - 1800 L range
Butterfat %
8.5%
SNF: 9.2%
Peak Daily Yield
9 L/day
In 2nd–3rd Parity
Calving Interval
14 Mo.
Target inter-calving
Age 1st Calving
42 Mo.
Heifer maturity
Adult Weight
410 kg
Bull: 520 kg
Morphological Features
Physical Identification & Anatomy: Chilika Buffalo
Coat & Color
Black, brownish-black, or grey; glistening skin adapted to brackish water submersion
Horns
Medium, curving backward, outward, and upward in a crescent shape (30-40 cm)
Ears
Small, alert, carried horizontally
Forehead & Head
Broad, flat forehead with keen dark eyes
Why Dairy Farmers Choose Chilika Buffalo:
✓Unique semi-aquatic indigenous buffalo of Odisha that grazes while swimming in the brackish waters of Chilika Lake
✓Consumes underwater aquatic weeds (Najas, Potamogeton, Hydrilla) with zero commercial grain concentrate requirement
✓Produces 1,450 liters of prized high-fat (8.5%) milk with a characteristic sweetish salty flavor
✓Milk is coagulated naturally to make the famous GI-tagged "Chilika Dahi" (curd) stored in bamboo baskets
Customized Ration Balancer
Total Mixed Ration (TMR) for Chilika Buffalo
Pre-configured with standard Chilika Buffalo body weight (410 kg) and average daily production. Adjust sliders to match your animal.
🌾 ICAR-NDRI Feed Engine•100% Free Dairy Tool
Chilika Buffalo TMR Feed & Profit Balancer
Calculate optimal daily green silage, dry bhoosa, concentrate pellets and net income for Chilika Buffalo.
Animal Characteristics
Body Weight (शरीर का वजन)410 kg
250 kgAverage: 550 kg800 kg
Daily Milk Yield (दैनिक दूध उत्पादन)9 L/day
0 L (Dry animal)Peak: 20 L35 L
Milk Butterfat (फैट प्रतिशत)8.5%
3.0% (HF Cow)4.8% (Desi Gir)8.5% (Murrah Buffalo)
Milk Price Realization (दूध का भाव)₹75 / Liter
₹30 (Coop Base)₹60 (A2 Retail)₹120 (Direct Dairy)
Total Dry Matter
16.5 kg
ICAR Standard DM basis
Water Requirement
85 Liters
Fresh cool water/day
Daily Balanced Ration (दैनिक संतुलित आहार)
As-Fed Fresh Basisहरा चारा (Green)🌿
33.1 kg
Napier / Silage / Maize / Berseem
सूखा चारा (Dry)🌾
4.4 kg
Wheat Bhoosa / Paddy / Kadbi
पशुआहार (Concentrate)🥣
6 kg
20% CP Balanced Pellets
मिनरल मिक्चर🧪
80 g
Chelated Area-Specific Mix
सादा नमक (Salt)🧂
50 g
Daily electrolyte balance
स्वच्छ पानी (Water)💧
85 L
Cool, unchlorinated water
Daily Milk Economics
Income vs Feed Expenditure
Feed Cost / Liter
₹28.3/L
Daily Milk Revenue
₹675
9 L × ₹75
Daily Feed Cost
₹255
Fodder + Pellets + Salts
Net Daily Profit
₹420
62% Margin
Monthly Projected Profit per Animal:₹12,600 / month
💡 ICAR-NDRI Practical Management Tips
- ✓Chop green fodder (1.5–2 cm) and mix thoroughly with dry straw (Bhoosa/Kadbi) to stimulate rumination.
- ✓Divide concentrate pellets into 2 or 3 equal morning/evening feedings rather than feeding all at once.
- ✓Always add 80g chelated mineral mixture daily to prevent silent estrus and retain 300-day lactation.
- ✓Ensure uninterrupted access to 85 Liters of clean, cool drinking water.
- ✓High fat output requires bypass fat (100–150g/day) to prevent negative energy balance.
Hardiness & Immunity
Climatic Resilience & Health Profile
Tick & Vector ResistanceVery High
Heat & Humidity ToleranceExtreme (Swims submerged for 6-8 hours daily in lagoon)
Primary Health Vulnerabilities to Watch:
- ⚠️Swamp leeches if tethered without deep water access
Veterinary Best Practices
Breeding & Herd Management Tips
- ✓Preserve the pure genetic line through registered Chilika pastoralist breeding herds
- ✓Allow natural daytime or night swimming in lagoon grazing shoals
- ✓Provide fresh drinking water access on land after lagoon foraging
Free NADCP Ear-Tagging & Vaccination:Dial 1962 (MVU)
Government Support
Subsidies & Pashu KCC Loans for Chilika Buffalo
Conservation programs through Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and Odisha ARD Department
Eligible Scheme 1Rashtriya Gokul Mission
Eligible Scheme 2Odisha Chilika Buffalo Conservation Project
Eligible Scheme 3Pashu KCC
🏛️ Statutory Livestock Verification Portals
Official .gov.in & .nic.in PortalsOfficial Dairy & Animal Husbandry Portals for Chilika Buffalo
🏛️ Central Ministry (.nic.in)dahd.nic.in
Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD)
Official operational guidelines for Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF 3% subvention), and sex-sorted semen subsidies.
🐄 Apex Dairy Board (.coop)nddb.coop
National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
Information Network for Animal Productivity & Health (INAPH) ear-tagging, scientific Ration Balancing Programme (RBP), and automated testing standards.
🔬 ICAR Research (.gov.in)nbagr.icar.gov.in
ICAR - National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR)
Access the official registered breed gazette, accession numbers, morphological descriptors, and indigenous breed conservation directives.
💳 Concessional Credit (.gov.in)kcc.gov.in
Pashu Kisan Credit Card (Pashu KCC) Portal
Apply for working capital crop loans up to ₹2 Lakh for dairy cows and buffaloes at 4% effective interest with zero collateral requirement.
Questions Answered
Frequently Asked Questions about Chilika Buffalo
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Chilika buffaloes swim 2 to 5 km into the brackish lagoon every day and graze with their heads submerged underwater, feeding on aquatic weeds.
Chilika curd made from this buffalo’s milk stays fresh for over 72 hours without refrigeration and does not spoil even in warm humid weather due to its natural microbial properties and high solids.
Because they obtain virtually all their nutrition from free aquatic weeds in the lagoon, daily maintenance feed cost is among the lowest of any dairy buffalo in India (under ₹120/day).
Explore Other Buffalo Breeds
View All 16 Breeds →Track Your Chilika Buffalo Herd Records on KisanPe
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