Confused between HF crossbred and desi Sahiwal for a small dairy. Want good milk yield with manageable feed cost.
Which dairy cow breed is best for milk in Punjab, HF or Sahiwal?
GGurpreet Singh1yr ago · 636 views
3 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓1yr ago
For Punjab's climate, HF crossbred cows give the highest milk, roughly 12 to 18 litres per day with good feeding and clean sheds, while Sahiwal is a hardy desi breed giving around 8 to 12 litres with lower disease risk and heat tolerance. If your goal is maximum saleable milk and you can manage cooling, water and balanced feed, go with HF crossbred. If you want low-maintenance animals, tick resistance and good A2 milk demand, choose Sahiwal. Many farmers keep a mix. Buy from a reliable seller, insist on milk records, and get the animal checked by a veterinary doctor before purchase. GADVASU Ludhiana also guides on breed selection.
HHarjinder Kaur1yr ago
I started with 4 HF crossbred cows. Yield is great but in summer I had to add fans and extra water, and feed bill is high. My neighbour's Sahiwal cows eat less and rarely fall sick. Decide based on your budget for feed.
BBalwinder Singh1yr ago
One thing that helped me decide was the resale and calf side. Good Sahiwal heifers fetch a strong price and the A2 milk buyers in our area pay a premium directly. If you have ready buyers for premium milk, the lower yield of Sahiwal still works out. Otherwise HF makes more sense when you sell to a regular cooperative on volume.