Parvinder Singh’s Journey: From One Cow to a Thriving Dairy Farm

August 31st, 2024

• Situated near the artistic hub of Andretta, famous for the Shoba Singh Art Gallery, is the small village of Biara in Panchrukhi Tehsil, Palampur(Himachal Pradesh). Here, Parvinder Singh, a dedicated dairy farmer, has transformed a simple start into a stable livelihood for his family. Seven years ago, Parvinder began with just one cow. It was a modest beginning, but it quickly showed him the potential of dairy farming. He started earning a daily profit of Rs 100. This small success inspired him to invest in a better cow. The new cow produced 20 liters of milk each day, and his daily income soon increased to Rs 400-500. Motivated by this, Parvinder expanded his herd to five cows. Today, dairy farming supports his entire family.A Thriving Mini Dairy Unit: Parvinder Kumar’s Successful Venture Near Vyara, Andretta, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh”
• 1.Humble Beginnings and a Spark of Opportunity
• Parvinder Singh’s journey began in the peaceful village of Biara, near Andretta in Palampur. Seven years ago, he started dairy farming with just one cow. Initially, he hoped for a modest income to support his family. But that one cow changed everything, earning him a daily profit of Rs 100. This small amount showed Parvinder the potential of dairy farming. Motivated by this, he decided to invest in a higher-yielding cow.
  2. Strategic Growth through Investment
  Parvinder’s investment in a better cow paid off well. The new cow produced 20 liters of milk daily, boosting his income to Rs 400-500 per day. Seeing this success, Parvinder expanded his herd to five cows. Each cow plays a crucial role in his growing business. One produces 20 liters of milk daily, another in her first lactation gives 18 liters, and a pregnant cow provides 12 liters. He also has two healthy heifers nearing insemination. This careful expansion has helped Parvinder not only support his family but also plan for a better future.Cows Standing Gracefully in the Sun”
  3. Dedication to Feeding and Care
  Parvinder’s success in dairy farming is largely attributed to his meticulous approach to feeding and caring for his cows. Each day, he diligently cuts and collects around a quintal of grass using his tractor, ensuring his cows have ample fresh fodder. He feeds them twice daily—morning and evening—and practices resource optimization by trading cow dung for straw with his neighbors.To ensure a balanced diet for his cows, Parvinder Singh combines a mix of homemade feed with commercial supplements. He uses a chaff cutter to prepare both green and dry fodder, and supplements his cows’ diet with Godrej feed. Additionally, he prepares a nutrient-rich homemade feed mixture, consisting of:
  • 100 kg Wheat40-50 kg Bran (555)10 kg Maize10 kg Black Grams5 kg Tara-Mira5 kg Mustard5 kg Jowar10 kg Grams5 kg Sarson20 kg Pulses30 kg CakeMineral MixtureSalt
  This carefully crafted feed mixture helps maintain the health and productivity of his herd, playing a key role in his success as a dairy farmer. He has acquired this knowledge through his traditional knowledge and YouTube.4.Creating the Perfect EnvironmentUnderstanding the importance of a healthy environment, Parvinder built a pucca shed for his cows. With a grant of Rs 1 lakh from the Block Development Officer and Rs 2 lakhs from his savings, he constructed a well-ventilated shed with fans and proper drainage. This setup keeps his cows comfortable and reduces the risk of disease. Even though he faces occasional challenges like ectoparasites and fevers, Parvinder remains committed to ethical farming. He even cares for a small male calf, seeing it as his duty to serve his cows.
• A Sturdy Pucca Cowshed Built for ₹3 Lakhs: ₹1 Lakh from BDO and ₹2 Lakhs Invested by Parvinder Kumar”For him, dairy farming is about caring for his cows as much as it is about making a living.
  5. Value Addition with Paneer Production
  Besides milk, Parvinder has tapped into the demand for quality paneer. He sells paneer for Rs 300 per kilogram to local villagers and sweet shops. His paneer is so popular that he often cannot meet the demand. During a recent visit, we saw this firsthand and even bought some ourselves—it was delicious. Despite requests to supply Palampur, Parvinder prefers to serve his local community, where his products are highly valued.https://www.youtube.com/embed/-WI8_5dvEmk?start=8&feature=oembed6. Looking Ahead with HopeParvinder’s cowshed is clean, well-ventilated, and equipped with proper drainage. He uses a chaff cutter to prepare fodder and exchanges cow dung for grass and straw with his neighbors. He is very optimistic about dairy farming and plans to expand his herd to 10 cows, as it is a crucial livelihood for his family. His herd includes mostly Jersey and Holstein cows. He is also raising a male calf, as he believes in serving cows as a duty. One of his female calves was successfully inseminated at 9 months. Parvinder does not keep any cow that produces less than 20 liters of milk.Parvinder Singh’s journey from one cow to a thriving dairy business is a story of vision, hard work, and ethics. His success shows that with dedication and smart decisions, even small beginnings can lead to big achievements.About the WriterDr. Devesh Thakur is an alumnus of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute and a faculty member at DGCN COVAS. He is passionate about writing stories from the rural hinterlands of Himachal Pradesh, India. You are welcome to share your stories with him or provide feedback on his work. Dr. Thakur can be reached at drdth4@gmail.com.