Gir cows
As a young boy, he assisted his mother in taking care of the cows at home. It has been merely seven years since he returned to cow husbandry. His journey began with the Gir breed. The second phase of his dairy farming venture started with the acquisition of six calves and a bull, sourced directly from Gujarat. Over time, he introduced hybrid and indigenous breeds such as Rathi, Sahiwal, and Kankrej to the farm. Subsequently, buffaloes were also added to the livestock.
Anand and his mother at the farm. Photo: Karshakasree/Manorama
Anand emphasizes the significance of breeding and feeding practices on his farm. He is committed to preserving the purity of each breed while fostering the development of a new generation. Specifically, he ensures the use of semen from the finest Gir bulls for breeding with Gir cows. This approach is similarly applied to the semen from Jersey and Holstein Friesian (HF) breeds. Unlike many farmers who attempt to crossbreed HF with Jersey or Gir with HF, Anand prioritizes maintaining the lineage. He expresses a clear preference for authentic Gir cattle rather than those that merely resemble the breed. The selection of bulls is conducted annually, which effectively prevents inbreeding among the offspring produced on the farm.
Feeding
Anand says that cows are provided with equal amounts of fodder grass, pineapple leaves, and corn husk as roughage. The cultivation of fodder grass spans across 5 acres, while pineapple leaves and corn husk are sourced from outside. The inclusion of all three types of roughage ensures that the absence of any one does not adversely impact the cows’ milk production. On the contrary, introducing unfamiliar feed can disrupt digestion and subsequently affect milk production of the cows. After harvesting, the fodder grass is allowed to rest in the shade for a day before being fed to the cows, which further aids in their digestion.
Low-cost barn
The farm has approximately seventy cows, including both young and old ones. The sheds where the cows are housed were constructed in a cost-effective manner. The floors are arranged in tiers to accommodate the slope of the terrain, and the roof is reinforced with concrete. Anand asserts that the essential requirement for the cows is a clean and comfortable resting environment, and therefore, he believes that excessive expenditure on the facilities is unnecessary.
Profit on feed is Rs. 25,000
Anand’s method is to purchase fodder, various food items, and medicines in bulk for a month at wholesale rates. The farm requires 130 sacks of fodder each month. By buying all this together, he is able to save approximately Rs. 13,000, given that each sack costs Rs. 100. Additionally, he requires a total of 100 sacks of press cake, cattle feed, and bran. This yields a profit of around Rs. 25,000, which Anand equates to the monthly wage of a worker.
45 cows and 600 litres of milk
Anand aims to achieve a short-term objective of producing 600 litres of milk daily from 45 cows throughout the year. After he started focussing on breeding, the calves born on his farm are expected to start producing calves within the next 3 to 4 months. With that, the milk production target will be achieved. It will require an additional 2 to 3 years to accomplish his long-term vision of maintaining a farm with 45 cows, comprising 10 each of Holstein Friesian, Jersey, Gir, and Sahiwal breeds, along with 5 hybrid cows. Anand expresses his discontent with the high price paid for milk from local cows. Nevertheless, he is trying to blend the milk from all four breeds and offer it to the market at a price that is agreeable to all parties involved.
Anand’s mother, the backbone of the farm
Anand dedicates only four days each month to managing the dairy farm on a full-time basis. His mother, Ramani, oversees the daily operations of the farm, which include feeding, insemination, and the overall care of the cows, in addition to handling the payment of wages to the workers.
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