🐄cattledairy📍 Origin: Kerala
Sunandini Cow
सुनंदिनी गाय • Native Tract: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam
Official synthetic crossbred dairy breed developed by the Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB)
Estimated Market Price
₹45,000 – ₹75,000
Price depends on lactation parity, daily yield & pedigree
Pashu KCC Limit:₹40,000 / animal
Lactation Yield
3100 L
2600 - 3800 L range
Butterfat %
4.2%
SNF: 8.7%
Peak Daily Yield
16 L/day
In 2nd–3rd Parity
Calving Interval
13 Mo.
Target inter-calving
Age 1st Calving
30 Mo.
Heifer maturity
Adult Weight
380 kg
Bull: 520 kg
Morphological Features
Physical Identification & Anatomy: Sunandini Cow
Coat & Color
Brown, reddish-brown, or grey; smooth sleek coat adapted to high rainfall
Horns
Short, curving upward and inward
Ears
Medium, alert, carried horizontally
Forehead & Head
Clean, flat forehead with bright eyes
Why Dairy Farmers Choose Sunandini Cow:
✓Official synthetic crossbred dairy breed developed by the Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB)
✓Synthesized from local nondescript cows crossed with Brown Swiss and Jersey to suit Kerala’s humid tropical climate
✓Delivers an average lactation yield of 3,100 liters of 4.2% fat milk on homestead rubber and coconut forage
✓Forms the backbone of Kerala’s commercial dairy revolution and MILMA cooperative milk procurement
Customized Ration Balancer
Total Mixed Ration (TMR) for Sunandini Cow
Pre-configured with standard Sunandini Cow body weight (380 kg) and average daily production. Adjust sliders to match your animal.
🌾 ICAR-NDRI Feed Engine•100% Free Dairy Tool
Sunandini Cow TMR Feed & Profit Balancer
Calculate optimal daily green silage, dry bhoosa, concentrate pellets and net income for Sunandini Cow.
Animal Characteristics
Body Weight (शरीर का वजन)380 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)4.2%
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
14.1 kg
ICAR Standard DM basis
Water Requirement
80 Liters
Fresh cool water/day
Daily Balanced Ration (दैनिक संतुलित आहार)
As-Fed Fresh Basisहरा चारा (Green)🌿
26.6 kg
Napier / Silage / Maize / Berseem
सूखा चारा (Dry)🌾
3.5 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)💧
80 L
Cool, unchlorinated water
Daily Milk Economics
Income vs Feed Expenditure
Feed Cost / Liter
₹18.9/L
Daily Milk Revenue
₹660
12 L × ₹55
Daily Feed Cost
₹227
Fodder + Pellets + Salts
Net Daily Profit
₹433
66% Margin
Monthly Projected Profit per Animal:₹12,990 / 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 80 Liters of clean, cool drinking water.
Hardiness & Immunity
Climatic Resilience & Health Profile
Tick & Vector ResistanceHigh
Heat & Humidity ToleranceHigh (Specially selected for 90%+ relative humidity and heavy monsoon climates)
Primary Health Vulnerabilities to Watch:
- ⚠️Sub-clinical mastitis during wet monsoon season
Veterinary Best Practices
Breeding & Herd Management Tips
- ✓Inseminate with certified Sunandini semen from KLDB semen stations
- ✓Supplement green grass with 1-2 kg coconut oil cake and balanced dairy concentrate
- ✓Maintain sloped, dry concrete standing to prevent footrot during four months of monsoon
Free NADCP Ear-Tagging & Vaccination:Dial 1962 (MVU)
Government Support
Subsidies & Pashu KCC Loans for Sunandini Cow
Subsidized sex-sorted semen from KLDB Dhoni/Mattupetty bull stations and state dairy cattle subsidies
Eligible Scheme 1Kerala Ksheerasree Dairy Scheme
Eligible Scheme 2Pashu Kisan Credit Card
Eligible Scheme 3KLDB Breed Improvement Scheme
🏛️ Statutory Livestock Verification Portals
Official .gov.in & .nic.in PortalsOfficial Dairy & Animal Husbandry Portals for Sunandini 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 Sunandini Cow
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Sunandini is a synthetic crossbred dairy cow developed by the Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB) starting in 1965 by crossing local cattle with Brown Swiss and Jersey.
A Sunandini cow produces 10 to 16 liters of milk daily at peak lactation, achieving around 3,100 liters per lactation.
It was selected specifically to withstand extreme relative humidity, torrential monsoon rain, and thrive on chopped Napier grass and coconut garden fodder.
Explore Other Desi Cows
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