Haryana Cow Breaks Asian Record with 87 Kg Milk in 24 Hours

A cow from Haryana has made history by breaking the Asian record for milk production in a single day. 'Soni', owned by farmer Sunil Mehla from Karnal district, produced an amazing 87 kilograms and 740 grams of milk within 24 hours during the Dairy Fair held at the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) in Karnal. 

What's even more impressive is that the second-place winner, which gave 70 kilograms and 548 grams of milk, also belongs to Mehla. Both cows are Holstein Friesian (HF) breed. This achievement is extra special because Mehla's dairy farm has broken its own previous record for the second time in a row.

Fair Held in February, Results Announced Recently

Sunil Mehla from Jhinjhadi village said that the Dairy Fair was organized at NDRI Karnal from February 26 to 28. During this event, his cow Soni set the new record with 87.74 kg milk production. Earlier this year, another cow from his dairy had set a record of 80.756 kg at the Kurukshetra DFA fair, which has now been beaten by Soni. NDRI has officially released the results confirming this achievement. 

Consistent Excellence Since 2017

"My grandfather and father were also involved in animal husbandry," said Sunil. After finishing his studies, he chose raising cattle over a regular job and started his own breeding program in 2014. He decided to try competing for the first time in 2017. That same year, his cow got second place at an NDRI competition by giving 48 kilograms of milk. Since then, his cows have participated in the Kurukshetra DFA fair six times, winning first place five times and second place once.

Special Care for Record-Breaking Cows

Sunil's brother Shanky explained that their dairy farm sees 30-35 new calves born each year. While they sell 10-15 cows annually, they'd never consider selling record-breakers like Soni. "We pay special attention to breeding cows like Soni to further increase milk production in the future," he said. 

Soni: An 8-Year-Old Champion

According to Shanky, Soni was the first calf born at their dairy, which explains why they're so attached to her. "She gets extra care and attention," he noted. Soni has had five calves so far and has an impressive competition record - three first places, one second place, and one third place. The brothers think she's lucky, and she's currently eight years old.

Managing a Large-Scale Dairy Operation 

Sunil revealed that they have more than 100 animals, mostly Holstein Friesian cows. The milk from their dairy is sold to companies like Nestle at a rate of 38-40 rupees per liter. He emphasized that Soni and other cows receive special attention regarding their diet, including high-quality fodder, oilcakes, and other nutrients to keep them healthy and producing lots of milk.

Advice to Fellow Dairy Farmers

Sunil advised other dairy farmers to gather complete information before jumping into animal husbandry. "Success comes from proper care and correct breeding," he said.