Low Productivity of Indian Dairy Animals: Challenges and Mitigations
Pawan Kumar
PhD Scholar, Indian Veterinary Institute, Izzatnagar, Bareilly
Corresponding author- Pawan Kumar (pawankumawat249@gmail.com)
The Indian dairy industry, despite being the largest milk producer, contributing 24.64% of global milk production in year 2021-22, faces significant challenges in achieving higher productivity. The dairy animals raised at rural area were usually characterized by low milk productivity as the farmers adopted low input low yield production system. In this system they fodder grasses and crop residues as roughage source and cheap grains which is available locally to support production. Feeding animal with available feed resources to reduce cost of the production would be the priority to increase profit to the dairy farmers. Livestock productivity is influenced by the genetics of dairy animals and the surrounding environment. In order to exploit the genetic potentials of the animal, balance and adequate nutrition and management are necessary for animal’s welfare with better productivity. Here, we discuss the key challenges contributing to low productivity and propose mitigations.
Challenges and mitigation
- Poor Genetic Potential
Low productivity of indigenous dairy animals: According to FAO (2019) the average annual productivity of indigenous cattle in India is 1777 kg per animal per year as against the world average of 2699 kg per animal per year. Lack of systematic breeding programs and the prevalence of unorganized breeding practices have led to a limited improvement in genetic potential. The prevalence of non-descriptive breeds has emerged as a significant issue affecting dairy productivity in India.
Non-Adoption of Artificial Insemination (AI) and Lack of AI Facilities at Doorstep: At persent , the average A.I. coverage of the country is only about 30% which is a major cause for the prevalence of non-descriptive dairy animals breeds. Smallholder farms often lack access to AI services, which are crucial for improving breed quality. The absence of accessible AI facilities in rural areas further exacerbates the problem.
Poor Conception Rates with AI: Even when AI is used, the overall meager conception rate of 35% has been a significant deterrent.
Improper Heat Detection and Timely Insemination: Inadequate training in heat detection and improper timing of insemination contribute to low success rates in breeding programs.
Delayed Age at First Calving: Various researches indicates a high age about 30-36 month of age at first calving among indigenous heifers on small farms compared to exotic breeds have 24-26 month of age at first calving.
Limited Focus on Breed Improvement: Despite the presence of superior buffalo and cattle milch breeds like Murrah, Nili Ravi, Jaffarabadi, Sahiwal and Gir in India, there has been insufficient focus on breed improvement initiatives. The population of purebred animals is estimated to be only 29.5% and 54.6% of the total indigenous cattle and buffalo population, respectively with the rest being non-descriptive and low in productivity.
Mitigation:
Genetic Improvement Programs: Implementing systematic breeding programs that focus on crossbreeding indigenous breeds with high-yielding exotic breeds can enhance genetic potential. Establishing and promoting artificial insemination centers to ensure access to superior genetic material.
Enhancing AI Services: Effective AI services need to be made available at the village level. This includes improving infrastructure to ensure doorstep delivery of AI services, thus making it more accessible to smallholder farmers.
Molecular Technologies for improve genetic makeup: Molecular technologies in animal genetics offer solutions to limitations in conventional breeding. These technologies help determine breed composition and improve breeds.
Genomics: Studies identification of entire genes or SNPs via genotyping methods or by Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS)
Transcriptomics: hybridization (DNA microarray) and sequencing (RNA Seq) based approaches that infer and quantify transcriptome changes.
Proteomics: Examines protein abundance.
Metabolomics: study of metabolites that are necessary for a protein or enzymatic activity
Epigenomics: Investigates DNA accessibility for transcription.
Metagenomics: Characterizes microbial communities, such as those in the gut.
Educational Programs and Training: Conducting educational programs to change the mindset of livestock owners regarding AI is essential. Providing appropriate training in heat detection and timely insemination can help improve conception rates. Creating and distributing educational aids that highlight the role of AI in breed improvement can further support these efforts.
- Poor Nutritional Support
Inadequate and Imbalance diet: Recent study of IGFRI has estimated that there is deficient of 11.24, 23.4 and 28.9 per cent for green fodder, dry fodder and concentrate respectively in India. Majority of dairy animals in India suffer from malnutrition due to insufficient and poor-quality feed and fodder which may further degrade their health and milk production.
Inadequate Green Fodder Feeding and Non-adoption of Green Fodder Cultivation: Inadequate green fodder feeding is a significant issue affecting the productivity of smallholder cattle farms in India. As per estimates of Directorate of Economic & Statistics, GoI, fodder crops are cultivated only in about 4.90% (9.13 million ha) of the gross cropped area and this area has been static for last 25 years. Many farmers do not engage in green fodder cultivation due to limited land availability and lack of knowledge about high-yielding fodder varieties.
Lack of Knowledge and Training: Farmers often lack awareness about the benefits of green fodder, balanced ration, appropriate crop rotations, and methods for preserving green fodder such as hay and silage. In fact, the contribution of feeding component is upto 50% of total livestock production. The cereals crop residues i.e. wheat, rice and coarse cereals straws or hay contribute about 71% of overall feed resources used for animal feeding, green fodder 23% and concentrated feeds accounts 6% only.
Mitigation
Innovations in dairy feed management: it includes silage making, which preserves green fodder through fermentation, and hay making, which dries green forage to retain nutrients. Both methods address fodder scarcity, though their adoption is limited by high labor demands, lack of equipment, and storage issues. Urea ammoniation improves the nutritional value of crop residues, enhancing digestibility and protein content, but its adoption is hindered by limited awareness and concerns over urea toxicity. Total mixed rations (TMR) blend roughage and concentrates for optimal nutrient intake, improving feed efficiency and milk production, though requiring significant labor and equipment investment. Urea molasses mineral blocks provide energy and minerals, improving feed intake and production, particularly in fodder-deficit areas. Bypass protein and fat technologies enhance nutrient utilization in high-yielding dairy animals, addressing energy deficits and improving production performance.
Swapping of traditional animal feed: Traditional animal feed is more carbon-friendly ones while, some of the popular animal feeds which are incredibly carbon-intensive due to the large amounts of mains electricity needed to manufacture them. Furthermore, some livestock farms are now rearing animals on diets leftover food or browned-off fruits and vegetables. This helps in reducing food waste and provides additional nutrition to the animals.
Promote High-Yielding Fodder Varieties: Extension services should educate farmers about high-yielding varieties of fodder crops and the benefits of cultivating them.
- Poor Management Practices: Suboptimal housing conditions, inadequate veterinary care, and poor hygiene contribute to low productivity. Lack of knowledge and training among dairy farmers on best practices in animal husbandry exacerbates the situation.
Mitigation: Conducting regular training and extension programs for dairy farmers on best practices in animal husbandry, including proper housing, hygiene, and healthcare. Establishing model dairy farms to demonstrate effective management practices.
Innovations in dairy management: It include advanced instrumentation and sensors for monitoring animal state and health, GPS collars for tracking spatial distribution, and various behavior sensors. Health monitoring is enhanced through early detection technologies. Herd management software integrates data from multiple sources for comprehensive management. Automated feed-dropping units and feed troughs with measuring capabilities ensure precise feeding. Milk meters and milking machines track and optimize milk production. Automatic drafting gates streamline cow handling, and a digital device network ensures real-time data integration and communication across farm systems. These technologies collectively improve productivity, animal welfare, and farm efficiency.
Integrating crop and livestock farming: Research indicates that pasture-based systems enhance animal welfare and biodiversity by allowing natural animal behavior. Practices like rotational grazing and fodder banking increase production efficiency and prevent land degradation on smallholder farms.
- Diseases and Parasites
High Occurrence of Diseases: The prevalence of diseases like FMD, HS, anthrax, mastitis, and brucellosis leads to reduced milk productivity and often results in the death of animals. FMD alone is responsible for direct economic losses estimated at 2-3.2 billion USD annually.
Lack of Knowledge and Ignorance: Buffalo owners often lack knowledge about proper disease management practices such as vaccination, maintaining hygiene and sanitation in animal sheds, and disinfecting sheds.
Limited Emphasis on Preventive Services: There is insufficient focus on preventive services, which hampers efforts to eradicate animal disease epidemics. This limitation undermines India’s competitive edge in the global marketplace. Vaccination coverage for major livestock disease in India typically ranges between 80-90%, 60-80%, 70-85%, 30-50% and often below 50% of area for FMD, hemorrhagic septicemia, black quarter, brucellosis and rabies, respectively.
Mitigation
Preventive Services and Vaccination Programs: Strengthening vaccination programs and preventive services is essential. Regular vaccination schedules should be established and strictly followed to prevent outbreaks of common diseases.
Improved Hygiene and Sanitation Practices: Educating farmers on the importance of hygiene and sanitation in animal sheds can significantly reduce disease incidence. This includes regular cleaning, proper waste disposal, and disinfecting animal housing.
Development of Local Veterinary Services: Establishing local veterinary services that are easily accessible to farmers can ensure timely diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Mobile veterinary clinics and help lines can also provide support to remote areas.
- Economic Constraints: Small and marginal farmers, who constitute the majority of dairy producers in India, often lack the financial resources to invest in quality feed, healthcare, and modern dairy farming equipment. Inadequate access to credit and insurance further hampers their ability to adopt improved practices. Economic Impact of diseases result in direct economic losses through decreased milk yield, reduced meat quality and quantity, diminished work capacity, and stunted growth.
Mitigation: Enhancing access to credit and insurance for small and marginal dairy farmers to enable them to invest in quality inputs and modern farming equipment. Providing subsidies and financial incentives for adopting improved dairy farming practices.
Economic Analysis and Return on Investment: Providing farmers with information on the economic benefits of growing green fodder, including cost-benefit analyses, can encourage more widespread adoption. Highlighting the return on investment from increased milk production and overall animal health can be particularly persuasive.
- Environmental Factors: Climate change and erratic weather patterns affect the availability of feed and water, impacting animal health and productivity. High temperatures and humidity levels can lead to heat stress, reducing milk yield.
Heat Stress reduces feed intake, leading to lower feed intake and subsequently lower production of milk and high temperatures can lead to heat-induced infertility, longer calving intervals, and lower conception rates in livestock, increased susceptibility to diseases such as mastitis and respiratory infections due to weakened immune systems.
Cold Stress leads to energy expenditure to maintain body temperature, leading to weight loss and reduced milk production. Newborn and young animals are particularly vulnerable to hypothermia, increasing mortality rates during cold spells.
Water scarcity affects overall animal health, leading to dehydration, reduced feed intake, and lower productivity. Poor quality water sources can increase the incidence of waterborne diseases, further impacting livestock health and productivity.
Mitigations: Developing and promoting climate-resilient fodder crops and livestock breeds that can withstand extreme weather conditions. Implementation of management practices such as good shelter, pasture, feeding, water conservation techniques, and strengthening local meteorological services for timely weather forecasts and early warnings.
Conclusion: The Indian dairy industry faces several challenges impacting productivity, but these can be addressed through strategic interventions. Implementing systematic breeding programs, promoting balanced feeding practices, enhancing AI and veterinary services, providing economic support to small farmers, and adopting climate-resilient measures can significantly improve the productivity and sustainability of the Indian dairy sector.
