The cow breeds found in India are classified based on external characteristics and geographical distribution. India is blessed with a vast biodiversity of more than 40 indigenous or native cattle breeds. Native domestic cows of India are commonly known as Desi breeds. India is one of the largest producers of milk and dairy products globally. The A2 protein is an essential protein for the human body, and it is present in the milk of desi cows and is more nutritious than the milk of foreign or exotic breeds. The urine and dung of desi cows are known to have many medicinal properties. India is home to huge cattle genetic resources. Our indigenous cattle breeds in India are especially more adapted to different agro-climatic conditions.
List of Top 10 Best Native Indian Cow Breeds
The team at Top 10s Only has curated the list of the top Indian cow breeds. A few registered native cow breeds include Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar, Lakhimi, Deoni, Hariana, Amritmahal, and Vechur. Read on to know more about the Top Ten Native Cow Breeds Of India:
1. Gir
Gir
Also known as Desan/Gujarati/ Sorthi/ Kathiawari/ Surati
It is a famous indigenous dairy cattle breed in India and is thought to be the world’s oldest domesticated cattle. It is well known for its hardiness and disease resistance.
How To Identify
They are identified using their anatomical features and breed cattle characteristics. They have dome-shaped heads with long drooping ears. The body is well-proportioned. The udder is well-developed and round. Horns are peculiarly curved, giving a ‘half moon’ appearance.
Skin Coat Colour
Coat color varies from shades of red and white to almost black and white or entirely red.
Average Body Weight
313 kg
Average Lifespan
15-25 years
Average Milk Yield
1200-1800 kg per lactation
Gestation Period
About 285 days
Place Of Origin
Gir forest of South Kathiawar in Gujarat, India. It is also found in states like Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
Conservation Status
Imminent extinction
Where To Buy
Contact livestock breeders at dairy farms or cow breeding farms that sell this particular breed in India.
2. Sahiwal
Sahiwal
Also known as Mint kumre/ Lola/ Lambi Bar/ Montgomery/ Multani/ Teli
It is considered a heat-tolerant cattle breed. The breed is good for specialized dairy purposes and is among India’s best dairy cows.
How To Identify
It is identified using its anatomical features and breed characteristics. It is a heavy breed with loose skin.
Skin Coat Colour
Brownish red to Greyish red sometimes flashed with white patches
Average Body Weight
700 to 800 kg
Average Lifespan
15-25 years
Average Milk Yield
1400-2500 kg per lactation
Gestation Period
About 285 days
Place Of Origin
This cattle breed is native to Punjab, Pakistan, but earlier it used to be found in Montgomery, a region in erstwhile undivided India.
Conservation Status
Imminent extinction
Where To Buy
Contact livestock breeders at dairy farms or cow breeding farms that sell this particular breed in India.
3. Rathi
Rathi
Rathi is an important milking breed of cattle. It is very hardy and strong, and the cows are efficient and good milk producers.
How To Identify
They are identified using their anatomical features and breed characteristics. It has a medium-sized body. Lower body parts are usually lighter in colour compared to the rest of their body. Medium-sized horns curve outward, upward, and inward. The face is broad between the eyes and slightly dished. They have a long tail, and the dewlap is fine and loose. This cattle breed native
Skin Coat Colour
Brown with white patches all over the body
Average Body Weight
280-300 kg
Average Lifespan
15-25 years
Average Milk Yield
11062-2810 kg per lactation
Gestation Period
About 285 days
Place Of Origin
State of Rajasthan, India.
Conservation Status
Imminent extinction
Where To Buy
Contact livestock breeders at dairy farms or cow breeding farms, selling this particular breed in India.
4. Red Sindhi
Red Sindhi
Also known as Red Karachi/ Sindhi/ Mahi
It is considered a heat-tolerant cattle breed. The breed is good for specialized dairy purposes and is the best milking cow
How To Identify
They are Identified using their anatomical features and breed characteristics. The breed is of distinct red colour and darker than Sahiwal. Occasionally, small white patches are seen in the dewlap and forehead. Horns are thick at the base, emerge laterally, and curve upward.
Skin Coat Colour
Brick red colour with a red-brown coat. Red colour with shades varying from dark red to light, strips of white
Average Body Weight
325kg
Average Lifespan
15-25 years
Average Milk Yield
1250 to 1800 kg per lactation
Gestation Period
About 285 days
Place Of Origin
Sindh Province of Pakistan and found in Karachi and Hyderabad regions of India
Conservation Status
Imminent extinction
Where To Buy
Contact livestock breeders at dairy farms or cow breeding farms, selling this particular breed in India.
5. Tharpakar
Tharpakar
Also known as White Sindhi/ Grey Sindhi/ Thari
It is a heat-tolerant and disease-resistant breed and is among the best milking desi Indian cow breeds.
How To Identify
They are Identified using their anatomical features and breed characteristics. They are medium- to large-sized, strongly built, compact, with straight limbs, and have a Lyre-shaped horn. Their horns are thick and medium. The dewlap is big and wide.
Skin Coat Colour
White or light grey
Average Body Weight
300-380 kg
Average Lifespan
15-25 years
Average Milk Yield
1800-2600 kg per lactation
Gestation Period
About 285 days
Place Of Origin
Tharparkar district (Pakistan) of undivided India and also found in Rajasthan.
Conservation Status
Imminent extinction
Where To Buy
Contact livestock breeders at dairy farms or cow breeding farms, selling this particular breed in India.
6. Lakhimi
Lakhimi
It is highly adaptable to subtropical climatic conditions. Lakhimi is one of the Indian cows that produces fat-rich milk.
How To Identify
It is identified using its anatomical features and breed characteristics. It is a small breed with relatively small legs. The udder is small and bowel-shaped, and the horns are straight.
Skin Coat Colour
Variable from brown and grey colour
Average Body Weight
90-140 kg
Average Lifespan
15-25 years
Average Milk Yield
325- 375 kg per lactation with an average milk fat of 5.3%
Gestation Period
About 285 days
Place Of Origin
Assam, India
Conservation Status
Imminent extinction
Where To Buy
Contact livestock breeders at dairy farms or cow breeding farms, selling this particular breed in India.
7. Deoni
Deoni
Also known as Surti/ Dongri/ Dongarpati/ Wannera/ Waghyd/ Balankya/ Shevera
How To Identify
Identified using its anatomical features and breed characters. The breed is characterized by its drooping ears and prominent and slightly bulging forehead
Skin Coat Colour
Spotted black and white
Average Body Weight
295 kg
Average Lifespan
15-25 years
Average Milk Yield
600-1300 kg per lactation
Gestation Period
About 285 days
Place Of Origin
Maharastra State, India
Conservation Status
Imminent extinction
Where To Buy
Contact livestock breeders at dairy farms or cow breeding farms, selling this particular breed in India.
8. Hariana
Hariana
Also known as Hisar/ Hansi/ Haryanvi cattle
It is one of the dairy cattle breeds raised mainly for milk production. It is a very hardy, disease-resistant, and dual-purpose breed. These are bred primarily for their milk but also for their meat.
How To Identify
Identified using its anatomical features and breed characters. Have a coffin-shaped skull, long and narrow face, well-marked bony prominence at the centre of the poll, and small horns
Skin Coat Colour
White or light grey colour
Average Body Weight
310 kg
Average Lifespan
15-25 years
Average Milk Yield
700-1750 kg per lactation
Gestation Period
About 285 days
Place Of Origin
Haryana, India
Conservation Status
Imminent extinction
Where To Buy
Contact livestock breeders at dairy farms or cow breeding farms, selling this particular breed in India.
9. Amritmahal
Amritmahal
Also known as Number Dana/ Doddadana/ Jawari Dana
In Amritmahal, ‘Amrit’ means milk, and ‘Mahal’ means house and is a breed of zebu cattle.
How To Identify
They are identified using their anatomical features and breed characteristics. The Head is very long and tapers towards the muzzle. The body is dense and muscular. The horns are long and emerge from the top of the poll.
Skin Coat Colour
Almost white to nearly black
Average Body Weight
318 kg
Average Lifespan
15-25 years
Average Milk Yield
600 kg per lactation
Gestation Period
About 285 days
Place Of Origin
Mysore in Karnataka, and parts of Tamil Nadu, India
Conservation Status
Imminent extinction
Where To Buy
Contact livestock breeders at dairy farms or cow breeding farms, selling this particular breed in India.
10. Vechur
Vechur
Vechur is a dwarf variety of cattle breeds and is considered to be the smallest breed in the world. The breed is well adapted to the hot and humid climate, is docile and adorable, and is maintained for milk and manure. Milk is believed to have medicinal qualities.
How To Identify
Identified using its anatomical features and breed characters. It is the smallest breed, with an average height of 90 cm. It is a hardy and strong breed. Horns are small and curved backward. Hump is not very prominent for cows. They have long tails and strong hooves
Skin Coat Colour
Light red, black or fawn and white
Average Body Weight
130 kg
Average Lifespan
15-25 years
Average Milk Yield
561 kg per lactation. Milk fat ranges from 4.7 to 5.8%
Gestation Period
About 285 days
Place Of Origin
Kottayam district in Kerala State, India
Conservation Status
Verge of extinction
Where To Buy
Contact livestock breeders at dairy farms or cow breeding farms, selling this particular breed in India.
Let’s Protect And Promote India’s Native Cow Breeds
India has a very rich reservoir of genetic diversity and possesses some of the best breeds of cows globally. Our native cow breeds require less care, feed, and maintenance, and research studies show that their milk has high medicinal and nutritional values. On the other hand, exotic species or crossbreeds are costly to buy and maintain and highly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions and emerging diseases. Our indigenous breeds have better adaptability, disease resistance, and feed efficiency ratio. However, Indian native cow breeds have declined severely in numbers. It is high time to conserve, improve productivity, create awareness and kindle interest in cow-based organic farming in all possible ways, and encourage livestock farmers to rear native cow breeds in our country.
Frequently Asked Questions About Indian Cow Breeds
1. Which cows are native to India?
Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar, Lakhimi, Deoni, Hariana, Amritmahal and Vechur are the desi cows native to India.
2. What is the most common cow in India?
Gir cows are one of the top native Indian cow breeds. Well-known for their hardiness and disease resistance, the Gir cows are believed to be the world’s oldest domesticated cattle.
3. In which state is the Vechur cow found?
Vechur cows are found in the Kottayam district in Kerala, India. They are the smallest cattle breed in the world and yield the maximum milk for a cow of their size. This milk quality makes Vechur cows among the famous cow breeds in India.
4. Is HF an Indian breed of cow?
HF is an international breed of cows. It originated in Frisia and spread to the German state of Schleswig-Holestein. HF is the dominant domestic cow breed in industrial dairy farming worldwide.
5. Is Jersey an Indian breed of cow?
Jersey is not an Indian cow breed. It is from Jersey Island, in the Channel Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Normandy in France. This breed is known for its high milk production and butterfat content. It is Jersey’s indigenous cow breed and the world’s second-largest breed of cattle.
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