Top 10 Cow Breeds in India 2026

Table of Contents  

• Understanding Cow Breeds
• Which are the Top 10 Cow Breeds in India? 
  • Tharparkar Cow 
  • Sahiwal Cow 
  • Red Sindhi Cow
  • Gir Cow
  • Kankrej Cow 
  • Deoni Cow  
  • Ongole Cow  
  • Krishna Valley Cow 
  • Amrit Mahal Cow 
  • Khillari Cow 
• Some Facts about Cow Breeds in India   

Understanding Cow Breeds 

Cattle breeds are raised in India since ancient times for the milk and draught purposes. These animals are an essential aspect of Cattle Farming and Livestock Farming. The scientific name of the cow is Bos Taurus.

According to ICAR, presently there are 55 well-defined registered Indian cattle breeds in India. For the betterment of the indigenous cow breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Ongole, etc., the Rashtriya Gokul Mission is introduced by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, & Dairying with an aim to conserve and upgrades indigenous bovine breeds to boost milk production, animal yield, and farmer remuneration.

Now, Let's look at the top 10 Indian cow breeds by milk production per lactation. 

Which are the Top 10 Cow Breeds in India? 

The top 10 cow breeds in India are as follows:

Tharparkar Cow 

Tharparkar is a purebred cow breed, which originated from the Sind Province of Pakistan. These cows are found in Rajasthan, Jaisalmer, and Kutch districts of Gujarat.

These cows are known as Grey Sindhi or White Sindhi. These are medium to large built cows with white or light grey coats and lyre-shaped horns. They have blocky body with strong legs. Their milk is highly nutritious, easily digestible, and naturally strengthens your immune system.

Sahiwal Cow 

Sahiwal cow is a popular breed of Zebu cattle. It is the best milch cattle which originates from the Sahiwal area in Montgomery district of Punjab, Pakistan. This cow breed is highly valued for its dairy qualities and adaptability to various climate conditions. 

It is also prevalent in various regions of India, particularly Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan. These cows are known by different names such as Lola (loose skin), Montgomery, Multani, Lambi Bar, and Teli. 

Their coats are brownish red in colour with well-developed udders and short horns. Sahiwal cows are well-known for their high milk yield, ability to adapt to hard climates, illness resistance, and docility. 

Red Sindhi Cow

The Red Sindhi is a prominent dairy breed of zebuine cattle. It is native to Pakistan regions. It is also known by the names Red Karachi, Malir, and Sindhi. The Red Sindhi breed originated from Las Bela cattle in Bela, Baluchistan. Characterized by its deep red coat, it features a notably darker hue than the lighter red Sahiwal breed.

Red Sindhis are highly valued for their heat tolerance, tick resistance, and overall hardiness, making them well suited for tropical climates. 

 Gir Cow

The Gir cow is native to the Gir forest region of South Kathiawar, Gujarat. It is one of the famous indigenous cows because of the quality and volume of milk produced by this breed.

It is known by names such as Desan, Bhadwari, Kathiawari, Surati, and Gujarati. They are peculiarly famous for their curved horns resembling a 'half-moon'. They are typically white with dark red or chocolate-brown patches or sometimes black or purely red. They are revered for their robust health and resistance to many diseases. 

Kankrej Cow 

The Kankrej cow is found in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and Barmer and Jodhpur district in Rajasthan. It is also known as Wadad, Waged and Wadhiar. It is used for both dairy and draught purposes. 

They are prized for their resilience, strength, and ability to adapt to hot and cold climates. Kankrej cow colour is a distinct silver-grey or iron grey. They have a prominent hump and lyre shaped horns. This cow breed is considered good for ploughing and carting purposes. 

Deoni Cow

Deoni cows are found in Western Andhra Pradesh and the Marathwada region of Maharashtra and adjoining part of Karnataka. They are also known by other names, such as Dongari, Shevera, Balankya, and Dongerpati. They are black and white and are used for bullock and dairy purposes.  

Ongole Cow

The Ongole cow, also known as the Nellore breed, is a native of the Ongole taluk of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh. The Ongole cow is popular for agricultural and dairy activities because of its strength, endurance, and adaptability to tropical climates. This is a large muscular breed with a distinctive hump and are typically glossy white in colour.

Krishna Valley Cow

The Krishna Valley cows are endemic to the black soil region of the River Krishna Valley in Karnataka and border districts of Maharashtra. They have a large, massive frame with deep, loosely built, short bodies. They are white in colour and dark in shade. They are also hybrid cattle, and hence, they are used for both dairy and draught purposes. Bullocks of this breed are highly powerful animals which are used for heavy ploughing in black cotton soil.

Amrit Mahal Cow

The Amritmahal is a famous draught cattle breed native to Chikmagalur, and Chitradurga district of Karnataka. This cow is known for its exceptional power, speed, endurance, and fiery, active temperament. The breed typically features a grey coat that varies from white to near black, and it is highly valued for heavy agricultural work.

Khillari Cow

Khillari cows are originated from Solapur and Satara districts of Maharashtra. They are typically grey white in colour. They have peculiar black horns which sometimes turn pink. This breed resembles to the Hallikar breed. They are mostly used for bullocks. 

Some Facts about Cow Breeds in India

• Smallest Cow: The Punganur dwarf cattle of the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh are considered as the smallest cow in the world. 
• Best Cow Breed: Sahiwal is the best cow breed in India. 
• Highest Milk-Producing Cow: The Red Sindhi Cow is the highest milk-producing cow in India. 
• Most Expensive Cow: The Ongole breed is the most expensive cow in India.