Low Productivity of Indian Dairy Animals: Challenges and Mitigation Strategies
Jagriti Upreti
IVth Professional Year, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Udhamsingh Nagar, Uttarakhand- 263145.
Email: jagritiupreti2002@gmail.com
Abstract
Ensuring good reproductive health in livestock is essential for maintaining a profitable business. India leads global milk production, contributing 23% of the total, yet faces challenges in maximizing productivity per animal. Factors such as breeding and feeding management, alongside reproductive health, significantly influence reproduction rates. Common issues like reproductive disorders, delayed uterine involution, and extended calving intervals diminish milk production, calf numbers, and increase medication costs, leading to financial losses. Addressing these challenges is crucial for enhancing returns in the dairy sector. Improving livestock services, including healthcare, nutrition, breeding management, pharmaceutical supply, and extension services, is imperative. These enhancements empower farmers to unlock the full potential of their livestock, fostering a sustainable and prosperous dairy industry.
Introduction:
Animal husbandry, involving genetic modification and selective breeding, serves as a primary income source for approximately 20.5 million landless and marginal farmers in India. This occupation plays a vital role in wealth creation and rural prosperity. India’s livestock sector ranks among the world’s leading, contributing about 11.6% of the global livestock population.
According to the 20th livestock census, India possesses 535.78 million livestock heads, showcasing a 4.6% increase over the previous census. Milk and milk product production hold significant importance for dairy farmers, with India leading worldwide production at 23%. Government initiatives such as the Rashtriya Gokul Mission aim to bolster livestock productivity. Despite this, a considerable demand for milk persists, expected to rise by 2030. Cattle and buffaloes contribute 96% to India’s milk production.
During the first decade post-independence, India witnessed a 1.64% annual compound growth rate in milk production, which declined to 1.15% in the 1960s. Per capita milk consumption dropped from 124 grams per day in 1950-51 to 107 grams per day by 1970, well below recommended nutritional standards. Despite having the world’s largest cattle population, India struggled to produce over 21 million tonnes of milk annually.
Major Challenges Affecting Milk Production:
Livestock farming, integral to agriculture, holds potential for improving the economic status of marginal and small farmers, contributing significantly to rural household socioeconomic growth. India’s low productivity per animal stems from neglected management, feed and fodder shortages, lack of farmer guidance, and limited livestock extension services. Major challenges in milk production include breeding, feeding, and animal health practices.
- Breeding Management:
Farmers encounter challenges in milch animal rearing, including infertility, low conception rates through artificial insemination, and inadequate access to AI facilities. Repeat breeding negatively impacts dairy farmer profitability due to increased calving intervals and associated costs. Insufficient semen production centers and low AI success rates further hinder breeding efforts.
- Feeding Management:
Dairy farmers struggle to ensure adequate feed availability for livestock. India faces a significant fodder deficit, projected to worsen by 2050. Improving fodder productivity on existing land is essential to meet demand. Nutritional deficiencies in livestock diets lead to health issues, affecting productivity. Efforts to enhance feed resource utilization and provide ration balancing advisory services are underway.
- Reproductive Health:
Challenges in heat detection and reproductive disorders like dystocia and endometritis hinder efficient breeding. Late maturity in Indian cattle breeds contributes to prolonged calving intervals, reducing animal performance. Limited access to veterinary healthcare and irregular vaccination schedules lead to disease susceptibility, impacting milk production.
Mitigation strategies for improving the productivity of Indian dairy animals
- Genetic Improvement Programs: Implementation of selective breeding programs aimed at enhancing desirable traits such as milk yield, reproductive efficiency, and disease resistance. Utilization of advanced reproductive technologies like artificial insemination and embryo transfer to propagate superior genetics.
- Enhanced Breeding Management: Provision of access to high-quality semen from genetically superior bulls through a well-established network of semen production and distribution centers. Provision of training and guidance on proper heat detection, estrus synchronization, and timely insemination techniques to optimize conception rates.
- Nutritional Management: Promotion of balanced and nutritious diets for dairy animals through improved feeding practices. Encouragement of cultivation of high-yielding and nutritious fodder crops to address fodder deficits. Provision of education and resources on ration formulation, supplementation, and feed conservation techniques to ensure optimal nutrition for livestock.
- Healthcare Interventions: Strengthening of veterinary healthcare infrastructure by establishment of more veterinary hospitals, clinics, and dispensaries in rural areas. Conducting regular health camps and vaccination drives to prevent and control diseases affecting dairy animals. Provision of training on disease prevention, biosecurity measures, and proper animal husbandry practices to farmers
- Extension Services: Expansion of extension services to disseminate knowledge and best practices among dairy farmers. Conducting training programs, workshops, and demonstrations on topics such as breeding management, nutrition, healthcare, and farm management. Facilitation of farmer-to-farmer knowledge exchange and establishment of farmer producer organizations to promote collective learning and resource sharing.
- Research and Development: Investment in research and development initiatives focused on improving the productivity and resilience of Indian dairy animals. Collaboration with agricultural universities, research institutions, and industry stakeholders to develop innovative technologies, breeding strategies, and management practices tailored to the needs of Indian dairy farming.
- Policy Support: Formulation of supportive policies and incentives to encourage investments in dairy farming infrastructure, technology adoption, and human capital development. Provision of subsidies, grants, and credit facilities for procurement of quality breeding stock, feed ingredients, healthcare services, and farm equipment. Creation of conducive regulatory frameworks to facilitate adoption of best practices and ensure welfare of dairy animals.
Conclusion:
Addressing reproductive challenges in livestock requires strategic control measures and farmer education on disease prevention and management. Regular veterinary screenings for disease detection and control are essential. India’s dairy sector, propelled by dairy cooperatives since Operation Flood, has become a global leader. Continued efforts to address constraints in breeding, feeding, and animal health are vital for sustaining growth in the dairy industry.
References: –
https://pib.gov.in/FeaturesDeatils.aspx?NoteId=151137
https://www.thepharmajournal.com/archives/2022/vol11issue7S/PartAT/S-11-7-554-678.pdf
https://www.dahd.nic.in/sites/default/filess/NDDB_AR_2016-17_Eng.pdf
