how to start dairy farming

Dear Mr. Dubey,

"Welcome to Dairy farming"

I am quite positive that you must have read my 3 blogs : on the agriculture information site only. On the home page you will see "Blogs" next to User CP & FAQ. Please do click on the same & then go to the respective titles.
• Dairy Farming in India (04-30-2008)
• Dairy Farming ; myths & facts…. (04-25-2008)
• Dairy farming concepts.... (04-11-2008)
These will give you a fairly good idea on Dairy farming in India.

As per your questions :-

a)is bufallo suitably best or cows& having good qulaity breed?
It depends upon which milk has a better market in your location. We can get good quality animals however it will COST.

b) from where animals should be purchased &what should be cost, to whome for high breed cows & bufalloes contact.
It is always better to purchase animals from nearby place & preferably from a place having similar climatic conditions so that the acclimatization becomes easy.

c)how it will be profitable ?to start with low investment 4-5 lacs. is it possible start business in this value.?

The dairy businesses done with proper Scientific Management will certainly guarantee returns of 25-32% of the investment. It is also possible to upgrade this business with other businesses viz. turning Dung into Vermicompost, which can be a real value addition, as it will help improving the agricultural output. However it will be ideal if the investment is higher, as a good Buffalo costs more than 50,000 whereas a good Crossbred costs more than 30,000 per animal. You can always avail of Loans from the Banks provide you have Land which you can mortgage. The margin money will be about 20%.

d)what should be basic requirement, like manpower, expertise, water resources,sheds,stores,fodders,straw, etc. what will be initial project cost.
To be very realistic a Project cost for 50 Cows will be 80 Lacs (for a period of 450 days i.e. Calf to next calf) whereas for buffaloes it will be around 1 Crore (for a cycle of 500 days.)

Please send any/all your queries on Dairy farming to cnsant@gmail.com.

I undertake Dairy farming Projects (New as well optimization of Productivity & thereby profitability of the existing farms) on Turn Key basis i.e. from inception to conception (Setting up the dairy farm as per your need) & then guide & train you (& all the people involved in your Farm) for the same till the next lactation i.e. my Consultancy will be with you from the first calf till the next one, which usually takes minimum 15-18 months depending upon what you keep i.e. cow or buffalo.

This means I will be guiding you on all aspects of Management ( starting with Construction of sheds, Purchase of animals) & Feeding, Nutrition, Optimization of everything for the period which will include every season & you will be well versed with every contingency.

Dr.Chandrakiran Sant
(Dairy Management Advisor)