Rathi Cow

राठी

The desert dairy cow of Bikaner.

Native tract: Bikaner, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh

Milk per day (peak)

8–12 L

Milk per lactation (~300 days)

1,500–3,000 L

Milk fat

4.0–4.8%

Adult weight

300–400 kg

Distinctive features

Coat: Brown with white patches; some animals are nearly all-brown or all-white.

Medium-sized, compact body
Lyre-shaped horns
Well-developed hump and dewlap
Black muzzle and eyelashes

Temperament & utility

Excellent milk yield for an arid-zone breed
High heat and drought tolerance
Adapts to scarce fodder
A2 milk, high fat

History & lineage

Rathi was developed by the Raths, a pastoral community of Bikaner, by selectively crossing Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar, and Dhanni cattle over generations. The result is a small but productive desert dairy cow that has become the backbone of the Bikaner milk economy. Rajasthan Livestock Development Board maintains nucleus herds at Nohar.

Why Rathi matters

Rathi shows that careful, community-led breeding can produce a cow as productive as Sahiwal but adapted to half the rainfall. It is a model for what climate-adaptive Indian dairy looks like.