🐃buffalodairy📍 Origin: Karnataka
Dharwadi Buffalo
धारवाड़ी भैंस • Native Tract: Dharwad, Belagavi, Haveri, Gadag
Famous indigenous dairy buffalo of Northern Karnataka, whose rich high-solids milk is the secret of the GI-tagged "Dharwad Peda"
Estimated Market Price
₹55,000 – ₹90,000
Price depends on lactation parity, daily yield & pedigree
Pashu KCC Limit:₹58,000 / animal
Lactation Yield
1750 L
1400 - 2100 L range
Butterfat %
7.8%
SNF: 9.1%
Peak Daily Yield
11 L/day
In 2nd–3rd Parity
Calving Interval
14 Mo.
Target inter-calving
Age 1st Calving
42 Mo.
Heifer maturity
Adult Weight
430 kg
Bull: 550 kg
Morphological Features
Physical Identification & Anatomy: Dharwadi Buffalo
Coat & Color
Jet black to dark grey; skin is smooth and thin
Horns
Medium, flat, curving backward and outward, sweeping upward at tips (30-40 cm)
Ears
Medium, alert, carried horizontally
Forehead & Head
Broad, flat forehead with straight profile
Why Dairy Farmers Choose Dharwadi Buffalo:
✓Famous indigenous dairy buffalo of Northern Karnataka, whose rich high-solids milk is the secret of the GI-tagged "Dharwad Peda"
✓Medium black athletic body, semi-sickle to flat horns curving backward, and docile dairy temperament
✓Produces 1,750 liters of 7.8% fat milk with extraordinarily high total milk solids (17.5%+)
✓Thrives in the transition belt between Western Ghats and Deccan plateau on jowar kadbi and sugarcane residues
Customized Ration Balancer
Total Mixed Ration (TMR) for Dharwadi Buffalo
Pre-configured with standard Dharwadi Buffalo body weight (430 kg) and average daily production. Adjust sliders to match your animal.
🌾 ICAR-NDRI Feed Engine•100% Free Dairy Tool
Dharwadi Buffalo TMR Feed & Profit Balancer
Calculate optimal daily green silage, dry bhoosa, concentrate pellets and net income for Dharwadi Buffalo.
Animal Characteristics
Body Weight (शरीर का वजन)430 kg
250 kgAverage: 550 kg800 kg
Daily Milk Yield (दैनिक दूध उत्पादन)11 L/day
0 L (Dry animal)Peak: 20 L35 L
Milk Butterfat (फैट प्रतिशत)7.8%
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
17.9 kg
ICAR Standard DM basis
Water Requirement
96 Liters
Fresh cool water/day
Daily Balanced Ration (दैनिक संतुलित आहार)
As-Fed Fresh Basisहरा चारा (Green)🌿
34.6 kg
Napier / Silage / Maize / Berseem
सूखा चारा (Dry)🌾
4.6 kg
Wheat Bhoosa / Paddy / Kadbi
पशुआहार (Concentrate)🥣
7 kg
20% CP Balanced Pellets
मिनरल मिक्चर🧪
80 g
Chelated Area-Specific Mix
सादा नमक (Salt)🧂
50 g
Daily electrolyte balance
स्वच्छ पानी (Water)💧
96 L
Cool, unchlorinated water
Daily Milk Economics
Income vs Feed Expenditure
Feed Cost / Liter
₹25.7/L
Daily Milk Revenue
₹825
11 L × ₹75
Daily Feed Cost
₹283
Fodder + Pellets + Salts
Net Daily Profit
₹542
66% Margin
Monthly Projected Profit per Animal:₹16,260 / 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 96 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 ResistanceHigh
Heat & Humidity ToleranceHigh (Adapts to hot semi-arid Deccan climate)
Primary Health Vulnerabilities to Watch:
- ⚠️Delayed estrus if winter feed is deficient in chelated minerals
Veterinary Best Practices
Breeding & Herd Management Tips
- ✓Inseminate with pure Dharwadi buffalo semen available through KLDA Dharwad AI centers
- ✓Feed sorghum stover (kadbi) mixed with chopped green fodder and cotton seed cake
- ✓Provide daily wallowing pond or water bath in afternoon
Free NADCP Ear-Tagging & Vaccination:Dial 1962 (MVU)
Government Support
Subsidies & Pashu KCC Loans for Dharwadi Buffalo
Conservation program through UAS Dharwad and Karnataka Livestock Development Agency (KLDA)
Eligible Scheme 1Rashtriya Gokul Mission
Eligible Scheme 2Karnataka Pashu Bhagya Scheme
Eligible Scheme 3Pashu KCC
🏛️ Statutory Livestock Verification Portals
Official .gov.in & .nic.in PortalsOfficial Dairy & Animal Husbandry Portals for Dharwadi 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 Dharwadi Buffalo
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
The milk has high natural total solids (17.5%+) and rich fat (7.8%) that creates the distinctive crumbly, caramelized texture and aroma required for authentic GI-tagged Dharwad Peda.
A Dharwadi buffalo produces 7 to 11 liters of milk daily at peak lactation, achieving around 1,750 liters per lactation.
It is bred across the transitional belt of Dharwad, Belagavi, Haveri, and Gadag districts in Karnataka.
Explore Other Buffalo Breeds
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