Gir cow and milk production in India
Gir cow identity
- Head and body structure
Gir cow head is quite different from other desi cow breeds. Gir cow's forehead is Bulging out. Her horns are quite curved upwards. These horns are not so big but they are one of the signs to identify the Gir cow breed. Just beside horns, Gir cow ears rest downwards. Jersey cow eyes color is black but sometimes, a few of the mixed breeds can have brown eyes.
- Color
Mainly, Gir cows appear in total red with few white discontinuous spots or total white with some discontinuous red spots. The black color of Gir cows is very rare. But still, color combination is quite important to identify Gir cows.
- Hump
- Behavior
You have to be aware of Gir cow behavior if you have never been familiar with Gir cow before.
Gir cows can be aggressive sometimes if someone unnecessarily handles them.
Although Gir cow is bigger they can be gentle and quiet if they are tired or if one behave gently with them. It is noticed that during pregnancy, Gir cows can be more irritated because of heavy weight. Sometimes people relate Gir dairy farming with eco-friendly methods of farming.
- Tail
Gir cow tail is longer than average. This tail can be 3/5th of the height of the Gir cattle.
- Udder
Gir cow udder is not bigger than Jersey or HF cows, but it is medium in size.
- Height and weight
Gir cows are heavy and taller in size and height respectively. Although Gir calf weight is 15 to 20 kg in starting they can gain weight up to 450 to 500 kg.
The average height of a Gir cow is 130 to 150 cm.
You can also read
Gir cow milk per day in India
A Gir cow produces 15 to 18 liters of milk per day during the lactation period. Gir cow produces milk 270 to 300 days a year. It means on an average, a Gir cow can produce 1200 to 1600(reduced because later, Gir cow milk production decrease) liters of milk in a lactation period/year.
Gir cow milk price in market
Gir cow milk is costlier than any other milk in the market. People believe that Gir cow milk has its medical benefits and provides quality growth to the body.
In rural areas, Gir cow milk is cheaper. 1 liter Gir cow milk price is 70 to 90 INR in rural areas. In cities, Gir cow milk can have a price between 80 to 110 INR/liter.
Gir cow milk is not easily available in bigger cities, so it has a very long-term scope in bigger cities.
Feeding of Gir cows
Gir cow is one of those few desi cows that eat less but produce the almost same amount of milk.
On average, a desi cow consumes 30 kg green fodder, 10 kg dry fodder in a day. But in the case of Gir cows, they are comfortable with less eating than the average diet of a desi cow. But cow owners must notice and be aware of diet during the lactation period and pregnancy.
Every cow needs a quality diet during pregnancy and just after delivery to produce milk for the calf.
Gir cow price and where to buy?
It's a suggestion that the best price and the quality breed of any cow you can have only at the original place.
Gir of Gujrat is the origin place of Gir cow. If you want to buy Gir cow in the local area, then better to buy direct from a mass Gir cow farm.
If you came from another state in India, suppose the Southern, Eastern, or Northern part, then you should keep calculation and quality in your mind. Although even after buying Gir cow directly from Gir district, you have to invest money in transportation that is equivalent to the local price in your locality.
Smart farmers buy young or calf of any cow to extend the duration of the business period. We also suggest you to focus on calves or younger Gir cows.
The basic price of Gir cow-calf directly from Gir district is between 85,000 INR to 1,80,000 INR. This price doesn't include the transportation charges, you have to pay transportation charges of your own if you demand a Gir cow.
Can Gir cows survive in odd climate conditions?
Can Gir cow survive in opposite climate conditions? The answer is 'not surely'. Gir cow lives in hot and dry weather conditions. It is hard for them to face extra rain or too cold weather. They don't feel comfortable in mountain regions. They also don't like to live in uncertain weather and climate conditions.
If you are thinking about the concrete floor for Gir cows, then you have to be aware that Gir cows don't like that. They usually love to stay on the soil.
In India, Gir cows can't survive in the Northern region, not in most of the part of the Southern region, not even in the Eastern region.