LOW PRODUCTIVITY OF DAIRY CATTLE IN INDIA -CHALLENGES AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES
INTRODUCTION:
India stands as a global powerhouse in dairy production, with a production of 230.58 million metric tons of milk, yet the persistent issue of low productivity among its cattle remains a paradoxical challenge. Despite being home to one of the largest populations of dairy cattle in the world, the average yield per animal remains far below its potential.
Beyond the surface lies a labyrinth of factors, from genetic limitations and nutritional deficiencies to infrastructural challenges and socio-economic disparities. Unlocking this puzzle is not merely an academic exercise but a pressing imperative for ensuring economic prosperity and sustainable livelihoods for millions of people.
In this article, we embark on a journey to dissect the intricate web of obstacles hindering dairy productivity in India, shedding light on potential solutions to increase milk productivity.
Challenges for low productivity of dairy cattle:
1. Genetic Constraints:
At the core of India’s dairy productivity challenge lies a genetic conundrum. While indigenous cattle breeds are well-adapted to local conditions, their genetic potential for milk production is often lower compared to their foreign counterparts. Hence, cross-breeds were introduced in the 1950s, but it became a great huddle to make them adapt to our environment and disease resistance. On the other hand, breeding techniques, the lack of availability of AI centers nearby, and high-quality breeding stock are not accessible to rural farmers to improve their cattle’s reproductive efficiency.
2. Feed and Nutritional Deficiencies:
The nutritional status of dairy cattle is another critical factor influencing productivity. Suboptimal feeding practices, especially during pregnancy and for dry cows, inadequate access to quality forage, imbalanced diets, and feeding unhygienic leftover foods contribute to nutritional deficiencies and severe health issues that hinder milk production.
The main cause is due to a lack of availability of superior-quality fodder, a lack of management of fodder by silage-making procedures, and a lack of financial support to afford fodder cultivation (MSL. Kumvendra).
3. Diseases and Out breaks:
Diseases like mastitis, milk fever, foot and mouth disease, metritis, malnutrition, and parasitic infections may affect the health and decrease the productivity of animals.
Limited veterinary services, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and a limited supply of medicines contribute to the prevalence of these diseases, further hampering productivity.
Unawareness of the benefits of vaccination for diseases and early signs of disease conditions are the main obstacles to the prevention of diseases.
The recent outbreak of LSD (lumpy skin disease) is the best example of how diseases affect the production of dairy cattle. 40–50% reduction in milk production was noticed during LSD outbreaks in animals.
4. Management Practices:
Effective management practices play a pivotal role in maximizing dairy productivity. However, issues such as poor housing conditions, improper bedding, inadequate healthcare facilities, substandard management practices, a lack of herd management techniques, improper milking methods and treatment of milk, unhygienic milking procedures, and sanitation often compromise animal health and welfare, thereby impacting milk production.
Improper management of waste leads to the release of higher masses of methane into the environment, causing global warming.
Mastitis in cattle California mastitis test
Improper management of farm and its premises
5. Seasonal variations:
India being in a tropical zone has many variations in climate, like climate changes, sudden rainfalls, extreme hot weather during summers (heat stress), and cold weather during winters. The availability of fodder and water has a high effect on the productivity of cattle.
Climate change has both direct and indirect effects on cattle. Animals face challenges to overcome stress, physiological and behavioral changes, and, indirectly, extreme weather conditions that lead to a decrease in fodder and water availability.
6. Greenhouse gas emission and urbanisation :
Methane has a 20-fold higher potential than carbon dioxide in the greenhouse effect. The main reasons for methane production are enteric fermentation and paddy cultivation in the agricultural sector. In the agricultural sector, 73% is from livestock through enteric fermentation and manure management. (Tenzin tseten) According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, a fully developed cow produces 500 liters of methane each day. Around 16% of global methane emissions are contributed by ruminants.
Today, urbanization is growing rapidly, becoming a great hurdle by declining agricultural lands there and reducing fodder production. The cattle population in India was about 308 million in 2023. (statista). The total area under fodder cultivation is just 9.13 million ha, which indicates that the country has an extreme shortage of green fodder.
7. Socio-Economic Factors:
Socio-economic factors, including access to credit, market opportunities, and extension services, significantly influence dairy productivity outcomes. Limited access to financial resources and market linkages constrains farmers’ ability to invest in productivity-enhancing interventions and adopt modern technologies.
Small-scale farmers, who form the backbone of Indian dairy production, often face socioeconomic constraints that hinder the milk production of dairy cattle in India.
8. Infrastructure and Technology :
Lack of infrastructure like proper cooling facilities for milk, access to veterinary care, availability of health professionals, and equipment for feed processing like chaff cutters can impact milk production.
In some areas, due to a lack of training and education, farmers are struggling to adopt innovation or modern management practices, which has become a major cause of low productivity.
Mitigation strategies :
1. Breeding programs :
on one side of the coin Implementing selective breeding programs to enhance desirable traits, such as milk yield, disease resistance, and heat tolerance, can significantly improve cattle productivity and prevent animals from being challenged by external weather conditions. On the other side, we need to encourage farmers towards these breeding programs and create awareness for the success of this step.
The Rastriya Gokul Mission accelerated the improvement of breeds using IVF, which is an essential step for improving cattle productivity. Sex-sorted semen was recently introduced, which helps farmers have female calf, which helps their economy, but the cost is so high that farmers are neglecting to utilize the sex-sorted semen.
Hence, a reduction in price helps the farmers enhance the available scheme.
The National Livestock Mission, implemented by DAHD (Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying), has programs like breed improvement, the supply of balanced rations, and helping the animal overcome the negative energy balance and improve its health status.
2. Managemental strategies:
Management strategies play a greater role than genetic improvements. Hence, better management practices enhance milk production there by increasing the productivity of the herd.
Cooling systems are highly recommended to reduce the heat stress on cattle. Affordable cooling systems like placing animals in shade, fans, sprinklers, and water-spread gunny bags on walls support the animals to tackle the high temperature. (Kendall et al., 2007)
Better management of waste disposal through biogas production through schemes like the Gobar (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) Dhan Scheme and the New National Biogas and Organic Manure Programme helps in disease control and reduces methane production simultaneously.
3. Nutritional Enhancement:
Promoting the adoption of balanced feeding practices, supplementing with quality concentrate feed and fodder, and encouraging silage production (care should be taken in silage preparation; if not, poor silage may also cause health issues) can address nutritional deficiencies and boost productivity.
Addressing the challenges of nutritional deficiencies requires a multi-pronged approach, including the promotion of scientific feeding practices, the cultivation of high-yielding fodder crops, and the adoption of innovative nutritional supplementation strategies.
Challenge feeding helps the cattle grapple with prepartum and postpartum challenges, which provides positive energy balance and increases levels of productivity. – B.D.Savaliya
Providing the animal with concentrates of 1/3 of the total diet (grains) and nutritious fodder (green and dry) of 2/3 of the total diet accordingly helps the animal reach its nutritional requirements. (Animal nutrition, D.V. Reddy)
4. Healthcare Interventions:
Strengthening veterinary services with professionals, promoting vaccination programs for FMD, BQ, Brucella, etc., and providing training on disease management and prevention, the best medicines for accurate treatment, and diagnostic labs are essential for maintaining cattle health and productivity.
The best monitoring and surveillance of disease and care should be taken by health professionals. Proper management of cattle and their surroundings has to be done. Many of the diseases occur due to a lack of proper management of the farm and surroundings and their waste disposal (sanitation).
5. Financial support and extensive services:
Strengthening institutional support mechanisms, expanding access to credit and market information, and fostering entrepreneurship are vital for empowering dairy farmers and stimulating productivity growth. Strengthening extensive services to provide technical guidance, training, and access to veterinary care can enhance farmers’ capacity to manage their cattle effectively and to prevent diseases.
6. Technology Adoption and Innovation:
Embracing technological advancements and innovation holds immense potential for boosting dairy productivity in India. From precision farming techniques and automated milking systems to biotechnological interventions such as embryo transfer and genetic engineering, a spectrum of cutting-edge technologies can revolutionize the dairy landscape. However, ensuring widespread adoption of these innovations requires concerted efforts to facilitate technology transfer by making programs with farmers to educate them about the innovation that helps in high milk yield, and we need to build technical capacity and incentivize investment in research and development.
7. Climate Resilience:
Developing climate-smart practices, including better water and fodder management, heat stress mitigation strategies, and resilient forage crops, and avoiding animals from extreme weather conditions can help cattle farmers adapt to changing environmental conditions and safeguard productivity.
Reduction of methane production by best waste management practices decreases global warming by reducing the temperature and the greenhouse effect.
8. Policy and Governance:
Effective policy frameworks and governance structures are imperative for creating an enabling environment conducive to dairy sector growth. Moreover, policies aimed at enhancing farmer welfare, strengthening veterinary services, and promoting sustainable agriculture practices are essential for fostering a vibrant and resilient dairy sector.
MAITRIS were introduced to the doorstep AI program, but due to a lack of knowledge and mishandling, many cattle are prone to diseases.
PASHUPALAN SCHEME (Goa) has to be implemented all over India for actions like availing of AI facilities and door-to door service with health professionals, which reduces stress on farmers who travel with their cattle for long distances for treatment.
Awareness has to be created among the farmers about apps like e-GOPALA (a government app that creates awareness of diseases, nutrition, vaccination schedules, and campaigns around their areas for farmers), which helps the farmers learn about the nutrition and health status of their animals.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the low productivity of dairy cattle in India is a multifaceted challenge that demands comprehensive and holistic solutions. By addressing genetic constraints, improving nutrition and management practices, addressing socio-economic barriers, promoting technology adoption, enacting supportive policies, and decreasing global warming, India can unlock the full potential of its dairy industry. As we navigate the path forward, collaboration among stakeholders, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to sustainable development will be indispensable in realizing the vision of a thriving and resilient dairy sector that benefits farmers, consumers, and the economy alike. Implementing robust management protocols, investing in infrastructure upgrades, providing the best quality seeds, and providing training and support to dairy farmers are essential steps toward improving overall management practices.
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