Before choosing exactly, you need clarity on:
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Do you want immediate milk production (cashflow) or focus on future expansion / lower cost (investment) ?
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What feed/fodder base do you have (land, green fodder, silage, concentrate) and what is your budget for upkeep?
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What is the end-market: selling milk to a co-op, direct retail, value-added products (paneer, ghee)?
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What is your infrastructure: shed, milking equipment, cooling/storage, health/vet services?
Your answers to these will determine whether you prioritise milking cows (ready production) vs dry / pregnant cows (investment for future yield) and what breed economically makes sense.
🎯 Milking cows with calves vs dry/pregnant cows
Milking cows with calves
Pros:
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You get immediate milk output, so quicker cashflow.
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You also have calves born (if actively breeding) for herd growth or replacement.
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Good if your infrastructure and management (milking, cooling, hygiene) are ready.
Cons:
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Higher purchase cost per animal.
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You need to manage calves, additional space/feeding.
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Older cows/late in lactation give lower yield. Need good selection.
Dry / pregnant cows / heifers
Pros:
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Lower cost animals (often) and can plan for peak production later.
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Enables you to build up herd, align lactation cycles for efficiency.
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Good if you’re setting up infrastructure and want ramp-up rather than immediate full production.
Cons:
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No or little milk for some months → delayed returns.
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Risk of calving complications, and you need to manage breeding & pregnancy care.
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Need good feed/management during dry period (maintenance cost).
My recommendation for your ~20-cow start: A mixed approach is wise: perhaps ~60-70% milking cows (for immediate output) + ~30-40% dry/pregnant or heifers (for growth & replacement). This provides cash flow while establishing scaling capability.
🐄 Breed and selection considerations for Karnataka/Bangalore region
Since you’re in Bangalore (Karnataka), some important regional facts:
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Indigenous breeds in Karnataka tend to be draught or low-yielding milch types. Agri Farming+2dairyknowledge.in+2
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For commercial dairy you’ll likely use cross-bred / high-yielding cow breeds (e.g., Holstein Friesian (HF), Jersey, or crossbreds thereof).
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Example: There are listings of HF/Jersey cows in Bengaluru for sale with yields of 25-50 litres per day. TradeIndia
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Good feed, management, health care are essential to realise yield and profits.
Suggested breed profile
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Holstein Friesian (HF) or HF-cross: high potential yield (volume).
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Jersey or Jersey‐cross: slightly lower volume but higher fat content, possibly better for value-added product (ghee, paneer).
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Ensure that the cows are adapted to local conditions, good health certificate, free of major diseases, well fed, and with proven yield history.
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Prefer cows in early lactation (within 30-90 days post calving) if buying milking cows.
📋 Sample purchase plan for ~20 cows
Here’s how you might allocate:
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12 milking cows (with calves or just calved) – ready to produce milk.
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6 dry cows / pregnant cows (to calve soon) – for replacement & growth.
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2 heifers (young females not yet calved) – for future herd expansion.
Selection criteria for each cow
For milking cows:
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Age: 3-6 years (ideally in 2nd or 3rd lactation)
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Days in milk: Prefer within early to mid-lactation (30-150 days)
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Ask for yield history: Eg., 18-30 litres/day or more depending on breed and feed.
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Health: Good udder health, no mastitis history, good body condition, vaccinated.
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Calf status: If they have a calf, good – ensures fresh lactation start.
For dry/pregnant cows:
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Confirm pregnancy (if buying pregnant).
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Good body condition.
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Minimum days dry (so they’ll calve soon).
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Ensure no known reproductive problems.
For heifers:
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Age about 15-24 months, good genetic background.
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Good growing feed and space.
💡 Practical tips for your Bangalore perimeter-farm scenario
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Fodder supply: With Bangalore’s land and climate, ensure you have green fodder cultivation or reliable supply. Without good feed, high yield won’t happen.
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Housing / shed: Good ventilation (tropical climate), sanitation, proper milking parlour or easy milking setup.
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Cooling & milk collection: If you plan to sell milk, you need chilling + refrigerated storage or immediate cooperative pickup.
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Vet / animal health: Regular de-worming, vaccination, mastitis control, nutrition monitoring.
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Record keeping: Track yields, feed, breeding history, dry period lengths, calving interval.
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Market channel: Decide ahead – will you sell raw milk to cooperative (e.g., Karnataka Milk Federation), supply to local dairy, or process value-added products (paneer/ghee) for premium pricing.
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Replacement strategy: With ~20 cows, plan to replace 2-3 per year to maintain productivity. Buying all 20 today and expecting 10 years of performance is risky.
🔍 Key question: how many to start with – 20 is okay?
Yes – 20 is a good start size: big enough to capture economies (milk collection, feed purchase, labour) yet manageable for adaptation. With 20 cows you can establish your routine, infrastructure, and learn the operations before scaling to maybe 50 or 100.
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