Low productivity of Indian dairy animals: Challenges and mitigation strategies

Low productivity of Indian dairy animals: Challenges and mitigation strategies

Dr. Renu Singh¹*, Dr. Shyama N Prabhu² and  Dr Neeraj kumar gangwar³

• Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, DUVASU, Mathura
• Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, DUVASU, Mathura
• Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, DUVASU, Mathura

Introduction

India’s dairy sector is the largest and most dynamic globally, contributing 24.64% of global milk production in 2021-22. The country ranks first in livestock population and has seen a significant increase in milk production over the past nine years ie 2014-15 to 2022-23.  Livestock plays a crucial role in the Indian economy, with 20.5 million people relying on it for their livelihood. India has vast livestock resources, contributing 4.11% of the gross domestic product and 25.6% of the agricultural GDP. Dairy farming involves various factors influencing production, reproduction, environment, and management. India has the highest buffalo population globally, with cows and buffalo being the most important. Dairy farming is recognized as a major instrument in bringing about socio-economic transformation for rural poor. Milk is the second largest agricultural commodity produced in India, followed by rice.

To improve milk output, efforts should be directed towards dairy farmers, providing necessary inputs and adopting newer technologies in breeding, housing, feeding, rearing, and healthcare. Export earnings through ghee, skim, and whole milk powders are increasing, while imports of special cheeses and butter oil are also increasing. Research efforts should focus on new product development through biotechnology, compliance with milk food legislation, and international standards.

Challenge’s in the Indian dairy sector

India’s dairy industry faces challenges like low productivity, food security, and sustainability due to factors like Shortage of feed and fodder, poor genetic potential, inadequate nutrition, and limited veterinary care access.

1. Feed/fodder shortage

Urbanization and industrial development lead to a shortage of feed and fodder, affecting dairy animals’ productivity. This leads to increased fodder prices and inadequate feeding, restricting milk yield. Poor forage quality and lower purchasing power further exacerbate the issue.

2. Nutritional deficiency

Inadequate nutrition in dairy animals is a significant issue in India, with a 35-40% deficit in green and 10-15% in dry fodder, exacerbated by seasonal variations and limited land availability, leading to poor animal health, reduced milk yields, and shorter lactation periods.

3. Inadequate genetic potential

One of the main contributing factors to India’s low dairy animal productivity is poor genetic potential in animals. The amount of milk produced by these dairy cows tends to be less than that of the foreign variety, but they are disease-resistant and suited to the local climate. India now produces only 3–4 liters of milk per cow per day, compared to 25–30 liters per day in Europe, as reported in the United States and the Netherlands.

4. Breeding system

In India the breeding system is a system where individuals are bred to produce offspring. Indian cattle breeds face issues like late maturity, heat symptoms, increased calving intervals, and fertility problems due to diseases, affecting the industry and affecting the breeding system.

5. Scientific education and training

Scientific education and training programs on good dairy practices are crucial for overcoming challenges and fostering ownership among dairy sector employees. Effective marketing and strong management commitment are necessary for successful implementation.

6. Health of animal

Veterinary health care centers are remote and inaccessible, leading to inadequate services for cattle. Irregular vaccination schedules and deworming programs cause heavy mortality in calves, especially buffaloes.

7. Poor hygiene

Cattle owners often neglect proper shelters, exposing them to extreme weather, leading to mastitis, a common disease in dairy cattle. Unhygienic milk production also results in poor quality storage and spoilage of dairy products.

8. Marketing and low pricing

Dairy farmers face unremunerative prices for milk production due to declining fat content in cross-breeding programs with Holstein Friesian breeds. Lack of proper marketing and education leads to poor perception of commercial dairy enterprises as livelihood alternatives.

9. Low dairy penetration and high cost distribution

The low dairy penetration and high cost of milk handling and distribution are significant issues. India’s dairy penetration is low, with private person collecting and selling milk. Reducing agencies handling milk can reduce costs and improve retail price.

10. Limited availability of insurance and credit

The Indian dairy industry’s small and marginal farmers have difficulty obtaining official bank financing and insurance, which restricts their ability to make investments in state-of-the-art facilities for animal husbandry and to grow their dairy farms. Their capacity to invest in improved feed, healthcare, and management techniques is hampered by their limited access to financial services. One of the biggest obstacles to increasing animal output for Indian dairy farmers is financial constraints.

11. Effects of Climate Change on the Environment

A growing danger to the Indian dairy industry is climate change. The health and milk production of animals are adversely affected by temperature rise, water scarcity, and fluctuating weather patterns.

12. Low Traditional Breed Productivity

The productivity and profitability of Indian dairy animals are restricted by the continued use of conventional, low-yielding livestock breeds in many Indian districts. The inability to get superior livestock breeds and contemporary, high-tech breeding technologies impedes attempts to increase the productivity of dairy cows in India.

How Industry may navigate these challenges

To maximize the genetic potential of dairy cows, breeding strategies that are methodical and scientifically based are vital. This comprises:

1. Define SOPs

• Process automation, utilizing IT systems like AI, ML, IoT, ERPs, chatbots, and packaging equipment, optimizes dairy businesses by eliminating human error and saving man-hours, allowing for more efficient critical processes.
• The Dairy Processing Handbook by Tetra Pak offers comprehensive guidance on dairy manufacturing processes, covering pasteurization, blending, UHT milk treatment, filtration, automation, service systems, and wastewater management. However, the industry faces challenges such as lack of standardized process documents, mismanagement in feed management, waste management, and manpower utilization. Dairy consulting services address these issues by providing best practices for milk production, procurement, products, and machinery design, as well as R&D assistance for product processes and quality assurance.
• System Maintenance SOP involves regular checks and maintenance of systems, ensuring data integrity.
• Physical Security SOP manages access controls, alarm systems, and intrusion control. Logical Security SOP covers data security protocols like VPNs, firewalls, and virus protection apps.
• Incident and Problem Management SOP manages incidents and problems related to computerized systems, including recording, analyzing, and resolving them.
• Dairy consultants ensure SOPs and process automation cover various aspects of dairy businesses, including herd health management, reproduction, milking, veterinary assistance, productivity, feed, waste management, maintenance, organizational blueprint, and production and supply chain safety.

2. Modern sales technique

• Dairy companies can expand their sales by adopting a Direct to Retail (D2R) digital sales model, eliminating middlemen and allowing customers to purchase products online.
• Data analytics-centric dashboards provide statistical insights, helping dairy producers and retailers find new customers or deal with existing ones.
• A D2C business model allows producers to control brand, reputation, marketing, and sales strategy, while also allowing them to remain agile and learn from customers. Integrating e-commerce solutions with ERP can improve sales standing by displaying real-time product and logistics data, enabling effective management from a centralized location

3. Genetic Improvement programs

• Genetic improvement programs for dairy animals include AI services, clear breeding policies, and genetic monitoring systems. These methods aim to enhance the genetic potential of both indigenous and crossbred animals.

4. Improved feed management and improve nutritional quality of feed

• Enhanced nutrition and feed management are essential for livestock production. Strategies include fodder development, balanced diets, and silage and haymaking techniques to ensure high-quality feed and mitigate seasonal shortages.

5. Aplication of modern management practices

• Modern management techniques, such as training and capacity building programs, can significantly improve productivity in dairy farming. Key areas include improving animal housing, expanding veterinary services, and strengthening extension services.

6. Improvement in health management system

• Dairy animal health is significantly impacted by disease prevalence, necessitating effective health management strategies. These include regular monitoring, education on local diseases, vaccination programs, strict biosecurity measures, and promoting good hygiene and sanitation practices. These measures help prevent disease transmission and ensure the productivity and well-being of dairy animals.

7. Pramoting high yielder disese free cow

• Promoting high-yielding disease-resistant dairy animal breeds through selective breeding programs and technology transfer initiatives can expedite genetic upgradation and enhance milk production.

8. Mitigation programmes implemented in India:

• The Indian government has implemented various programs to improve dairy animas’ productivity, including genetic improvement, Rashtriya gokul mission, artificial insemination, nutrition and feed management, and financial support and market access. Initiatives include seed development, ration balancing, livestock missions, silage and hay making, and dairy entrepreneurship development schemes.

Conclusion

One of the biggest problems facing the Indian dairy industry is the low production of dairy animals. This productivity gap is caused by a number of factors, including the genetic potential of dairy animals being poorly developed, inadequate nutrition, unfavorable environmental conditions, traditional management practices, inadequate veterinary infrastructure and healthcare facilities, poor housing and sanitation, limited access to insurance schemes and credit for livestock farmers, and reliance on native low-producing breeds.

To address these issues and raise the productivity of these animals, a variety of mitigation techniques are available. A few significant mitigating techniques include improved nutrition, adoption of contemporary management techniques, promotion of contemporary, high-yielding, disease-resistant breeds, improved extension and veterinary healthcare services, and genetic improvement through initiatives like artificial insemination and selective breeding.

Refrence: –

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