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• Dung of native and exotic cow breeds differently influences vermicompost quality. • Dung of indigenous cow breed is preferred substrate for epigeic earthworms. • Eudrilus eugeniae is best suited for 45 days vermicomposting to recover nutrients. • C/N ratio (<14) of 45 and 90 days vermicompost indicates compost maturity. • Duration of vermicomposting significantly affects earthworm reproduction. The aim of this work was to study nutrient recovery and vermicompost production from livestock solid wastes of indigenous and exotic cow breeds with epigeic earthworms. Fourteen days pre-decomposed dung of Vechur native (CD1) and exotic Jersey (CD2) breeds were vermicomposted with Perionyx excavatus and Eudrilus eugeniae for 45 days (Cycle I) and 90 days (Cycle II) including respective controls without earthworms. Vermicomposts from CD1 and CD2 substrates during Cycle I and II showed increase in NPK, Ca and micro-nutrients (P < 0.05); whereas, pH, total organic carbon, C/N and C/P ratios disclosed decrease (P < 0.05) over initial levels for both the earthworms. E. eugeniae was found efficient in vermicomposting cattle solid wastes in 45 days and CD1 yielded nutrient rich vermicompost. The study concludes that Cycle I is suitable for nutrient recovery and vermicompost production, in addition to mass multiplication of earthworms in Cycle II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]