🐄cattledairy📍 Origin: Kerala
Vechur Cow
वेचूर गाय • Native Tract: Kottayam, Vechur, Alappuzha, Ernakulam
Smallest cattle breed in the world recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records, standing ~85 cm tall
Estimated Market Price
₹60,000 – ₹1,50,000
Price depends on lactation parity, daily yield & pedigree
Pashu KCC Limit:₹32,000 / animal
Lactation Yield
800 L
600 - 1000 L range
Butterfat %
5.3%
SNF: 8.8%
Peak Daily Yield
4.5 L/day
In 2nd–3rd Parity
Calving Interval
13 Mo.
Target inter-calving
Age 1st Calving
34 Mo.
Heifer maturity
Adult Weight
130 kg
Bull: 180 kg
Morphological Features
Physical Identification & Anatomy: Vechur Cow
Coat & Color
Light red, black, fawn, or white
Horns
Small, thin, curving forward and downward or blunt
Ears
Small, carried horizontally with alert poise
Forehead & Head
Small, narrow face with flat forehead
Why Dairy Farmers Choose Vechur Cow:
✓Smallest cattle breed in the world recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records, standing ~85 cm tall
✓Evolved in the hot humid backwaters of Kuttanad, requiring tiny feed intake of just 5-6 kg fodder daily
✓Produces nutrient-rich A2 milk with smaller fat globule size (3.2 microns) offering superior human digestibility
✓Saved from extinction by Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) and now popular in zero-budget natural farming
Customized Ration Balancer
Total Mixed Ration (TMR) for Vechur Cow
Pre-configured with standard Vechur Cow body weight (130 kg) and average daily production. Adjust sliders to match your animal.
🌾 ICAR-NDRI Feed Engine•100% Free Dairy Tool
Vechur Cow TMR Feed & Profit Balancer
Calculate optimal daily green silage, dry bhoosa, concentrate pellets and net income for Vechur Cow.
Animal Characteristics
Body Weight (शरीर का वजन)130 kg
250 kgAverage: 400 kg800 kg
Daily Milk Yield (दैनिक दूध उत्पादन)4.5 L/day
0 L (Dry animal)Peak: 20 L35 L
Milk Butterfat (फैट प्रतिशत)5.3%
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
4.9 kg
ICAR Standard DM basis
Water Requirement
29 Liters
Fresh cool water/day
Daily Balanced Ration (दैनिक संतुलित आहार)
As-Fed Fresh Basisहरा चारा (Green)🌿
7.1 kg
Napier / Silage / Maize / Berseem
सूखा चारा (Dry)🌾
0.9 kg
Wheat Bhoosa / Paddy / Kadbi
पशुआहार (Concentrate)🥣
2.8 kg
20% CP Balanced Pellets
मिनरल मिक्चर🧪
60 g
Chelated Area-Specific Mix
सादा नमक (Salt)🧂
35 g
Daily electrolyte balance
स्वच्छ पानी (Water)💧
29 L
Cool, unchlorinated water
Daily Milk Economics
Income vs Feed Expenditure
Feed Cost / Liter
₹21.6/L
Daily Milk Revenue
₹248
4.5 L × ₹55
Daily Feed Cost
₹97
Fodder + Pellets + Salts
Net Daily Profit
₹151
61% Margin
Monthly Projected Profit per Animal:₹4,530 / 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 29 Liters of clean, cool drinking water.
Hardiness & Immunity
Climatic Resilience & Health Profile
Tick & Vector ResistanceExtreme
Heat & Humidity ToleranceExtreme (High humidity resilient)
Primary Health Vulnerabilities to Watch:
- ⚠️Susceptible to crossbreeding dilution if stray bulls are not managed
Veterinary Best Practices
Breeding & Herd Management Tips
- ✓Breed strictly using certified purebred Vechur semen to prevent dystocia from larger breeds
- ✓Provide dry resting area to safeguard against swamp rot during intense monsoon rains
- ✓Supplement feed with local green grass, banana peelings, and cooked rice gruel
Free NADCP Ear-Tagging & Vaccination:Dial 1962 (MVU)
Government Support
Subsidies & Pashu KCC Loans for Vechur Cow
State breeding support through Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) Mannuthy
Eligible Scheme 1Rashtriya Gokul Mission
Eligible Scheme 2Kerala Vechur Conservation Trust
Eligible Scheme 3Pashu KCC
🏛️ Statutory Livestock Verification Portals
Official .gov.in & .nic.in PortalsOfficial Dairy & Animal Husbandry Portals for Vechur 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 Vechur Cow
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Vechur milk features extremely small fat globule size and high proportions of lactoferrin, lysozyme, and A2 beta-casein, making it hypoallergenic and easily assimilated by infants and convalescents.
A Vechur cow requires only 6 to 8 kg of green grass, 2 kg dry straw, and 500g to 1 kg concentrate feed per day, costing under ₹60 daily.
A Vechur cow produces 2.5 to 4.5 liters of milk per day, yielding around 800 liters per lactation.
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View All 16 Breeds →Track Your Vechur Cow Herd Records on KisanPe
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