Community ❓ Question
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Iam7666053151
May 14, 2026
5 3 586 views

Best breed for high milk yield in hot climate? 🐄🥛

Hello fellow farmers! 👋

I am planning to start a small dairy farm (10-15 cows) in Rajasthan. The summer temperatures here go up to 45-48°C. I want to know which breed would be best for:

  1. High milk yield (at least 15-20 liters/day)
  2. Heat tolerance
  3. Low maintenance
  4. Good disease resistance

I am considering Gir, Sahiwal, and Tharparkar. Also thinking about crossbreeds like HF x Sahiwal.

Experienced dairy farmers, please share your practical experience. Which breed has worked best for you in hot and dry conditions?

#breed #milk #dairy #hot-climate
Comments (3)
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Iam7700001791 3 months, 2 weeks ago Accepted
Sat Sri Akal! I run a 50-cow dairy farm near Bikaner, Rajasthan. My honest advice — <strong>go with pure Tharparkar</strong>. They are literally built for desert conditions. My Tharparkars give 12-18 liters/day consistently even in peak summer (48°C). They need very little water compared to other breeds and are extremely disease resistant. Gir is also good but they need more shade and cooling. Sahiwal milk quality is excellent but yield drops significantly above 42°C. If you want crossbreed, <strong>Jersey x Tharparkar</strong> gives better results than HF cross in Rajasthan heat. HF crosses suffer a lot in extreme heat.
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Aamirkhan 3 months, 2 weeks ago
I have been dairy farming for 15 years in Tamil Nadu (also very hot and humid). I would suggest <strong>Gir cows</strong>. They are amazing — my Girs give 15-20 liters consistently. Key is proper shed design: - Roof height at least 12 feet - Good cross ventilation - Foggers/misters in summer (costs only ₹2000-3000 per setup) - Green shade net on sides Don't compromise on shed design. A good shed can improve yield by 20-30% in summer!
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Devpal 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Bhai, I made the mistake of buying HF crossbreeds for my farm in Nagpur (touches 47°C). <strong>Biggest mistake of my life!</strong> Milk dropped from 20L to 6-7L in summer. Two cows died of heat stroke last year. I sold all HF crosses and switched to <strong>Sahiwal and Gir</strong>. Best decision ever. My suggestion: Start with 5 Tharparkar + 5 Gir. See which performs better in YOUR specific location and management style. Then expand with that breed.
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