EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON DAIRY CATTLE & STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE IN CONTEXT OF INDIAN CLIMATE
Introduction
Climate change has severely affected every aspect of this planet, our home. Unfortunately, it has not spared human beings, who are solely responsible for climate change. There is still time to strictly adopt some measures , so that we can remain unaffected. Sadly, the prime area to be affected is agriculture. Traditionally, our farmers have never separated agriculture and dairy farming. They have the time-honored knowledge to adjust to the changing climate scenario. It is now up to the farmers to implement these adaptation methods.
All around the world today climate change & its effects are getting high attention. International community putting its efforts to minimize the future hazard and trying to mitigate the present situation created by climate change, the awareness levels of the individual and society on the climate change and its effect should motivate them to adopt the mitigation strategies(United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 21 or CMP 11, 2015).In India, the agriculture sector sustains nearly70 per cent of the population and it is obvious that any short term climate change would directly affect agriculture and thus impact on local food production and livelihoods. The dairy farming sector which is one of the major source of income for rural farmers is also getting affected due to the climate changes in the country. The increase in thermal stress in day due to the rise in temperature will lead to additional loss of milk production of 1.6 million tons in 2020 (Upadhyayet.al., 2009).Realizing the importance of climate change on dairy
Milk production takes place all around the world. Global demand for dairy continues to increase in large part due to population growth. Rising incomes, urbanization and westernization of diets in countries such as China and India are other factors for increasing demand. With this increasing demand for dairy, there is growing pressure on natural resources, including fresh water and soil1 . Climate change will threaten both food security and rural livelihoods through heat waves, changing patterns of rainfall, increasing incidence of extreme weather and changing distribution of diseases and their vectors. The FAO report livestock long shadow environmental issues and options 2006 climes that livestock production is a major contributor to the global animal food chain and associated land use change is estimate world’s environmental problems, contributing about 18 per cent to global anthropogenic Green House Gas (GHG) emissions2 . However, there are large uncertainties and we cannot adequately characterize trade‐offs in terms of emission reduction, food production and economic development under climate change. Thus policies that are currently in place to curb GHG emissions and adapt livestock systems to climate change may prove insufficient. The crop livestock system is one of the most important characteristics of Indian agrarian economy and livestock sector is the integral part of India’s agriculture sector. More than 80 per cent of land holding are small and marginal farmers in India and their major supplementary income source is dairy farming. Indian livestock sector provides sustainability and stability to the national economy by contributing to farm energy and food security. Livestock sector not only provides essential protein and nutrition to human diet through milk, eggs, meat and by products such as hides and skin, blood, bone and fat etc., are economically valuable3 . Operating on slim profit margins, dairy farmers are vulnerable to fluctuations in production costs and milk price. Climate change is expected to greatly impact dairy farmers. Crop yields will change due to variations in climate, affecting feed costs to farmers. In addition, climate change will affect energy and electricity costs4 . Global warming is projected to increase temperature by 2 to 3ºC by 2050, with a decline in rainfall and water availability (UNDP, 2007).
Hence keeping in view of farmers’ unawareness on various issues pertaining to climate change, the stakeholder organizations should attempt to create awareness on adverse effects of climate change on livestock production through various extension methodologies. The climate change would be apparent and its adverse effect will be evident in the future so the great importance may be given by conducting training programmes to improve their knowledge and skill in its mitigation
In the world today 7.08 billion people inhabit on the earth presently to feed everyone adequately the world needs 910.10 million tons of milk, against which global production is only 720.98 million tons. This discrepancy in need and production left over 868 million. People undernourished worldwide and 850 million people of them live in developing countries. Climate change poses a formidable challenge to the development of livestock sector in India. The anticipated rise in temperature between 2.3 and 4.8 °C over the entire country together with increased precipitation resulting from climate change is likely to aggravate the heat stress in dairy animals, particularly hybrid animals, adversely affecting their productive and reproductive performance, and hence reducing the total area where high yielding dairy cattle can be economically reared. Milk is an important component of food that is significantly increasing in demand. Increased heat stress associated with global climate change may, however, cause distress to dairy animals and possibly impact milk production.
There is now a strong scientific consensus that human-induced climate change is occurring (CCSP, 2008). Projections are that this warming will continue throughout the 21st century with global average temperature rising an additional 1.1 to 5.4°C (CCSP, 2008). These changes will have large and measurable impacts on dairy cattle worldwide’ (Klinedinst et al., 1993) through a variety of routes including changes in food availability and quality, changes in pest and pathogen populations, alteration in immunity and both direct and indirect impacts on animal performance such as growth, reproduction and lactation.
Lactation————-
Heat stress is a health and economic issue in every dairy producing area worldwide The effect of ambient heat on dairy cattle milk production is well known and furthermore heavily influenced by relative humidity. Unabated HS can decrease feed intake by over 35%. Even on well- managed and cooled dairies, HS can decrease feed intake by more than 15% (Collier et aZ., 1982; West, 2003). The other immediate consequence of HS is reduced milk yield .HS typically decreases milk yield by 10-15% and on non-cooled management systems milk yield can decrease by 40-50% during severe conditions (CollieretaZ., 1982; West, 2003) Based on this information, it appears hepatic adaptation to reduced nutrient intake, in terms of glucose metabolism, differs with variations in environmental temperature.
Reproduction——————-
The physiological effects of HS decrease the reproductive performance of dairy cattle and several HS-related mechanisms are responsible for the observed decrease in fertility. Interestingly, another HS-related deterrent to dairy cow fertility is increased circulating plasma urea nitrogen concentrations. In terms of effects on fertility, Therefore, elevated plasma urea nitrogen concentrations may be exacerbating the decrease in fertility that is frequently observed during periods of HS.
Estrous Activity, Hormone Function, and Follicular Development————-
Heat stress reduces the length and intensity of estrus, making it more difficult to detect cows in estrus for artificial insemination. For example, in summer, motor activity and other manifestations of estrus are reduced (Hansen and Arechiga, 1999) and incidence of anestrous and silent ovulations are increased (Gwazdauskas et ai., 1981). Heat stress impairs follicle selection and increases the length of follicular waves; thus reducing the quality of oocytes
Oocytes and Early Developing Embryos————-
During summer, HS reduces pregnancy and conception rates, which can carry-over into the fall months . Heat stress can also affect the early developing embryo.
Improving reproduction by cooling dry cows—————-
TraditionaIly, dry pregnant cows are provided little protection from HS because they are not lactating; and it is incorrectly assumed they are less prone to HS. Additional stressors are imposed during this period due to abrupt physiological, nutritional, and environmental changes. These changes can increase the cows’ susceptibility to HS and have a critical influence on postpartum cow health, milk production, and reproduction. The dry period is particularly crucial since it involves mammary gland involution and subsequent development, rapid fetal growth, and induction of lactation. Heat stress during this time period can affect endocrine responses that may increase fetal abortions, shorten the gestation length, lower calf birth weight. and reduce follicle and oocyte maturation associated with the postpartum reproductive cycle.
Reducing negative effects of postpartum heat stress————
Current and past research has resulted in dramatic improvements in dairy cow management in hot environments. Two primary strategies are to minimize heat gain by reducing solar heat load and maximize heat loss by reducing air temperature around the animal or increasing evaporative heat loss directly from animals. Following are several strategies to potentially help reduce the negative impacts of HS on reproduction in lactating dairy cows.
1.Cow comfort and coating
2.Nutritional modifications
POLICY IMPLICATIONS ——————
• Responding to the challenge of climate change requires formulation of appropriate adaptation and mitigation options for the sector.
• The animals employ physiological mechanisms to counter the heat stress.
• However, to counter the adverse effect of climate change on animal production and health, human intervention for physical modification of the environment and improvement in nutritional management practices would be additionally required.
• Institutional interventions, either by strengthening the existing ones or initiating new ones, relating to fodder bank, custom hiring center, collective marketing, and introduction of weather index based insurance and climate literacy through a village level weather station.
• Augmentation of fodder production during droughts/ floods, improving productivity of Common Property Resources (CPRs), promotion of improved fodder/feed storage methods, preventive vaccination, improved shelters for reducing heat/cold stress, management etc.
More methods to overcome the effects of climate change ————
Cattle cannot migrate from one place to another like any other living being in nature. Humans have domesticated them for their own purposes and it is man’s responsibility to set up a suitable environment for them to thrive.
Farmers must choose the cattle breed as per their requirement, maintenance capacity and fodder availability. Value-added milk can fetch more profit than selling milk. Forest fodder cannot be relied upon; it is better to grow fodder in farmland. Cow dung and urine can be used for manure, since cattle spend the whole day in the cattle shed. Hybrid breeds like HF cows do not tolerate heat. During summer, water needs to be sprayed on them frequently to regulate their body temperature. Feed and fodder should be given during the cool hours (morning and evening). Around the cattle shed, trees should be grown for shade and foliage fodder. Water should be made to absorb into the land. Tanks and ponds have to be maintained. Ponds, preferably using rainwater, have to be constructed where buffalo are raised so that the buffaloes can use the pond. Wherever possible, fodder variety plants can be grown (as fences around the farmland, around the house, etc.). Foliage fodder trees have to be marked in the forest and their propagation has to be done. Sharing of resources should happen among farmers, which benefits everyone in the farming community. Using organic pesticides and taking care of the cattle shed in order to prevent cracks on walls should be done regularly. Locally available unconventional fodder sources can be used (dry areca palm leaves, plantain stems, etc.). Even the widely used ‘white grass’ can be chopped and mixed with salt and jaggery before feeding it to cattle. The eastern areas of the taluk have corn stalks, which need not be wasted or burnt. Intercropping in paddy fields needs to be promoted. Choosing dicot plants for intercropping or cultivating them after paddy harvest is useful for fodder. Jackfruit grows here in abundance. Most fruits rot and go to waste during the rainy season. They can also be used as fodder. The cattle should be fed with different types of fodder. Their nutrition needs are not met by any single type of food. Dairy farmers should look at developing a good fodder supply instead of focusing only on milk yield. During droughts, failed crops are left to dry in the fields. Instead, they can be cut and used as fodder.
Points to be adopted by policy makers—————
• Dairy farmers have to be educated about climate change and its effects on dairy farming.
• Farmers have to be mentored on ways to adapt to the changing climate, rather than just following practices that have worked in the past.
• Rain water harvesting, its methods and uses have to be explained.
• Farmers have to be persuaded that dairy farming is complementary to farming and especially useful in organic farming.
• Information on cattle fodder, unconventional sources, and scientific rearing methods has to be made available at the village level. A toll free help line, community radio, social media, messaging service, newspaper and other media could be used.
• Farmyard manure or compost making methods should be popularized.
• The government should give subsidies to buy dairy farming equipment like brush cutters, pressure washers, choppers, etc. All these put together should not cost more than Rs. one lakh.
• Success stories in dairy farming should be popularized.
• The speed and efficiency of veterinary medical services should improve. It should also extend to educate farmers about preventive health care of cattle.
• Fodder crops need encouragement. A famous line of an eminent poet states, “Milk is more in the grass than the udder.” The fodder quality is important. Many farmers are interested in growing fodder, at least in a small quantity. The fodder grass seeds should be made available to them in low prices. A local fodder seed bank could be opened. This region has high demands for fodder that is grown in shade. Such varieties can be popularized. Seeds that demand sunlight grown on hills can be used as fodder. As per the topography, suitable fodder seeds have to be recognized and recommended by agro scientists. Beneath the high tension electric lines which pass through the forests, community grasslands could be grown.
• More research is needed in using the farm byproducts as fodder. This information should be made available easily.
• Milk collection dairy should make sure that the money should be deposited into the women’s account. Poor farming women could be encouraged and financially empowered by this. It would make them more interested to be involved in dairy farming.
• Interested farmers should be given loans to build their cattle sheds. This scheme should reach all needy farmers.
• Land area near every village should be marked as ‘grazing land.’
• Agro forestry and silvopasture must be encouraged and promoted.
• Forest encroachment has to be stopped.
• Biogas and solar units have to be made ‘easy to install.’
• Organic farming has to be promoted, which in turn encourages dairy farming.
• Life insurance must be made mandatory for high breed cattle.
• All red tape should be cut down for all the above mentioned measures.
• Traditional know-how about dairy farming has to be properly studied and documented.
• Many naturally grown local wild grass varieties have to be recognized, preserved and propagated.
• Reforestation should be done keeping the variety of local trees and plants in mind. This can be done at the village Panchayat level. Even dry, arid land can be used.
• Methodical documentation of local herbs and medicinal plants used in treating cattle has to be done. A scientific study should be made to systematically organize the knowledge.
• Methods to process and store excess fodder should be popularized to prevent loss of fodder.
• Information should be disseminated about cattle diseases that could occur due to extreme climate conditions.
• Cattle care should be given extra importance during periods of drought.
• Farmers should take initiative in vaccinating the cattle against contagious diseases.
• Local breeds should be encouraged. Though milk yield is less in our local cattle breeds, they are highly resistant to heat and extreme weather conditions. Their food requirement is also comparatively less. In fact, we have the best buffalo breeds. Scientists should improve local breeds by careful cross breeding.
Compiled & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)
Image-Courtesy-Google
Reference-On Request.
