🐄cattledairy📍 Origin: Punjab
Sahiwal Cow
साहीवाल गाय • Native Tract: Montgomery (historic), Fazilka, Sri Ganganagar, Hisar
Highest milk producing indigenous zebu dairy breed in the Indian subcontinent
Estimated Market Price
₹60,000 – ₹1,40,000
Price depends on lactation parity, daily yield & pedigree
Pashu KCC Limit:₹45,000 / animal
Lactation Yield
3600 L
2800 - 4800 L range
Butterfat %
5%
SNF: 9%
Peak Daily Yield
20 L/day
In 2nd–3rd Parity
Calving Interval
13.5 Mo.
Target inter-calving
Age 1st Calving
36 Mo.
Heifer maturity
Adult Weight
420 kg
Bull: 580 kg
Morphological Features
Physical Identification & Anatomy: Sahiwal Cow
Coat & Color
Reddish brown, pale red, or brownish red; sometimes with white patches on underline
Horns
Short, thick, stumpy, curving outwards and slightly downwards
Ears
Medium-sized, drooping, finely chiseled with thin hair
Forehead & Head
Broad, flat, feminine forehead with gentle expressive eyes
Why Dairy Farmers Choose Sahiwal Cow:
✓Highest milk producing indigenous zebu dairy breed in the Indian subcontinent
✓Renowned for docility, ease of machine milking, and persistent long lactation periods
✓Produces rich A2 milk with high butterfat (4.8%–5.2%) and elevated total solids
✓Thrives in high temperatures and exhibits extraordinary tick and blood parasite immunity
Customized Ration Balancer
Total Mixed Ration (TMR) for Sahiwal Cow
Pre-configured with standard Sahiwal Cow body weight (420 kg) and average daily production. Adjust sliders to match your animal.
🌾 ICAR-NDRI Feed Engine•100% Free Dairy Tool
Sahiwal Cow TMR Feed & Profit Balancer
Calculate optimal daily green silage, dry bhoosa, concentrate pellets and net income for Sahiwal 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)5.0%
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 ResistanceVery High
Heat & Humidity ToleranceExtreme (45°C+)
Primary Health Vulnerabilities to Watch:
- ⚠️Milk fever in high-yielding 3rd/4th parity cows
- ⚠️Mastitis if teat dip is skipped
Veterinary Best Practices
Breeding & Herd Management Tips
- ✓Use sexed semen from ICAR-NDRI or Central Cattle Breeding Farm (CCBF) Suratgarh to ensure female heifer calves
- ✓Feed anionic salts 21 days before calving to prevent hypocalcemia (milk fever)
- ✓Ensure 60 to 75 liters of clean ad-libitum drinking water per day during peak lactation
Free NADCP Ear-Tagging & Vaccination:Dial 1962 (MVU)
Government Support
Subsidies & Pashu KCC Loans for Sahiwal Cow
50% capital subsidy for establishing 20-cow indigenous Sahiwal breeding units
Eligible Scheme 1Rashtriya Gokul Mission
Eligible Scheme 2Pashu KCC
Eligible Scheme 3Punjab & Haryana Dairy Development Board Subsidies
🏛️ Statutory Livestock Verification Portals
Official .gov.in & .nic.in PortalsOfficial Dairy & Animal Husbandry Portals for Sahiwal 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 Sahiwal Cow
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Both are premier indigenous breeds. Sahiwal generally exhibits slightly higher average herd yield and longer lactation persistence in northern climates, while Gir is more adaptable to humid coastal and central Indian heat.
Sahiwal is colloquially called "Lola" due to its voluminous, loose, and pendulous skin around the dewlap, navel flap, and sheath, which helps rapidly dissipate body heat.
Explore Other Desi Cows
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