Cattle Record Keeping
Track your cattle herd and calculate farm profitability. Enter herd size, milk production, beef sales, feed, vet, and labor costs — get monthly and annual profit for dairy, beef, or mixed farms instantly.
Monthly Summary
Why Keep Cattle Farm Records?
Systematic cattle record keeping is the difference between a profitable farm and one that looks busy but loses money. Records help you identify which animals produce the most, track whether feed costs are eating your margins, and plan herd expansions with real numbers instead of guesswork.
Key Records Every Cattle Farm Needs
| Record Type | What to Track | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Herd register | Animal ID, breed, age, sex, date acquired | Inventory control, insurance, compliance |
| Milk production | Litres per cow per day, monthly totals | Identify top/low producers, calculate revenue |
| Feed consumption | Kg feed per animal per month, feed cost | Largest expense — key to margin management |
| Health & vet | Vaccination dates, illnesses, vet costs | Disease control, government subsidy claims |
| Cattle sales/purchases | Animal, weight, price, buyer/seller | Income tracking, herd performance over time |
| Reproduction | Breeding dates, calving, calf mortality | Calving interval, lifetime productivity |
Cattle Farm Profit Formula
Typical Cattle Farm Benchmarks (India)
| Metric | Dairy Farm | Beef / Mixed Farm |
|---|---|---|
| Milk yield (crossbred) | 12–20 L/cow/day | — |
| Milk price | ₹30–40/L | — |
| Feed cost | ₹2,000–3,500/animal/month | ₹1,500–2,500/animal/month |
| Vet cost | ₹400–700/animal/year | ₹300–500/animal/year |
| Sell weight (beef) | — | 250–400 kg |
| Sell price (live wt.) | — | ₹130–180/kg |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep records for cattle?
Good cattle records should cover herd composition (number of cows, bulls, heifers, calves), milk production for dairy farms, cattle sold per year with weight and price, monthly feed costs per animal, veterinary expenses, and labor costs. Our calculator lets you enter all these details and instantly shows your monthly and annual profit.
How many litres of milk does a cow produce per day?
A typical Indian crossbred cow (HF/Jersey cross) produces 10–20 litres per day. High-yielding Holstein Friesian cows can produce 25–35 litres/day. Indigenous breeds like Gir or Sahiwal give 8–15 litres/day. The national average in India is about 7–8 litres/day. Our calculator defaults to 15 litres/day for a crossbred herd.
What is the average profit from a dairy farm in India?
For a 10-cow dairy farm selling milk at ₹35/litre, with each cow producing 15 litres/day, monthly milk revenue is about ₹1,57,500. After feed (₹2,500/animal/month = ₹25,000), vet (₹500/animal/year ≈ ₹417/month), and one full-time laborer (₹15,000/month), net profit is roughly ₹1,17,000/month or ₹14 lakh/year. Actual results vary by herd quality and local prices.
How much feed does a cow eat per day?
A lactating dairy cow needs 2.5–3 kg of dry matter per 100 kg of body weight. A 400 kg cow eating 12 kg dry matter needs roughly 50–60 kg of green fodder or 8–10 kg of dry fodder plus 3–4 kg of concentrate feed. Monthly feed cost in India typically ranges from ₹2,000–₹3,500 per animal depending on fodder availability and concentrate prices.
What records should a beef cattle farm maintain?
Beef cattle records should include: purchase weight and date for each animal, monthly weight gains, feed consumed, vaccination dates and vet bills, and final sale weight and price. Key performance indicators are average daily gain (target 0.8–1.2 kg/day for crossbreds), feed conversion ratio, and cost per kg of gain. Our calculator estimates annual revenue from cattle sales based on number sold, average weight, and price per kg.
How profitable is cattle farming?
Profitability depends heavily on herd type and scale. Dairy farming with 10 milking cows at ₹35/litre typically yields ₹10–15 lakh/year net profit. Beef/bullock farming is less predictable — buy young animals at ₹20,000, fatten for 12–18 months, sell at 300+ kg for ₹45,000+, netting ₹8,000–15,000 per animal after feed and vet costs. Mixed farms often perform better by diversifying income.