Cow Ghee · Breeds
Badri Cow Ghee vs Gir Cow Ghee: Uttarakhand’s Hill Cow, Explained
Badri is a small hill cow from Uttarakhand and the state’s first registered cattle breed (2016). It gives little milk, about 1.6 litres a day on average in one farm study, so Badri ghee is scarce and expensive. Gir ghee is far easier to find and more aromatic. Both are desi breeds, but in one genotype study only about 76% of Badri cows tested were A2A2, so Badri ghee sold as “A2” still needs a genotype test to back it.
Quick take
- Badri: small Uttarakhand hill cow, registered breed since 2016.
- Low yield: ~1.6 L of milk a day, so ghee is scarce and costly.
- A2 check: 76% of Badri cows in one study were A2A2, 24% A1A2.
- Gir is easier to find and more aromatic; for either, ask for proof.
Badri cow ghee is one of the most expensive desi ghees in India, and one of the least understood. We make buffalo ghee, not Badri or Gir ghee, so we have no horse in this race; this guide sets out what the research says.
Prefer ghee where A2 is settled by the animal itself? All buffalo milk is A2 — see our A2 buffalo bilona ghee.
What is the Badri cow?
Badri, also called Pahadi, is a small indigenous cow of the Garhwal and Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand. In 2016 it became the first cattle breed from Uttarakhand to be registered by ICAR’s National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources. Badri cows are small and hardy, come in black, brown, red, white or grey, and graze on steep hill pastures and forest edges.
How much milk, and how much ghee?
Very little. A 2018 performance study of Badri cattle in Uttarakhand recorded an average of 1.6 ± 0.7 litres of milk per cow per day, over a lactation of about 11.8 months. Low yield, the study noted, is why Badri rearing earns farmers little.
Desi cow milk generally holds about 4–5% fat, and a kilo of ghee needs roughly 25–35 litres of it (milk-to-ghee maths). At 1.6 litres a day, one Badri cow takes about two to three weeks to give the milk for a single kilo of ghee. That, more than anything, explains the price.
Is Badri cow ghee A2?
Mostly, but not automatically. A study that genotyped 90 Badri cattle from Uttarakhand found an A2 allele frequency of 0.88: 76% of the cows were A2A2 and 24% were A1A2. The authors noted this was a little lower than the average across other Indian native breeds (0.987). So a herd of Badri cows can include animals carrying A1.
A brand selling “A2 Badri ghee” should therefore be able to show an A2A2 genotype test on its own herd’s milk (what A2A2 means, how to read the report). Buffalo milk does not have this issue: it carries the A2 type (A2 buffalo ghee).
Badri cow ghee vs Gir cow ghee
| Badri | Gir | |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Uttarakhand hills (Garhwal, Kumaon) | Gir forests, Saurashtra, Gujarat |
| Size | Small hill cow | Large dairy breed |
| Milk | Low (~1.6 L/day in one study) | Much higher |
| Ghee availability | Scarce, mostly local | Widely sold |
| Character | Lighter, herbal notes from hill grazing | Deep golden, strongly aromatic |
| A2 proof needed? | Yes — herd includes A1A2 cows | Yes — most faked “A2” label |
Neither has been shown to make healthier ghee. Gir is the better choice for aroma and availability (Gir cow ghee); Badri appeals if you value a rare hill-cow ghee and can verify where it comes from. All four famous desi breeds side by side: Gir vs Sahiwal vs Rathi vs Badri.
How to judge the best Badri cow ghee
- Source: a named farm or cooperative in Uttarakhand, not just “Himalayan” on the label.
- Genotype: an A2A2 PCR test on the herd’s milk.
- Purity: a NABL lab report — milk fat ≥ 99.5%, negative Baudouin test (how fake A2 ghee is spotted).
- Realistic price: with yields this low, cheap “Badri ghee” in large volumes should raise questions.
Sources & references
- Joshi S, Tiwari R, Dutt T. Performance evaluation of Badri cattle. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 2018; 88(9)
- Dar AH, Sodhi M et al. Distribution of allelic and genotyping frequency of A1/A2 allele of beta casein in Badri cattle. Journal of Livestock Biodiversity
- Badri (cattle) — Wikipedia (NBAGR registration, 2016)
- National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
Frequently asked questions
Is Badri cow ghee better than Gir cow ghee?
Neither has been shown to be healthier. Badri ghee is rarer and lighter with herbal notes; Gir ghee is more aromatic and far easier to buy. Choose on verified source and purity, not breed name alone.
Why is Badri cow ghee so expensive?
Badri cows give very little milk, about 1.6 litres a day on average in one study, so one cow needs two to three weeks to give enough milk for a kilo of ghee.
Is Badri cow ghee A2?
Mostly. A genotype study of 90 Badri cattle found 76% A2A2 and 24% A1A2, so a brand should show an A2A2 test on its own herd's milk.
Where is the Badri cow from?
The Garhwal and Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand. It was registered as Uttarakhand's first recognised cattle breed in 2016.
How do I find the best Badri cow ghee?
Look for a named Uttarakhand source, an A2A2 genotype test, a NABL purity report and a price that reflects the breed's low milk yield.
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