Low Productivity of Indian Dairy Animals: Challenges and Mitigation Strategies
Dr Lavanya Maharajan M.V.Sc., PGDAW, Ph.D.,
Prime Minister Fellow for Doctoral Research,
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Sirukkulam
Tamilnadu, India
The supremacy of Indian dairy industry
The global dairy industry is huge measuring approximately 718.9 billion USD in 2020 and grows immensely with cumulative annual growth rate of 4.7% projected to reach 964.4 billion USD by 2026. Milk production in India has reached 198.4 million tonnes in 2019–20. Being the world’s largest milk producer, India contributes 22% of global milk production (Balasubramanian, 2024). While agriculture and allied sectors have contributed 18.4% to India’s national GDP in the year 2019–2020, livestock sector alone has contributed approximately 5.2%. Thereby, the Indian dairy sector has emerged as an indispensable part of the rural economy (Sarkar et al., 2024).
The journey of Indian Dairy Industry
The Indian dairy has achieved an enormous growth in milk production from 58 million tonnes in 1992-93 to 112.54 million tonnes in 2009-10. Various schemes implemented by government of India from pre independence era to present including National Planning Committee, key village scheme, Intensive Cattle Development Project, Operation flood, National Dairy Plan, National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Diary Development, Rashtriya Gokul Mission, National Livestock Mission, National Animal Disease Control Programme has revolutionized the Indian dairy industry.
The consistent implementation of various schemes by government of India for dairy development in India has resulted in increase in GDP of livestock sector from 13.88 per cent to 29.63 per cent while agriculture GDP of India declined steadily from 34.72 per cent in 1980-81 to 25.43 per cent in 1997-98 and further to 10.99 per cent in 2008-09 (Shah, 2013).
The exclusivity of Indian dairy herd
Indian dairy industry is one of the largest and fastest growing dairy sectors of the world. Indian dairy sector is also diverse and significant portion of the milk is contributed by unorganised small holder farmers. Indian dairy cattle are roughly half as efficient as average milch animals in the world and probably only one-fifth as efficient as high milk yielders in advanced countries (Shah, 2013). The average milk production of indigenous, nondescript, crossbred and exotic cattle is 4.07, 2.83, 8.32 and 11.36 kg/day, respectively (Annual report, DAHD, 2022-23). Also at national level, in milk production the role of buffalo and crossbred cattle compared to indigenous cattle holds the major component. The projected Milk production from crossbred animals expands by 7.0-7.5 percent annually, compared with 3.2-3.8 percent for buffalo milk and 1.3-2.2 percent for indigenous cattle milk. Further the trend of the projection period shows that the milk production share from crossbred cattle may increase from 29 percent in 2012/13 to 39-42 percent in 2025/26, while the share from indigenous cattle may fall from present 20 percent to 14-15 percent (Breed survey, DAHD, 2013). Overall, the Indian dairy sector is characterized by low milk yields across the crossbred, indigenous cattle, and buffalo demanding significant improvement in future for sustained dairy development in India.
Roadmap for prosperous Indian dairy sector: Challenges and Mitigation Strategies
Improving the genetic pool
The Indian dairy herd is characterized with large number of non-descript cows leading to poor milk yield. Key to improve Indian milk productivity may include India’s relatively high-yielding crossbred dairy herd, and buffalo milk production presently the largest share of milk output. Cautious implementation of crossbreeding programmes at pre-determined exotic blood levels can help improving the composition of dairy herd (Mullen et al., 2005). Implementation of Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme by providing free door step Artificial Insemination service has greatly improved AI adoption rate. This must also involve strict adherence to local breeding policy ensuring field level implementation.
Small herd size
Improving the herd size may potentially improve milk production (Landes et al., 2021). This could be improved by providing subsidy to farmers who are upgrading their small holder to large holder. Mechanization of farming activities by supplying chaff cutters and other farm supplies has also potentially improved the herd size.
Poor infrastructure and milk supply chain
The veterinary services in India are still inadequate. The veterinary dispensaries are often far and quacks complicate the timely veterinary assistance to needy animals. Also, feed availability has been a huge restraint faced by livestock farmers as it may reduce the production of cattle with good germplasm and production potential (Dikshir and Birthal, 2010). The dairy industry often relies on an efficient supply chain to ensure the timely collection, processing, and distribution of milk. Inadequate milk collection centres, transportation facilities, storage facilities are hence serious bottlenecks to be addressed for improved dairy practices.
Lab to land transformation
India being a developing country, research and development activities in dairying should be encourage more towards innovation in dairy management and processing to enhance the efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness of the dairy sector. Also, timely disbursal of innovative dairying practices should be transferred to field for adoption which may greatly contribute for dairy development. Implementation of Artificial insemination using sexed semen is though practiced at selected regions of India, the farmers are negligent of the accelerated gains from the usage of sexed semen. Hence extension activities aiming timely disbursal of scientific farming techniques should be undertaken.
Documentation and traceability
Though large number of schemes are being widely implemented, documentation of animal sources and tracing the proper implementation of target beneficiaries is highly necessary. With the introduction of Bharat pasudhan to nation on September 2023, pashu aadhaar the Indian livestock documentation and tracking have become possible. The application includes recording of vaccination and animal breeding programmes primarily which could greatly contribute to important data for improvement. Similarly, the milk recording and identification of superior germplasm programs to be implemented through the application in near future could largely improve the Indian dairy herd composition.
Conclusion
Though continuous and sustainable development of Indian milk industry is complicated by inherent uncertainties such as large population of non-descript cow, poor feed availability, poor efficiency of dairy operations and inadequate supply chains, growing global demand for Indian dairy cattle A2 milk products including organic milk, ghee, and A2 milk-based products has opened a new venture for growth for health-conscious consumers all over world. Adopting herd improvement strategies with innovative farming and management techniques with documentation and tracking of implemented schemes can promote a sustainable growth in Indian dairy sector.
References
Balasubramanian, G. (2024). Growth and Development of Dairy Industry in India. European Economic Letters (EEL), 14(1), 451-462.
Dikshit, A. K., & Birthal, P. S. (2010). India’s livestock feed demand: Estimates and projections. Agricultural Economics Research Review, 23(1), 15-28.
Landes, M., Cessna, J., Kuberka, L., & Jones, K. (2017). India’s dairy sector: Structure, performance, and prospects.
Mullen, K., Orden, D., & Gulati, A. (2005). Agricultural policies in India: producer support estimates 1985-2002.
Sarkar, A., Gupta, H., & Dutta, A. (2024). Sustainable dairy sector of an emerging economy: An empirical quest based on India. Agricultural Systems, 218, 103970.
Shah, D. (2013). Indian Dairy Industry: Analysis of Four Decades of Strategic Planning Based Development. The Asian Economic Review, 55(1), 133-152.
