Most people believe in foreign cow breeds to start a dairy farming business like Jersey cow, HF cows, etc.
Low milk production is the reason which forces them to go with non-deshi cows. But later, overall investment in caring, feeding, and vaccination, foreign cows cost more than deshi and overall profit come near deshi cow profit in the same lactation period.
Rathi cow/cattle
Rathi cow is one of the most underrated cow breeds in India. It has a mixed identity of Sahiwal, Gir, and a little bit Tharparkar. Sometimes, Rathi cow produces the same quantity of milk as Sahiwal does.
How to identity Rathi breed cow?
Rathi cow produces enough milk even only dependency on dry fodder and almost zero green fodder which is tremendous.
Following factors are important to identify Rathi cow-
Color- Rathi cow doesn't available in a particular color, instead, she is available in a mix of color patches. They can be black with white patches, brown with white patches, muddy with cream patches, and white with black patches.
Size and posture- Rathi cows are not heavier than Jersey, HF, Sahiwal, or Gir cows. But sometimes they stand like Sahiwal and Sindhi cows.
Rathi cow weight can be upto 500 kilograms.
Their back posture is round in shape and a bit thinner than Sahiwal cows. Their both back legs are V shape to provide space to their udder.
Milk Udder- In a comparison of Jersey cow, Rathi cow udder size is lesser. Their nipples are larger than Sahiwal cows and a bit harder than others. Nipples are 3 to 4 inches long of Rathi cow.
Tail- Like most of the deshi cows, the Rathi cow tail is the same size and inclined.
Behaviour- Rathi cows are one of the most gentle and calm among all cow breeds. They don't oppose milking and be gentle during feeding and bathing. Rathi cows show their fever symptoms early because of their facial expressions.
You can also read cow breeds identity and performance in Dairy farming business
Rathi cow milk per day
Most of the dairy milk farmers leave Rathi cows dry before lactation to give them enough rest.
Most of the time, the Rathi cow produces 16 to 22 liters of milk daily till her first 45 days of lactation. Later they reduce it and produce 15 to 18 liters of milk daily.
But one thing that is noticeable here about Rathi cows, is that they keep consistent with their milk production and don't get ill during lactation mostly.
Rathi cow price in India
Local deshi breeds cost in the range between 50,000 to 90,000 INR like Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Gir, and many more cow breeds. Rathi cows cost you less than average among all the deshi cow breeds.
In India, people can buy Rathi cows in price between 45000 to 60000 INR in specific places.
Where to buy Rathi cows?
Local Indian cow breeds are so underrated for dairy farming, especially Rathi cow.
The best place to buy Rathi cows is their first birth region, that is Rajasthan.
It is not certain that you will get the best quality of Rathi cows everywhere in Rajasthan but surely you will get varieties there.
If you don't want to get looted or fraud then checkout local dairy farms of Rathi cows and then identify them properly or write if necessary.
Local markets of Rathi cows are not that much-promised towards the quality of the breed. So buy them from individuals.
Can Rathi cow survive in too cold or hot seasons?
Yes. Rathi cow can survive in too cold or hot seasons. They don't get panic or ill during season change.
Although Foreign cow breeds produce more milk than local deshi cows, their overall profit left almost the same as the overall profit on pure deshi cows. Most of the investment costs are in the arrangement of proper atmospheric conditions in winters and summers, their quality of feed, and space.
In the case of local deshi Rathi cows, they can live in the hot weather of Rajasthan and cold weather like Uttrakhand without any special care or treatment. Their immunity is enough to survive basic fever and season change.