Rajasthan, Mar 06: The two-day ‘Rangeelo’ Dairy and Animal Husbandry Festival, organised on 27–28 February at Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner (Rajasthan) by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and its wholly owned subsidiary NDDB Dairy Services (NDS), infused new energy and direction into India’s dairy sector. Emerging as a confluence of science, innovation, and tradition, Rangeelo provided a strong platform for the holistic development of the dairy sector.
A major highlight of the festival was the Milking Competition, which drew significant attention. In the competition, a Holstein Friesian (HF) cow owned by Pawan Kumar, a dairy farmer from Hisar, Haryana, produced 64.44 kg (around 65 kg) of milk in 24 hours. This achievement has been recorded as a historic milestone on the Rangeelo platform.
In another category, a Gir breed cow owned by Mukesh Kumar Choudhary, a dairy farmer from Ajmer, Rajasthan, produced 26.78 kg (around 27 kg) of milk, setting a new benchmark in its category. Other breeds also delivered notable performances: Sahiwal – 23 kg, Tharparkar – 14 kg, Rathi – 18 kg, Jersey – 37 kg, and Murrah buffalo – 23 kg, each marking the highest production within their respective categories.
On the occasion, NDDB Chairman Dr. Meenesh Shah said,
“Rangeelo is not just a competition or an exhibition; it is a strong effort to bring scientific dairy management to the grassroots. When milk production is recorded through transparent and scientific methods, it builds farmers’ confidence and helps them assess the true potential of their livestock. Our objective is to improve the productivity of both indigenous and improved breeds to ensure sustainable growth in farmers’ incomes.”
A key feature of Rangeelo was that milk production recording was conducted in three scientific stages, ensuring transparency and credibility. This process helped livestock farmers understand the actual productive capacity of their animals and make better management decisions.
The festival also featured demonstrations of advanced dairy technologies, experience-sharing sessions by progressive farmers, technical and policy dialogues, and cultural performances reflecting the rich folk traditions of Rajasthan. In this way, Rangeelo emerged as a vibrant confluence of innovation and tradition.
According to dairy experts, such events encourage farmers to adopt best practices, promote improved breed management, and connect with modern dairy services. The Rangeelo festival presented Rajasthan’s strong dairy ecosystem in a national context, bringing together farmers, experts, cooperatives, and industry representatives on a common platform. The event stood out as an inspiring example of the productive potential of both indigenous and improved breeds and the effectiveness of scientific livestock management practices.