Few Clarifications/advices required for setting up new Dairy Farm

R

raps909

Member
Dear All,

I along with my friend have planned to start a new dairy farm with 20 animals. Farm is around 20-25 km from Hyderabad. We have taken over a running dairy farm on lease (Shed, 4 acres of land cultivated with green fodder. I am buying animals from Haryana on subsidy basis along with bank loan).

I request you all to clarify the below:

1. I am indecisive whether to go completely with Murrah buffaloes or HF cows or combination of both (if so, whats the ratio). Reason for this is I have one buyer for Buffalo milk who will come to dairy and collect the milk for Rs.35/- per liter. But, would like know if there is any buyers for Cow milk also. So that, I can compare and decide whether to go with cows or buffaloes.

2. I am little bit confused over duration of lactation period, dry period & gestation periods. Will cow/buffalo yield the milk during gestation period???

3. Feeding cost per animal (Murrah/HF) other than green fodder.

4. Will there anything like green fodder harvester available in the market in case of shortage of labour. If yes, then, whats the price. Can we only use this if we have complete plain farm to use this green fodder harvester.

5. I have seen milking machine used for HF cows but, can we also use Milking machine for Murrah buffalos???? Reason for asking this is, land lord who has been running the present dairy farm said milking machines are only meant for cows.

6. I have prepared budget and project plan on Murrah buffalos and HF cows separately and want to know the answers for 1 & 2 to proceed.

Please help me so that, the same project/budget can be shared for interested youngsters who want to start dairy newly.

Thank you,
Sravan
 

raps909 said:
Dear All,

1. I am indecisive whether to go completely with Murrah buffaloes or HF cows or combination of both (if so, whats the ratio). Reason for this is I have one buyer for Buffalo milk who will come to dairy and collect the milk for Rs.35/- per liter. But, would like know if there is any buyers for Cow milk also. So that, I can compare and decide whether to go with cows or buffaloes.
Click to expand...

Having buffaloes and Cows is a good idea. There is no magic ratio. Please examine demand for both kinds of milk in your area and decide how many cows/buffaloes you can have.

raps909 said:
2. I am little bit confused over duration of lactation period, dry period & gestation periods. Will cow/buffalo yield the milk during gestation period???
Click to expand...

Lactation period in Holstein cows is about 300 days. Dry period will be about 150 days. Holsteins are generally early to intermediate-maturing animals, the gestation period would range from 280 to 285 days. Yes they do yield milk during gestation.

raps909 said:
5. I have seen milking machine used for HF cows but, can we also use Milking machine for Murrah buffalos???? Reason for asking this is, land lord who has been running the present dairy farm said milking machines are only meant for cows.
Click to expand...

For 20 cows a milking machine becomes uneconomical. Suggest you save the cash for daily expenses.
 

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