🐄Cow Breeds - Indigenous, Exotic and Crossbred Cattle of India

Important Cattle Breeds

• Breed: A group of animals / birds having the similar general body shape, colour, structure and characters which produced offspring with same characters. Breeds are the result of selective breeding over many generations to fix desirable traits.
• Species: A group of individuals which have certain common characteristics that distinguish them from other groups of individuals. Within a species the individuals are fertile when mated, in different species they are not. This fertility test is the key distinction between a breed and a species.
• A species includes many breeds.

• Cattle Breeds are of two types:
  • Indigenous (Bos indicus) — Native Indian breeds, characterised by a prominent hump, long ears, and dewlap. They are well adapted to tropical climates and have higher disease resistance.
  • Exotic (Bos taurus) — Foreign breeds originating from Europe and other temperate regions. They are typically humpless, with higher milk yields but lower heat tolerance.

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Important Terms

• Cattle: This includes Cow and Bulls.
• Bovine: This is pertaining to Cattle, Buffalo, Mithun and Yak. The term bovine is broader than cattle and includes all members of the subfamily Bovinae.
• Bull: The uncastrated sexually, matured male animal. It is used for mating.
• Bullock/Steer: A castrated bull is known as bullock. Bullocks are primarily used for draught purposes such as ploughing and carting.
• Calving: The act of parturition in cattle. This is the term used specifically for the birth process in cows and buffaloes.
• Calf: Young animal either male or female usually than 1 year old.
• Veal Calves: calves fed for early slaughter, usually less than 3 months old. Veal is tender, pale meat that is considered a delicacy in many cuisines.
• Bull Calf: A male calf under one year of age.
• Heifer: A female cow that has not yet calved. (Usually less than 18-24 months of age). A heifer becomes a cow only after her first calving.
• Cow: It is a female of bovine species that has calved at least once.
• Lactation: The period during which a cow produces milk after calving. A standard lactation period is 305 days (~10 months). Milk yield figures quoted “per lactation” refer to the total milk produced in this period.
• First Calving Age: The age at which a cow delivers her first calf. A shorter first calving age means the cow enters productive life earlier, which is economically desirable.
• Calving Interval: The time gap between two consecutive calvings. A shorter calving interval (ideally 12–13 months) means more calves and more lactations over the cow’s productive life. Longer intervals reduce lifetime productivity.
• Dry Period: The non-lactating rest period before the next calving, usually 60 days. This is essential for the udder to recover and for the cow to build body reserves for the next lactation.
• Grading Up: A breeding strategy where non-descript or low-yielding cows are mated with high-quality bulls (indigenous or exotic) over successive generations to gradually improve the herd quality without purebred replacement.

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Indigenous Cattle: Bos indicus

• Indigenous Breeds are classified under three groups based on utility / purpose. These are milch breeds (for milk), dual-purpose breeds (for both milk and draught), and draught breeds (primarily for work).

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Milch Breeds

Sahiwal

• Origin: Montgomery (Pakistan)
• Colour: Red, Pale red & dark brown spaced with white.
• Deep body, loose skin (hence the name lola), short legs, stumpy horns, broad head & lethargic. The loose skin and lethargic temperament are adaptations to hot climates, allowing better heat dissipation.
• One of the best dairy breeds in India.
• Sweetest milk. Sahiwal milk has a naturally sweet taste due to its unique composition, making it highly preferred by consumers.
• Highest milk producing indigenous cow breed. This makes Sahiwal the top choice among indigenous milch breeds for dairy farming.
• Milk yield: 1400–2500 kg/lactation (average ~1500 kg). To put this in context: exotic Holstein Friesian yields 6,000–7,000 kg/lactation, but Sahiwal thrives in India’s tropical heat where HF would require intensive management and still underperform. Among all indigenous breeds, no other comes close to Sahiwal’s yield.

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Gir

• Origin: Kathiawar (Gujrat)
• Colour: Colour is seldom entire varying from almost red to almost black. Spots of different colour are one of the chief characteristics.
• Highest disease resistant found. The Gir breed has remarkable natural immunity against tropical diseases, which is why it is highly sought after internationally, especially in Brazil for crossbreeding programmes.
• Ears are markedly long. Curved horns. Horns are peculiarly curved, giving a half-moon appearance. The half-moon shaped horns and pendulous ears are the most distinctive identification features of the Gir breed.

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Red Sindhi

• Karachi & Hyderabad (Pakistan)
• Colour: Deep dark red colour varying from dun yellow in almost dark brown.
• Medium size & compact, animals having well proportionate body. Head is moderately long and massive in appearance. Thick horns emerging laterally and end in blunt points.
• Intelligent facial expression. Red Sindhi cows are known for their docile temperament and adaptability to various climatic conditions, making them popular across many states.

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Dual-purpose Breeds

Haryana

• Origin: Hissar/Rohtak (Haryana)
• Best dual-purpose breed. The Haryana breed provides a good balance of milk yield and draught capability, making it economically versatile for mixed farming systems.
• Small Horn.
• Milk yield: 600 to 800 kg/ lactation
• First calving: 40 to 60 months
• Calving Interval: 480 to 630 days.

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Tharparkar

• Origin: Thar Desert region — primarily Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan (India) and Sindh (Pakistan). Also known as “White Sindhi” or “Grey Sindhi.”
• Milk yield: 1800 — 2600 kg/ lactation. Tharparkar is among the highest milk-yielding dual-purpose breeds in India.
• First Calving: 38 — 42 months
• Inter calving: 430 — 460 days
• Lyre shaped horn. The lyre-shaped horns curve upward and outward, resembling the shape of a musical lyre.

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Deoni

• Origin: Hyderabad
• Resembles Gir in most of the characters.
• Milk yield: 1000 — 1200 kgs/lactation.

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Kankrej

• Origin: Kutch (Gujrat)
• Thick horns, broad dished forehead and short face.
• Highest body weight and most powerful in Indian Cows. Kankrej is the strongest and heaviest among indigenous cow breeds, making it excellent for heavy draught work.
• Also k/w Sawai Chal or Wadhiar. The name “Sawai Chal” means “one and a quarter step” because:
• 1.25 per step will cover than other cows. This means Kankrej bullocks cover 25% more distance per stride compared to other breeds, making them highly efficient for transport and farm work.

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Rathi

• Origin: Alwar (Rajasthan)
• Medium-sized dairy breed with brown colour and white spots. Named after the Rathi community of Rajasthan who traditionally maintained this breed.
• Milk yield: 1062 – 2240 kg/lactation.
• Highly adapted to the arid and semi-arid conditions of Rajasthan; can survive on sparse fodder and scarce water — making it economically important for small farmers in dry zones.

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Ongole

• Origin: Guntur (Andhra Pradesh)
• Pure White in colour.
• Also, k/w Nellore.
• This breed is famous in Brazil for beef purpose. Ongole cattle were exported to Brazil where they became the foundation of the Nelore breed, now the most popular beef breed in South America with an estimated population of over 150 million animals.
• Ongole was also exported to the USA and other countries for developing heat-tolerant beef breeds. In the USA, it contributed to the development of the Brahman breed, which now forms the backbone of tropical beef production across the Americas.

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Mewati

• Origin: Kosi (Mathura) — found in the Mewat region along the Alwar–Bharatpur–Mathura border (Rajasthan/UP/Haryana).
• Large, white to grey coloured animal; one of the largest indigenous dual-purpose breeds.
• Milk yield: 600 – 800 kg/lactation. Bullocks are excellent for heavy draught and agriculture work.
• Closely related to the Haryana breed but heavier in build.

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Badri

• Native of Uttarakhand; holds a GI (Geographical Indication) tag from Uttarakhand — the first cattle breed in India to receive a GI tag.
• Called the “Queen of Hills” — a title reflecting its excellent adaptation to steep hilly terrain, cold temperatures, and low-oxygen conditions at altitude.
• Dual Purpose breed — provides both milk and draught. Milk yield is low (~300–500 kg/lactation) but the milk is rich in fat.
• Small, compact body allows it to graze on narrow mountain paths. The breed grazes on Bugyals (high-altitude alpine meadows), giving its milk a distinctive composition due to the diverse alpine herbs in its diet.

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Gaolao

• Origin: Wardha and Nagpur districts of Maharashtra, and Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh.
• White to grey colour with black markings on the face, ears, and limbs. Medium-sized with a moderately developed hump.
• Dual-purpose breed — moderate milkers, but bullocks are good for agricultural work in central India’s cotton-growing black soil belt.
• The name comes from the “Gaolikar” community (traditional cattle herders) of the Vidarbha region.

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Dangi

• The breeding tract of Dangi breed includes the Dangs district of Gujarat and Thane, Nasik, Ahmednagar districts of Maharashtra.
• This cattle breed is well known for its excellent working qualities in heavy rainfall areas, the skin exudes an oily secretion which protects them from heavy rain, horns are short thick with lateral pointing tips. The oily skin secretion is a remarkable natural adaptation that makes Dangi the breed of choice in high-rainfall zones of western India.

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Draught Breeds

Amrutmahal

• Origin: Maysore (Karnataka)
• Best draught breed of cattle is Amrutmahal. The name “Amrutmahal” literally means “department of milk” — however, the breed is primarily valued for its exceptional draught ability, endurance, and spirited temperament.

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Nagori

• Origin: Nagaur (Rajasthan)
• Superior among draught breeds.
• Famous for pulling tanga. Nagori bullocks are prized for their speed and endurance in pulling carts (tangas) over long distances.

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Malvi

• Origin: Malwa (MP)
• Grey to white coloured, medium-sized compact animal.
• Primarily a draught breed — bullocks are used for field work and cart-pulling in the Malwa plateau region.
• Cows are poor milkers. The breed is closely related to Kankrej and shares ancestry with central Indian draught types.

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Hallikar

• Origin: Karnataka
• Very good Draught breed. Hallikar bulls are known for their compact build and spirited temperament, making them suitable for heavy farm work.
• Closely related to Amrutmahal — both are Karnataka draught breeds, but Hallikar is the older and more widely distributed breed.

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Nimari

• Native to the Nimar region of India (Narmada valley, Madhya Pradesh and Jalgaon district, Maharashtra).
• Originated from Gyr (milch) × Khillari (draught) ancestry — despite the milch parent, the draught character dominates. Cows are very poor milkers.
• Bullocks are strong, enduring workers suited to the Narmada valley terrain.

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Khillari

• Native of Maharashtra and Karnataka
• Light grey to white, compact and muscular build with upward-pointing sharp horns.
• Excellent speed draught breed — Khillari bullocks are prized for their swiftness and are used for fast carting and light ploughing. They are considered the fastest draught cattle in India.
• Cows are poor milkers. The breed is also used in cattle races in Maharashtra.

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Pullikulam

• Madurai (Tamil Nadu)
• Famous for Jallikattu game in Tamil Nadu. Jallikattu is a traditional bull-taming sport practised during the Pongal festival, and Pullikulam bulls are specially reared for this purpose.

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Kangayam

• Origin: Erode district, Tamil Nadu (Kangayam area).
• Medium-sized, grey-white breed with a compact body and strong hindquarters.
• Draught breed — Kangayam bullocks are strong and enduring farm workers. Also famous for Jallikattu (traditional bull-taming sport at Pongal).
• The breed has shown resistance to tick infestation, an important trait for tropical management. Cows are poor milkers.

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Krishna Valley

• Origin: Krishna river basin (Karnataka–Andhra Pradesh border).
• Large-framed breed with a grey or white coat; one of the heaviest indigenous draught breeds.
• Cows are very poor milkers, but bullocks are excellent for cart work and heavy field operations — a classic pure draught breed where economic value lies entirely in bullock performance.
• Developed by the erstwhile Sangli and Satara princely states for agricultural use in the black cotton soil region of the Deccan.

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Non-descript Breed

• The non-descript breeds are those indigenous breeds which cannot be classified as a particular recognised breed or do not have more than 50% similarities of any recognised breed. (have no specific characteristic of their own)
• These consume more fodder, but yield very low quantity of milk. Non-descript cattle constitute a significant portion of India’s total cattle population and are prime candidates for grading-up programmes using superior breed bulls.

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Exotic Breeds

Bos taurus — Exotic breeds originate from temperate climates and are known for their high milk production but require better management, nutrition, and housing compared to indigenous breeds. They lack the hump of Bos indicus and are sensitive to heat and tropical diseases.

Jersey

• Jersey is the most popular exotic breed for crossbreeding in India due to its relatively better adaptability to tropical conditions compared to other exotic breeds like HF.
• The Jersey breed originated on the Island of Jersey, a small British island in the English Channel off the coast of France.
• The Jersey is one of the oldest dairy breeds, having been reported by authorities as being purebred for nearly six centuries.
• The breed was known in England as early as 1771 and was regarded very favourably because of its milk and butterfat production.
• The highest percentage of fat in exotic breed is found in Jersey breed it produces more than 5% fat. This high fat content makes Jersey milk ideal for butter and cheese production.

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Holstein

• The Holstein cow originated in Europe. The major historical development of this breed occurred in what is now the Netherlands and more specifically in the two northern provinces of North Holland and Friesland. This is why the breed is also known as Holstein Friesian (HF).
• Holsteins are large, stylish animals with color patterns of black and white or red and white.
• The normal productive life of a Holstein is six years.
• It is highest milk producing cow in the world. The average productive Holstein yields 6,000–10,000 litres per lactation under good management. World-record individual cows have exceeded 30,000 litres in 365 days, but typical farm performance is 6,000–7,000 litres per standard 305-day lactation.

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Brown Swiss

• Native of Switzerland
• Milk yield: 5000 lit/ lactation.
• Second heavest cattle breed after HF. Brown Swiss are valued for their sturdy build, good feet, and longevity, making them excellent for mountain and hilly terrains.
• Fat content: ~4% — intermediate between HF (3.5%) and Jersey (5.5%), with higher protein content than HF. This balanced composition makes Brown Swiss milk popular for cheese production.

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Ayrshire

• Native of Scotland
• Known as Dunlop cattle or Cunningham cattle
• This breed is over active and hence difficult to manage in farms. Despite the management challenge, Ayrshire cows are known for their efficient grazing ability and robust health.

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Guernsey

• 6000 lit/ lactation
• Origin: Island of Guernsey, a British Crown Dependency in the English Channel (same island group as Jersey — the Channel Islands, off the coast of Normandy, France).
• Milk found beta carotene (Golden colour). The distinctive golden-yellow colour of Guernsey milk is due to high beta-carotene content, which gives the milk a naturally rich appearance and higher nutritional value.

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Red Dane

• Origin: Denmark. Also known as Danish Red or Red Danish.
• Solid red colour; medium to large-sized, hardy breed.
• Milk yield: ~5000 kg/lactation. Good fat percentage (~4.2%) — higher than HF but lower than Jersey.
• Valued for its hardiness and longevity, performing well in less intensive systems. Used in crossbreeding programmes in tropical countries for its moderate adaptability.

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Cross Breed

Cross of two different breed. Crossbreeding combines the high productivity of exotic breeds with the heat tolerance and disease resistance of indigenous breeds, resulting in animals that perform well under Indian conditions.

Karan Swiss

• Brown Swiss ♀ × Sahiwal ⚦ [Remember: both are brown-coloured]
• Developed by NDRI, Karnal (National Dairy Research Institute, Haryana).
• Milk yield: ~5000 – 6000 kg/lactation. Combines Brown Swiss productivity with Sahiwal’s heat tolerance and disease resistance.
• Well adapted to sub-tropical conditions of north India.

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Karan Fries

• Friesian ♀ × Tharparkar ⚦ [Remember: both are white-coloured]
• Developed by NDRI, Karnal.
• Milk yield: ~4000 – 5000 kg/lactation. Combines HF’s high milk output with Tharparkar’s adaptability to arid and semi-arid conditions.
• Suitable for north-western India (Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab) where Tharparkar is the native breed.

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Frieswal

• Holstein Friesian ♀ × Sahiwal ⚦
• Highest milk yielding breed (14 lit/day). Frieswal is considered the most productive crossbred dairy cow in India, combining the prolific milk production of Holstein Friesian with the tropical adaptability of Sahiwal.

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Sunandini

• Multiple exotic breeds × Local Zebu (Bos indicus) ♀ — a multi-breed cross, not a simple two-breed combination. Genomic composition: ~37% Holstein Friesian + 31% Brown Swiss + 13% Jersey + 19% indigenous.
• Developed by Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB).
• Milk yield: ~3500 – 4000 kg/lactation.
• Well-adapted to the hot and humid tropical conditions of Kerala — this is the key advantage over pure HF or Brown Swiss which struggle in high humidity.
• Named after Sunanda, reflects the breed’s suitability for smallholder farmers in Kerala’s mixed farming system.

References & Sources

1

G.C. Banerjee: A Textbook of Animal HusbandryBook

2

Wikipedia — Animal HusbandryWeb

3

NDRI Karnal (National Dairy Research Institute) — Karan Swiss, Karan Fries, Frieswal crossbred developmentWeb

4

Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB) — Sunandini breed development and genomic compositionWeb

5

Wikipedia — Tharparkar Cattle: origin in Thar Desert (Jaisalmer/Barmer, Rajasthan + Sindh, Pakistan)Web

6

Wikipedia — Guernsey Cattle: origin on Island of Guernsey, British Crown DependencyWeb

7

Wikipedia — Holstein Friesian Cattle: average and world-record milk yield dataWeb

8

Wikipedia — Gir Cattle: disease resistance, Brazil population (~5 million), Nelore connectionWeb

9

FAO DAD-IS (Domestic Animal Diversity Information System) — Indian indigenous breed dataWeb

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Breed Selection Guide: Which Cow for Which Farmer?

An AFO officer’s decision framework for recommending cattle breeds:

Key principle: Indigenous breeds (Bos indicus) = disease resistance + heat tolerance + low input. Exotic breeds (Bos taurus) = high milk yield but need good feed + housing + veterinary care. Crossbreeding combines both — India’s crossbreeding policy targets 50% exotic blood as optimal (higher exotic % loses adaptability).

Exam-critical numbers: Sahiwal = highest milk among indigenous. HF = highest milk globally (record: 32,740 kg/lactation). Jersey = highest fat% among exotics (>5%). NBAGR registered = 43 cattle breeds.

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Summary Cheat Sheet