5 lesser-known cow breeds found in India
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
But in the corners of rural India, a different story continues. It's the story of native cattle breeds– cows that may not produce record-breaking quantities of milk, but have quietly supported generations of farmers.
These indigenous cows need less care, adjust well to harsh climates, and are easier on farmers' pockets. In a time when rising costs, extreme weather, and sustainability are all shaping how we farm, these local breeds are proving to be more useful than many realise.
Here are five Indian cattle breeds that continue to play a vital role in the lives of small farmers.
Tharparkar
Common in Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat, the Tharparkar is a medium-sized cow with a grey or white coat. It's known for handling dry, hot weather with ease. It gives around 6 to 8 litres of milk a day and is also used for ploughing. What makes it valuable is its ability to survive in areas with very little water, where most other breeds would struggle.
Kankrej
The Kankrej comes from northern Gujarat and parts of Rajasthan. It has a muscular build, a dark grey coat, and curved horns, making it useful for both milk and farm work. This breed gives about 5 to 7 litres of milk daily. It's also known for resisting diseases and working well even with poor-quality feed. Because of its hardiness, many countries use it in crossbreeding to improve local cattle.
Vechur
Native to Kerala, the Vechur is one of the smallest cows in the world.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
But despite its size, it produces milk that's high in fat, between 5% and 8%. It usually gives 2 to 3 litres of milk a day. The breed eats very little and thrives with minimal care, making it ideal for small farmers. With more people turning to natural and organic dairy, this breed is slowly gaining attention again, though it's still endangered.
Deoni
The Deoni cow is found in parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana. It has a calm nature and a white body with black or brown patches.
It produces 3 to 4 litres of milk per day and is well-suited to dry, low-resource conditions. For farmers using traditional methods, Deoni cows offer good returns without high costs.
Sahiwal
Originally from the Punjab region, the Sahiwal is now common across north and central India. With its reddish-brown coat and heat tolerance, it's one of India's most reliable milk breeds. It gives about 8 to 10 litres of milk daily and is resistant to many tropical diseases. Countries like Kenya and Australia also use Sahiwal genetics to develop heat-tolerant cattle for dairy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27-07-2025
- Time of India
PDKV VC says need to conserve, promote indigenous cattle breeds
Nagpur: Vice-chancellor of Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Agricultural University (PDKV), Akola, Sharad Gadakh, emphasised the need for conserving and promoting indigenous cattle breeds to ensure sustainable development in Maharashtra, particularly in Vidarbha and Marathwada. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking at a 'Special Intellectual Discussion' hosted by PDKV's animal husbandry and dairy science department, Gadakh highlighted dairy business as a vital partner for sustainable agriculture and farmer prosperity. The event marked the state's first "Pure Indigenous Cattle Breed Conservation and Promotion Day," celebrated annually on July 22,. Gadakh stressed that commercial cattle rearing can significantly boost farmers' income by converting low-cost material like weeds, crop residues, and post-threshing byproducts into valuable milk, manure, and urine, while also producing new livestock annually. Noting India's position among the top five countries for cattle population and its status as the world's largest milk producer, he highlighted a key challenge: India's per-animal milk productivity is less than half the global average. With proper nutrition, breeding, and management, Gadakh said, livestock can yield at least 10 litres of milk daily, offering substantial economic benefits. Sadhana Ghuge, deputy commissioner of animal husbandry, addressed the declining population of indigenous cows, advocating for modern technology to enhance their productivity and reproductive capacity. Sheshrao Chavan, head of PDKV's animal husbandry and dairy science department, said, "We have implemented a pedigree cattle breed project, which includes the conservation of all five indigenous cattle breeds of the state — Gaolao from Vidarbha, Lal Kandhari and Deoni from Marathwada, Khillar from western Maharashtra, and Dangi from Konkan — along with high milk-yielding breeds like Sahiwal, Gir, Tharparkar, and Kankrej for educational purposes and dissemination among farmers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now " He also highlighted initiatives in fodder crop cultivation, processing low-quality fodder into cost-effective feed, silage production, and producing manure, vermicompost, biogas, and electricity from dung. The department trains students and farmers in commercial dairy production and promotes fodder crops through a nursery.
Hans India
23-07-2025
- Hans India
SC junks plea for use of indigenous cow milk for Tirumala rituals
Tirupati: Hearing a petition that sought exclusive use of indigenous cow milk for rituals at the famed Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala, the Supreme Court declined to intervene, remarking that matters of devotion should not be confined by breed distinctions and urging the petitioner to approach the appropriate High Court instead. The petition was filed by Yuga Thulasi Foundation and others against TTD and others. A bench comprising Justices M M Sundaresh and N Kotiswar Singh, while hearing the matter, guided the petitioner to approach the respective High Court instead. 'A cow is a cow,' remarked Justice Sundaresh, underlining that distinctions based on cow breeds, languages, or regions are human constructs. 'God belongs to everyone. Can we then claim that God prefers only local cow milk?' he said, cautioning against injecting divisive interpretations into religious practices. The petitioner's counsel had argued that the Agama Shastras prescribe the use of milk from native Indian breeds in temple rituals and pointed out that TTD itself had previously passed a resolution supporting such practices. The plea, the lawyer insisted, was aimed at enforcing TTD's own stated commitment. However, the bench queried whether there was any binding legal framework backing such a demand. Upon being referred to prior constitutional judgments, the court was not convinced to admit the case and declined to interfere. 'Shall we also then ask whether Tirupati laddus should be made exclusively from indigenous ingredients?' Justice Sundaresh remarked in a lighter vein, before allowing the petitioner to withdraw the plea with the liberty to move the High Court. Justice Sundaresh said that devotion must manifest through compassion for all life forms rather than by creating artificial divides. 'Many pressing issues demand the court's attention. My observations were made with utmost respect to religious sentiments', he added. Meanwhile, it was learnt that the temple's cattle shelters house over 3,000 indigenous cows of breeds like Ongole, Gir, and Sahiwal. These cows already supply milk for rituals such as the sacred Abhishekam performed for the deity.
Hans India
23-07-2025
- Hans India
SC junks plea for use of indigenous cow milk at Tirumala rituals
Tirupati: Hearing a petition that sought exclusive use of indigenous cow milk for rituals at the famed Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala, the Supreme Court declined to intervene, remarking that matters of devotion should not be confined by breed distinctions and urging the petitioner to approach the appropriate High Court instead. The petition was filed by Yuga Thulasi Foundation and others against TTD and others. A bench comprising Justices MM Sundaresh and N Kotiswar Singh, while hearing the matter, guided the petitioner to approach the respective High Court instead. 'A cow is a cow,' remarked Justice Sundaresh, underlining that distinctions based on cow breeds, languages, or regions are human constructs. 'God belongs to everyone. Can we then claim that God prefers only local cow milk?' he asked, cautioning against injecting divisive interpretations into religious practices. The petitioner's counsel had argued that the Agama Shastras prescribe the use of milk from native Indian breeds in temple rituals and pointed out that TTD itself had previously passed a resolution supporting such practices. The plea, the lawyer insisted, was aimed at enforcing TTD's own stated commitment. However, the bench queried whether there was any binding legal framework backing such a demand. Upon being referred to prior constitutional judgments, the court was not convinced to admit the case and declined to interfere. 'Shall we also then ask whether Tirupati laddus should be made exclusively from indigenous ingredients?' Justice Sundaresh remarked in a lighter vein, before allowing the petitioner to withdraw the plea with the liberty to move the High Court. Justice Sundaresh said that devotion must manifest through compassion for all life forms rather than by creating artificial divides. 'Many pressing issues demand the court's attention. My observations were made with utmost respect to religious sentiments', he added. Meanwhile, it was learnt that the temple's cattle shelters house over 3,000 indigenous cows of breeds like Ongole, Gir, and Sahiwal. These cows already supply milk for rituals such as the sacred Abhishekam performed for the deity.
