Jafarabadi Buffalo Dairy Farming
Dairy farming is becoming a popular source of income in rural areas. Many people who earn a small salary often think about starting a dairy farm to increase their income. But before starting, it is important to understand the realities of dairy farming — including the investment, daily work, profits, and challenges.
In this article, we explore the real experience of a dairy farmer who has been running a Jafarabadi buffalo dairy farm for the past six years. He shares practical insights about milk production, farm expenses, breed selection, and the mistakes new dairy farmers should avoid.
If you are thinking about starting a dairy farming business, this detailed guide will help you understand how the business actually works.
Introduction to the Dairy Farm
The dairy farm is located in Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh. The farmer, Jeevan Dangi, has been involved in animal husbandry since his father’s time. Earlier, the family kept a few animals, but about six years ago they built a proper dairy farm.
Initially, they had around four to five animals. Over time, they expanded the farm and started focusing mainly on Jafarabadi buffaloes.
Today, the farm has around 33–36 animals, including both adult buffaloes and young calves.
Why Choose Jafarabadi Buffalo for Dairy Farming?
Many dairy farmers prefer the Murrah buffalo, but this farmer decided to focus more on the Jafarabadi breed.
The reason behind choosing this breed includes:
Long milk production period
Strong body structure
Stable milk yield for a longer time
Faster recovery and breeding cycle
According to the farmer, when compared with Murrah buffaloes of similar size and height, the milk production is almost similar. Sometimes it may be slightly lower, but overall performance is satisfactory.
Over time, he liked the breed so much that now about 75% of the farm consists of Jafarabadi buffaloes.
Dairy Farm Infrastructure and Shed Construction
A proper shed is one of the most important parts of dairy farming.
The farmer built a permanent cement shed instead of a simple tin shed. The main reason was the extreme summer heat in the area.
A permanent shed helps keep the animals cooler and more comfortable.
Investment in Shed
Total investment: approximately ₹8 lakh
Construction time: about 6 years ago
Structure: permanent cement shed
A well-designed shed improves animal health and milk production.
Total Animals and Milk Production
Currently, the farm has around:
33–36 animals in total
8–9 buffaloes producing milk
Milk Production
Milk per session: 40–45 liters
Milk per day (both sessions): 80–90 liters
This milk is sold at a local milk collection center in the village.
Dairy Farm Income and Expenses
Income in dairy farming depends on the number of lactating animals.
Monthly Milk Income
At peak production, the farmer earns around:
₹1.5 lakh per month (highest)
Currently around ₹1.2 lakh per month
Expenses
The expenses usually include:
Animal feed
Labor
Medicine and care
Maintenance
On average, 50–60% of income goes into expenses.
However, this is calculated across the entire year, because animals do not produce milk all the time.
Labor Requirement in Dairy Farming
Dairy farming requires regular work every day.
At this farm:
2 family members manage the farm
1 labor worker assists with daily tasks
Work includes:
Feeding animals
Cleaning the shed
Milking
Monitoring animal health
If one person becomes sick or leaves, it can create temporary difficulties.
Feeding System for Buffaloes
Proper feeding is essential for good milk production.
The farmer provides the following feed:
Main Diet
Cottonseed cake (Khali)
Wheat porridge (Daliya)
Bajra
Cottonseed
These are mixed together along with mineral mixture to maintain animal health.
Winter Supplement
During winter, buffaloes are also given:
100–200 grams of jaggery (Gur)
This helps maintain energy and warmth in cold weather.
Common Problems in Dairy Farming
Like any business, dairy farming also has challenges.
One major problem mentioned by the farmer is breeding management.
If the buffalo is not bred at the right time:
It may remain empty for a long period
This causes major financial loss
A buffalo that does not produce milk for a year can significantly affect farm income.
Should Salaried People Start Dairy Farming?
Many people earning ₹10,000–₹20,000 per month consider dairy farming as a side business.
According to the farmer, dairy farming can be profitable — but only if you truly have interest in it.
Why Passion is Important
Dairy farming is not like a normal shop.
For example:
A shop owner can close the shop during rain or cold.
But a dairy farmer cannot stop caring for animals.
Animals must be fed and milked every day, regardless of weather, festivals, or personal events.
Without dedication and interest, a person may quit the business and suffer losses.
Mistakes New Dairy Farmers Should Avoid
The farmer shared several important lessons for beginners.
1. Build a Proper Shed
Before buying animals, make sure the shed is well designed.
Good ventilation and protection from heat are very important.
2. Choose the Right Breed
Select a breed that performs well in your local climate.
Study milk production and health records before buying animals.
3. Start Small
Beginners should start with a small number of animals.
This helps gain experience and reduces financial risk.
4. Check Udder Structure Before Buying
One common mistake is ignoring the udder structure (teats).
Poor udder structure can create problems such as:
Difficulty in milking
Risk of udder diseases
Lower milk extraction efficiency
Ideally, the teats should be of medium size and fit comfortably in the hand.
Disadvantages of Jafarabadi Buffalo
Although the breed has many benefits, there are also some disadvantages.
Udder Structure Issues
Compared to Murrah buffaloes, Jafarabadi buffaloes sometimes have:
Uneven teats
Poor udder structure
This can make milking slightly difficult.
Resale Difficulty
Another issue is resale value.
Young animals and calves sell easily.
Older buffaloes can be difficult to sell in the market.
Murrah buffaloes generally have better resale demand.
Experience While Buying Buffaloes
When the farmer first bought buffaloes from Junagadh, he faced some challenges.
Since the area and sellers were unfamiliar, he trusted the sellers and bought animals based on their advice.
Later he realized that buyers should always check:
Udder quality
Milk production record
Overall health of the animal
Fortunately, the milk production matched what the sellers had promised.
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