🐄cattledairy📍 Origin: Jersey Island, UK (Pan-India Adapted)
Jersey Cow
जर्सी गाय • Native Tract: Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
Top-performing exotic dairy breed for high butterfat (5.0%) and remarkable heat tolerance compared to other exotics
Estimated Market Price
₹55,000 – ₹95,000
Price depends on lactation parity, daily yield & pedigree
Pashu KCC Limit:₹43,000 / animal
Lactation Yield
4500 L
3800 - 5500 L range
Butterfat %
5.1%
SNF: 9%
Peak Daily Yield
22 L/day
In 2nd–3rd Parity
Calving Interval
13 Mo.
Target inter-calving
Age 1st Calving
25 Mo.
Heifer maturity
Adult Weight
420 kg
Bull: 650 kg
Morphological Features
Physical Identification & Anatomy: Jersey Cow
Coat & Color
Fawn, reddish-brown, or light cream; muzzle is black encircled by a light tan ring
Horns
Short, curving inward and upward; usually dehorned in commercial herds
Ears
Small, alert, carried horizontally
Forehead & Head
Small head with distinctive dished (concave) forehead and large dark deer-like eyes
Why Dairy Farmers Choose Jersey Cow:
✓Top-performing exotic dairy breed for high butterfat (5.0%) and remarkable heat tolerance compared to other exotics
✓Compact golden-fawn body, large expressive eyes, dished face, and excellent feed conversion efficiency
✓Average lactation yield of 4,500 liters with high milk solids, making it ideal for cheese, butter, and ghee making
✓Calves easily (low dystocia), matures early (calving at 24-26 months), and adapts well to smallholder farms
Customized Ration Balancer
Total Mixed Ration (TMR) for Jersey Cow
Pre-configured with standard Jersey Cow body weight (420 kg) and average daily production. Adjust sliders to match your animal.
🌾 ICAR-NDRI Feed Engine•100% Free Dairy Tool
Jersey Cow TMR Feed & Profit Balancer
Calculate optimal daily green silage, dry bhoosa, concentrate pellets and net income for Jersey Cow.
Animal Characteristics
Body Weight (शरीर का वजन)420 kg
250 kgAverage: 400 kg800 kg
Daily Milk Yield (दैनिक दूध उत्पादन)12 L/day
0 L (Dry animal)Peak: 20 L35 L
Milk Butterfat (फैट प्रतिशत)5.1%
3.0% (HF Cow)4.8% (Desi Gir)8.5% (Murrah Buffalo)
Milk Price Realization (दूध का भाव)₹55 / Liter
₹30 (Coop Base)₹60 (A2 Retail)₹120 (Direct Dairy)
Total Dry Matter
15.2 kg
ICAR Standard DM basis
Water Requirement
84 Liters
Fresh cool water/day
Daily Balanced Ration (दैनिक संतुलित आहार)
As-Fed Fresh Basisहरा चारा (Green)🌿
29.8 kg
Napier / Silage / Maize / Berseem
सूखा चारा (Dry)🌾
3.9 kg
Wheat Bhoosa / Paddy / Kadbi
पशुआहार (Concentrate)🥣
5.8 kg
20% CP Balanced Pellets
मिनरल मिक्चर🧪
60 g
Chelated Area-Specific Mix
सादा नमक (Salt)🧂
35 g
Daily electrolyte balance
स्वच्छ पानी (Water)💧
84 L
Cool, unchlorinated water
Daily Milk Economics
Income vs Feed Expenditure
Feed Cost / Liter
₹19.8/L
Daily Milk Revenue
₹660
12 L × ₹55
Daily Feed Cost
₹237
Fodder + Pellets + Salts
Net Daily Profit
₹423
64% Margin
Monthly Projected Profit per Animal:₹12,690 / 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 60g chelated mineral mixture daily to prevent silent estrus and retain 300-day lactation.
- ✓Ensure uninterrupted access to 84 Liters of clean, cool drinking water.
Hardiness & Immunity
Climatic Resilience & Health Profile
Tick & Vector ResistanceModerate
Heat & Humidity ToleranceModerate to High among exotic breeds (adapts up to 36°C)
Primary Health Vulnerabilities to Watch:
- ⚠️Milk fever at calving due to sudden high calcium demand for rich colostrum
Veterinary Best Practices
Breeding & Herd Management Tips
- ✓Inseminate with pure Jersey sexed semen with high butterfat PTA
- ✓Provide ionic calcium gel drench immediately before and after calving to prevent milk fever
- ✓Ensure adequate shade, cross-ventilation, and clean drinking water
Free NADCP Ear-Tagging & Vaccination:Dial 1962 (MVU)
Government Support
Subsidies & Pashu KCC Loans for Jersey Cow
Eligible for 50% subsidy under NLM and concessional 4% interest working capital through Pashu KCC
Eligible Scheme 1Pashu Kisan Credit Card
Eligible Scheme 2National Livestock Mission (NLM)
Eligible Scheme 3State Dairy Development Schemes
🏛️ Statutory Livestock Verification Portals
Official .gov.in & .nic.in PortalsOfficial Dairy & Animal Husbandry Portals for Jersey Cow
🏛️ 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 Jersey Cow
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Jersey cows are lighter, consume 25% less fodder, tolerate higher ambient temperatures better than HF cows, and give higher butterfat milk (5.0%) that earns higher cooperative fat rates.
A healthy Jersey cow produces 14 to 22 liters of milk per day at peak lactation, achieving around 4,500 liters per lactation.
A Jersey cow in second lactation yielding 16-18 L/day costs between ₹55,000 and ₹85,000 depending on pedigree and milk testing records.
Explore Other Desi Cows
View All 16 Breeds →Track Your Jersey Cow Herd Records on KisanPe
Manage daily milk yields, heat detection cycles, vaccination alerts, and access collateral-free Pashu KCC loans directly on your phone.