Low Productivity of Indian Dairy Animals: Challenges & Mitigation Strategies 

Low Productivity of Indian Dairy Animals: Challenges & Mitigation Strategies

Dr. Gabhane Mukul Gajanan¹*, Dr. Renu Singh²

1*- MVSc Student, Department of Veterinary Pathology, DUVASU, Mathura

2- Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, DUVASU, Mathura

Introduction

India’s dairy sector is the largest and most dynamic sector in the world. It plays crucial role in building nation’s economy and livelihood of millions of rural households. According to the 20^th livestock census, India ranks first in the largest number of livestock population, producing highest amount of milk and milk products in the world. In 2021-22, India contributed 24.64% of global milk production, which is 1/4^th of total milk produced globally. During last nine years period, i.e.2014-15 to 2022-23, India’s milk production has increased from 146.31 million tons in 2014-2015 to 230.58 million tons in the year 2022-2023.

Despite the sector’s significant contribution to the national economy and the livelihoods of millions of farmers, the productivity per animal remains considerably lower compared to global standards. This discrepancy poses substantial challenges, including economic inefficiencies, food security concerns, and sustainability issues within the dairy industry. Various factors contribute to this productivity gap, such as poor genetic potential, inadequate nutrition, suboptimal management practices, and limited access to veterinary care. Addressing these challenges is most important for improving the productivity and profitability of dairy farming in India.

Challenges

1. Poor genetic potential

Poor genetic potential of animals is one of the major root causes for low productivity of dairy animals in India. This type of dairy animals are resistant to diseases and are suitable for native climatic conditions, but the amount of milk production tends to be lower than the exotic type. India’s milk production per cow is currently only 3-4 liters per day while that of Europe’s as observed in United States of America and the Netherlands is 25-30 litres per day

2. Inadequate nutrition

Nutritional deficiency is a major issue affecting productivity of dairy animals. The availability of quality feed and fodder are often insufficient. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) estimates that there is a 35-40% deficit in green fodder and a 10-15% deficit in dry fodder in India. This shortage is worsened by seasonal variations and limited land availability for fodder cultivation. Due to this, many small-scale livestock farmers rely on agricultural residues and by-products, such as straw and husk, which are low in essential nutrients. This inadequate diet leads to poor animal health, reduced milk yields, and shorter lactation periods.

3. Traditional management practices

The Indian dairy industry is still largely unorganized, with only 18-20% of milk production managed by the organized sector and rest is scattered, which is mainly managed by small and marginal dairy farmers. Due to this, traditional and outdated management practices are still prevalent in many parts of India which significantly hinders the productivity of dairy animals.

4. Housing and sanitation

Due to large unorganized dairy sector and traditional management system, modern housing and milking infrastructures are still lacking in the country. Many dairy animals are housed in inadequate conditions, leading to increased susceptibility to diseases and stress. This causes reduction in productivity of animal.

5. Inadequate veterinary facility

Access to veterinary services in India is limited due to inadequate number of veterinarians in the country. According to National Commission on Agriculture-1976 recommendations, one veterinary institution be established for every 5,000 cattle units (one cattle unit =1 cow / 1 buffalo /10 goats / 10 sheep / 100 poultry/ 5 pigs) to maintain effective veterinary health care. But, the ratio of veterinarians to livestock population in India is very low. Also, there is a lack of awareness among farmers about the importance of preventive healthcare measures, such as vaccinations and regular health check-ups. This contributes to decreased milk production, high morbidity and high mortality rates among dairy animals.

6. Limited access to credit and insurance

The small and marginal farmers of the Indian dairy industry find it hard to obtain formal bank credit and insurance, which limits their capacity to invest in modern animal husbandry infrastructure and to increase the size of their dairy businesses. Limited access to financial services restricts their ability to invest in better feed, healthcare, and management practices. This financial limitation is a major barrier for Indian dairy farmers for improving productivity of animal.

7. Climate Change and Environmental Impact

Climate change poses a growing threat to the Indian dairy sector. Fluctuating weather patterns, water scarcity, and rising temperatures negatively impact animal health and milk production.

8. Low Productivity of Traditional Breeds

Many regions in India still rely on traditional and low-yielding livestock breeds, limiting productivity and profitability of Indian dairy animals. Lack of access to superior breeds of livestock and modern advanced breeding technologies hampers efforts to improve the productivity of Indian dairy animals.

Mitigation strategies

Addressing the challenges of low productivity in Indian dairy animals requires a multifaceted approach. The following strategies can help mitigate these issues and enhance the overall performance of the dairy sector:

1. Genetic Improvement Programs

Systematic and scientifically-driven breeding programs are essential for improving the genetic potential of dairy animals. This includes:

• Artificial Insemination (AI):Expanding AI services with high-quality semen from proven bulls can enhance genetic improvement.
• Breeding Policies: Developing and implementing clear breeding policies that focus on both indigenous and crossbred animals.
• Genetic Monitoring: Establishing genetic monitoring and recording systems to track the performance of breeding programs.

2. Enhanced Nutrition and Feed Management

Ensuring the availability of balanced and high-quality feed is crucial. Strategies include:

• Fodder Development: Promoting the cultivation of high-yield fodder crops and establishing fodder banks to mitigate seasonal shortages.
• Balanced Diets: Educating farmers on the importance of balanced diets and encouraging the use of supplements and concentrates.
• Silage and Haymaking: Encouraging the adoption of silage and haymaking techniques to preserve fodder for lean periods.

3. Adoption of Modern Management Techniques

Training and capacity building programs for farmers can lead to significant improvements in productivity. Key areas include:

• Housing and Sanitation:Improving animal housing conditions to protect against extreme weather and ensure cleanliness.
• Veterinary Care:Expanding veterinary infrastructure and services, including mobile veterinary units and training of community-based animal health workers.
• Extension Services:Strengthening extension services to provide ongoing support and education to dairy farmers.

4. Health Management:

Disease prevalence significantly impacts the productivity and well-being of dairy animals. Therefore, effective health management strategies are very important for disease prevention and control. Various strategies for management of animal health are as follows:

• Regular health monitoring and diagnosis is very important for early detection and management of health issues,
• Educating farmers on diseases prevalent in the area and possible preventive and treatment measures which should be taken.
• Vaccination programs targeting prevalent diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), Mastitis, and Brucellosis are essential for control of disease.
• Strict biosecurity measures must be implemented to prevent disease introduction and transmission within and between dairy farms.
• Promoting good hygiene and sanitation practices in housing facilities, feeding areas and milking parlors can minimize the risk of disease outbreaks.

5. Promotion of high yielding disease resistant breeds of dairy animals:

Encourage adoption of high-yielding and disease-resistant livestock breeds through selective breeding programs for indigenous animals and technology transfer initiatives. This will help in rapid genetic up gradation of livestock and improve milk production.

Mitigation programmes implemented in India: –

Various programs have been implemented by Indian government to improve the low productivity of dairy animas are as follows: –

1. Genetic improvement programme

• Rashtriya gokul mission
• National artificial insemination programme

1. Nutrition and feed management programme

National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has launched some initiatives to address the nutritional needs of dairy animals as listed below-

• Fodder development programe
• Ration balancing program

1. National livestock mission

• Silage and hay making
• Fodder seed production and distribution

1. Financial support and market access programme

• Dairy entrepreneurship development scheme
• National dairy plan
• Support to farmer producer organization scheme
• Kisan credit card scheme

Conclusion: –

The low productivity of dairy animals is a major challenge to the Indian dairy sector. This is due to various factors like poor genetic potential of dairy animals, inadequate nutrition, adverse environmental conditions, traditional managemental practices, inadequate veterinary infrastructure and healthcare facilities, poor housing and sanitation, limited access to credit and insurance schemes to livestock farmers and dependence on indigenous low producing breeds contribute to this productivity gap.

There are various mitigation strategies to address these challenges and improve the productivity of these animals. Some of important mitigation strategies include genetic improvement through programs like artificial insemination and selective breeding, enhanced nutrition, adoption of modern managemental practices and promotion of modern high yielding disease resistant breeds and improve extension and veterinary healthcare services.

Also, Indian government has implemented various strategies to promote the livestock sector and improve the productivity of dairy animals.

By addressing these challenges with comprehensive and targeted strategies, India can significantly improve its dairy sector’s productivity, ensuring better livelihoods for millions of dairy farmers and contributing to the country’s food security.

Refrence: –

1. Yadav, H., & Kundu, S. S. (2018). Health management practices in dairy animals: A review. Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology, 14(2), 7-15.
2. Kumar, S., Gupta, A., & Verma, A. K. (2020). Strategies to enhance reproductive efficiency in dairy animals: A review. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 90(5), 621-630.
3. National Dairy Development Board. (n.d.). National Dairy Plan Phase-I. https://www.nddb.coop/services/national-dairy-plan-phase-i
4. Rashtriya Gokul Mission. (n.d.). Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. https://dadf.gov.in/division/rashtriya-gokul-mission
5. Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries-DADF (2019). DADF annual report 2018-19. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India. http://dadf.gov.in/sites/default/filess/Annual%20Report.pdf
6. https://www.igfri.res.in/cms/Publication/Annual%20Reports/Annual%20Report%202019.pdf

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