Low Productivity of Indian Dairy Animals: Challenges & Mitigation Strategies
Mehak Jandyal
Depart of Livestock Products Technology ,College Of Veterinary Science Rampura Phul
Assistant Professor, Department of Livestock Products Technology, College of Veterinary Science, Rampura Phul, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana.
Introduction
India is the world’s largest milk producer, contributing around 22% of global milk production in 2021-22. However, despite this impressive statistic, the productivity of Indian dairy animals remains relatively low compared to other major milk-producing nations. In 2014, India had 50 million dairy cows and 40 million water buffalo producing 140 million tons of milk, with dairy cattle producing an average of 14,000 hectograms per animal and buffalo producing 19,000 hectograms per animal. By contrast, the U.S. had just 9.2 million dairy cows producing more than 93 million tons of milk, an average of 101,000 hectograms per animal
This low productivity poses significant challenges for meeting the growing domestic demand for milk and dairy products. India will account for 54% of the increase in global demand for dairy over the next 10 years, and Indian dairy producers will need to produce an additional 56 million tons of milk per year by 2026, an increase of 40% from 2014 levels. Failure to improve productivity will likely lead to increased reliance on more animals to meet demand, with profound consequences for the environmental sustainability of milk production in India. Low productivity also has implications for the livelihoods of millions of small and marginal dairy farmers who make up the backbone of India’s dairy sector. Improving the productivity and sustainability of milk production is essential if India is to reach its targets for reducing food insecurity, malnutrition, poverty and climate impacts.
In this article, we explore the key challenges contributing to low productivity, including poor feed quality, lack of access to mechanization, and inadequate breeding programs. We also propose mitigation strategies to address these issues, such as improving access to quality feed and fodder, increasing investments in dairy infrastructure and technology, and implementing effective breeding policies. By addressing these challenges, India can unlock the potential of its dairy sector to meet growing demand, enhance farmer livelihoods, and contribute to sustainable development.
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Challenges
Low Genetic Potential One of the key challenges contributing to the low productivity of Indian dairy animals is their low genetic potential. The majority of India’s dairy herd comprises non-descript or low-yielding indigenous breeds, which have a limited genetic potential for high milk production. According to the 2019 Livestock Census, the milch cattle population of exotic breeds and cross-breeds has increased by 32% over the last Census (2012) and has significantly contributed to overall milk production. Cross-bred cattle, which have higher milk yields of 7.95 kg/cow, contributed 26% of total milk production. In contrast, indigenous breeds have an average yield of just 3.01 kg/cow.
Despite this progress, India still has one of the world’s largest livestock populations with 185 million cattle, which is 16% of the global population. The majority of these animals are low-yielding indigenous breeds. This low genetic potential is an intrinsic factor contributing to India’s relatively low milk productivity compared to other major producers. Recognizing this challenge, the Government of India has launched initiatives like the Rashtriya Gokul Mission to focus on the development and conservation of indigenous breeds such as Tharparkar, Gir, Red Sindhi, Rathi, Kankrej and Sahiwal. The aim is to increase the genetic potential of the unregistered bovine population and milk productivity. However, more concerted efforts are needed to upgrade the genetic potential of India’s dairy herd through selective breeding and cross-breeding with high-yielding exotic breeds.
Inadequate Feeding and Nutrition: One of the key challenges contributing to the low productivity of Indian dairy animals is inadequate feeding and nutrition. Poor availability and quality of feed and fodder, coupled with inadequate adoption of balanced rations, leads to underfeeding and nutritional deficiencies, hampering milk production. India faces a significant deficit in the supply of green and dry fodder. As per the vision document of the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), the deficit of dry and green fodder in India in 2020 was around 12% and 30% respectively. This shortage is exacerbated by the fact that the increase in agricultural production over time has not kept pace with the growing demand for animal feed
Moreover, small and marginal farmers, who make up a large portion of the dairy sector, often lack the financial resources to provide their animals with adequate nutrition. This leads to mineral deficiency disorders and high-cost feeding, which ultimately lowers the profitability of dairy farming. The quality of available feed and fodder is also a concern. Dairy farmers often resort to substituting feed ingredients at the expense of feed quality, which has far-reaching implications for animal productivity and milk quality. Additionally, limited storage capacity and poor-quality judgment of feed among dairy farmers further exacerbate the issue. To address these challenges, experts suggest focusing on strategies such as establishing community fodder banks for storage of surplus fodder as hays, silage, or fodder blocks for use during scarcity. Smoothening credit facilities for forage production, providing support prices for forage and marketing of seed, and strengthening extension networks can also help improve the availability and adoption of quality feed and fodder.
Enhancing the quality and quantity of feed and fodder has a greater impact on increasing milk productivity compared to genetic improvement alone. By addressing the issue of inadequate feeding and nutrition, India can unlock the potential of its dairy sector to meet growing demand and enhance the livelihoods of millions of small and marginal dairy farmers.
Poor Animal Health and Reproductive Management: One of the key challenges contributing to the low productivity of Indian dairy animals is poor animal health and reproductive management. Inadequate veterinary services, lack of preventive healthcare measures, and poor reproductive management practices lead to high incidences of diseases, reproductive disorders, and prolonged calving intervals, all of which have a detrimental impact on milk yield. Dairy animals, especially indigenous breeds, are often maintained poorly and rely on low-quality common property resources for feed, exacerbating health issues and reproductive challenges. Addressing these issues through improved veterinary care, preventive healthcare programs, and better reproductive management practices is crucial to enhancing the overall health and productivity of dairy animals in India.
Lack of Organized Dairy Farming: The lack of organized dairy farming is a significant challenge hindering the productivity of Indian dairy animals. The dairy sector in India is characterized by a predominance of smallholder dairy farming systems, with over 80 million rural households engaged in milk production, mostly as small, marginal farmers and landless laborers. These small-scale dairy farms, which account for 95% of milk producers, typically hold just 1 to 5 milch animals per household, making it a subsistence-level farming system. This fragmented nature of the dairy industry limits access to modern technologies, infrastructure, and management practices, leading to inefficiencies in milk collection, processing, and marketing. The lack of organized dairy farming also results in fluctuating milk prices and low bargaining power for farmers, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the sector. To address these challenges, there is a need to promote high-yielding breeds, improve feed and fodder availability, and enhance access to veterinary services and technology.
Climate Change and Environmental Stresses: The dairy sector in India is facing significant challenges due to the impacts of climate change and environmental stresses. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and degradation of grazing lands are all contributing to reduced productivity of dairy animals.
Elevated temperatures and heat stress have been shown to directly impact milk production, with studies estimating a 2% annual loss in total milk production due to thermal stress on animals. The Lancet study cited earlier projected that increasing temperatures could reduce milk production in India’s arid and semi-arid regions by up to 22.7%, with a 10% reduction in humid and sub-humid areas. This is a major concern given India’s reliance on dairy production to meet growing domestic demand. Beyond direct impacts on milk yield, climate change is also indirectly affecting the dairy sector through disruptions to feed and water availability. Degradation of grazing lands and fluctuations in fodder supply make it increasingly difficult for smallholder dairy farmers to adequately nourish their animals, further compromising productivity. Addressing these multifaceted challenges posed by climate change and environmental stresses will be crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability and resilience of India’s dairy industry.
Mitigation Strategies
To address the low productivity of Indian dairy animals, a comprehensive and integrated approach involving various stakeholders is needed. The following strategies can be employed:
- Genetic Improvement Programs
Implementation of systematic breeding programs, such as selective breeding, crossbreeding with high-yielding exotic breeds, and adoption of advanced reproductive technologies like artificial insemination and embryo transfer, can enhance the genetic potential of the dairy herd. The Government of India’s Rashtriya Gokul Mission focuses on the development and conservation of indigenous breeds to increase the genetic potential of the unregistered bovine population and milk productivity. By upgrading the genetic makeup of dairy animals through targeted breeding interventions, their inherent capacity for higher milk yield can be unlocked.
- Improved Feeding and Nutrition Management
Promoting the cultivation of high-yielding and nutritious fodder varieties, establishing fodder banks, and educating farmers on balanced ration formulation can ensure adequate nutrition for dairy animals.
Addressing the deficit in dry and green fodder supply, which was around 12% and 30% respectively in 2020, is crucial. Providing support for forage production, marketing of seed, and strengthening extension networks can help improve the availability and adoption of quality feed and fodder. By ensuring that dairy animals receive a well-balanced diet, their productivity can be significantly enhanced.
- Strengthening Animal Health Services
Increasing the availability and accessibility of veterinary services, implementing preventive healthcare measures like vaccination and deworming, and promoting better reproductive management practices can improve overall herd health and productivity. Frequent outbreaks of diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease and Brucellosis continue to affect livestock health and lower productivity. Intensive efforts to control these diseases through vaccination programs and improved disease surveillance can help mitigate the impact of health issues on milk yield
- Promotion of Organized Dairy Farming
Encouraging the establishment of cooperative dairy farming models, providing access to credit and subsidies for infrastructure development, and facilitating the adoption of modern dairy management practices can boost productivity. The prevalence of smallholder dairy farming systems with limited access to modern technologies and infrastructure hinders productivity improvement. Promoting high-yielding breeds, improving feed and fodder availability, and enhancing access to veterinary services and technology through organized dairy farming can unlock the potential of the sector
- Climate-Smart Dairy Farming
Adopting climate-smart practices like heat stress management, water conservation, and sustainable grazing land management can help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on dairy animal productivity. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and degradation of grazing lands due to climate change and environmental factors pose additional challenges to dairy animal productivity. Implementing strategies to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change is crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability and resilience of the dairy sector.
- Capacity Building and Extension Services
Enhancing the knowledge and skills of dairy farmers through training programs, demonstrations, and accessible extension services can empower them to adopt productivity-enhancing practices currently, only about 5% of farm households in India access information on livestock technology. Strengthening livestock extension services and providing farmers with the necessary knowledge and skills to manage their dairy animals effectively can lead to significant improvements in productivity.
By implementing these strategies in a coordinated manner, involving the government, research institutions, extension agencies, and dairy farmers, the productivity of Indian dairy animals can be significantly enhanced. This will not only help meet the growing domestic demand for milk and dairy products but also improve the livelihoods of millions of small and marginal dairy farmers.
