Low Productivity of Indian Dairy Animals: Challenges & Mitigation Strategies

Low Productivity of Indian Dairy Animals: Challenges & Mitigation Strategies

Dr. Pramod Sharma

Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Jabalpur

(N.D.V.S.U., Jabalpur)

 Animal husbandry is the practice of raising various animals through selective breeding and genetic modification. For some 20.5 million landless and marginal farmers in India, raising livestock is their only source of income. India is home to 57.3% and 14.7% of the world’s buffalo and cow populations, respectively (20^th Livestock Census, 2019). The rural community can create income and develop by employing people in animal husbandry. Operation Flood assisted many dairy farmers in 1970 in managing their farms’ expansion and producing more milk. India’s agricultural and livestock sectors each make up 25.6% and 4.11% of the country’s GDP. With around 11.6% of the global livestock population, India has one of the largest livestock sectors in the world. India has 535.78 million cattle heads according to the 20^th  livestock census, up 4.6% from the livestock census of 2012. There are 125.34 million milch animals overall, including cows and buffaloes, which is 6% more than there were in the last census.

For dairy farmers, the production of milk and milk products is crucial. About 25% of India’s GDP comes from the dairy industry and related industries in agriculture (Chaturvedi, 2022). India is the world’s top producer of milk, contributing 23 percent of global production. To boost cattle productivity, the Indian government has implemented a number of initiatives, including the Rashtriya Gokul Mission. With a 6% annual growth rate, the milk output in 2019–20 was 198.44 million tonnes, while in 2020–21 it was 209.96 million tonnes. Milk availability per person is approximately 427 grams per day (GoI, 2021). Milk consumption was reported by 78% of rural and 85% of urban people in the NSSO’s CES, 2011–12. But there is still a sizable market for milk, and by 2030, this market is projected to grow. Cattle and buffaloes in India provide 96% of the country’s milk. Buffaloes give 35% of this, cross-bred cattle contribute 27%, indigenous cattle contribute 10%, and non-descript animals contribute 11%. (20^th  livestock census, 2019).

Despite having a large number of cattle and producing a lot of milk, India produces less milk per animal. Just 1538 kg are produced annually by Indian milch cattle, as opposed to the world average of 2238 kg. (Vijay et al., 2018). There are numerous obstacles that prevent dairy animals from reaching their full potential.

Current dairy industry trends include:

1. Consumers’ growing demands for dairy products with clearer labels, ingredients with additional value, lower sugar content, and much more.
2. Meat substitutes, plant-based milk, and vegan options are become more and more popular.
3. Producers are attempting to improve dairy products’ nutritional profile by using components that promote wellness. They need to locate and utilize substances that, in the most straightforward method feasible, can provide functionality and shelf life.
4. Cutting waste and raising output. lowering gasoline costs and energy usage.

 Challenges to the Industry

1. Scarcity of feed/fodder:When it comes to sharing the available feed and fodder, dairy cows that are not productive face out against one another in the same numbers. Every year, urbanization and industrial development result in a reduction of the overall grazing area. As a result, there is a shortfall of feed and fodder relative to overall demand, which drives up the cost of fodder and leads to insufficient feeding. There is currently a severe fodder shortage throughout the nation. According to IGFRI Vision (2050), India is predicted to have a 35.6% shortfall of green fodder, a 10.95% deficiency of dry fodder, and a 44% deficit of concentrate feed ingredients. The total milk output is limited by this widening supply-demand imbalance.  The whole mess is compounded by low-quality fodder and diminished purchasing power of small, marginal dairy producers and agricultural workers involved in the dairy sector.
2. Breeding system:In most Indian cattle breeds, late maturity is a regular issue. Owners of cattle lack an appropriate and reliable method for identifying heat symptoms during the oestrus cycle. Animal performance is being negatively impacted by an increasing calving interval, which is the period of time between the birth of one calf and the birth of another from the same cow (Sharma et al., 2021). Fertility issues are caused by diseases that cause abortion and by deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and hormones, which have an impact on the industry.
3. Education and Training:The current situation calls for scientific education and training programs on good dairy practices, which have the potential to overcome significant obstacles. To increase participation in these kinds of initiatives, they must be well marketed. All workers in the dairy industry must get education and training in order to foster a sense of responsibility and to ensure that they are properly informed on best practices. The management’s unwavering, strong commitment is necessary to implement such programs in the dairy industry, and occasionally this could be a roadblock.
4. Health:Veterinary hospitals are situated in remote, challenging-to-reach locations. Because there are fewer veterinary hospitals relative to the quantity of cattle, these animals do not receive proper medical care. Calf mortality is high when vaccination and deworming schedules are irregular, especially for buffaloes. In India, there were 749 cases of the disease between January and December of 2016, with the majority of those outbreaks occurring in livestock species (OIE, 2018). Foot and mouth disease causes between 12,000 and 14,000 crores in economic losses each year (Singh et al., 2013). Financial As previously mentioned, cattle have insufficient immunity, which leaves them vulnerable to illness.
5. Hygiene:Many cattle owners neglect to give their animals adequate shelter, leaving them vulnerable to harsh weather and the whims of the natural world. Mastitis is caused by the unclean conditions in milking yards and cattle sheds. (In this case, inflammation is brought on by either physical damage or microbial infections of the mammary glands or udder tissue. It is the most prevalent illness affecting dairy cattle both domestically and internationally. Inadequate hygiene practices in the manufacturing of milk also result in the spoiling of milk and other dairy products as well as inadequate milk storage.
6. Marketing and Pricing:The prices that dairy farmers receive for producing milk are still not competitive. The amount of fat in cross-bred cows’ milk is decreasing as a result of widespread cross-breeding operations with the Holstein Friesian breed. Because the price of milk is determined by the amount of fat and solid nonfat milk in it, reduced prices are consequently provided. Farmers do not view commercial dairy enterprises as a viable alternative to other sources of income since they are poorly marketed and educated. Just 20% of milk was purchased by private dairies and dairy cooperatives; the remaining 32% was supplied to unorganized buyers (DAHD, 2018). Up to 2022–2023, the government wants half of the milk to come from the organized sector.
7. Low dairy penetration and high transport and handling costs: Dairy consumption is still relatively low in India. Private companies mostly gather milk, which they then sell to other distributors or private dairies. The final retail price of milk increases as it moves through several tiers and into pasteurization centers. To cut the handling costs overall, there is a good chance of lowering the number of agencies handling milk.

Interventions that have been suggested to address animals’ low productivity

1. The land use strategy must be restructured in order to increase the total amount of cultivable land used for the production of fodder to at least 10% (Planning Commission, 2019). By 2030, there will be about 250 ACU in the animal population, according to IGFRI. We have enough grain and forage to sustain 300 adult cattle units (ACU). Therefore, developing practical plans to ensure a steady supply of feed and fodder is imperative.Replacing low-producing animals with high-producing ones, giving balanced diets, adding feed supplements, using byproducts and crop residues, using unproductive land for fodder production, and cultivating Azolla are some of the potential actions (DAHD, 2018). A balanced diet increased average daily milk yield by 0.26 kg and milk fat by 0.10 percent, feeding costs decreased by Rs. 2.13 per kg of milk, and milk producers’ average net daily income increased by approximately Rs. 25 per animal, according to data from the Information Network for Animal Productivity & Health (INAPH) (NDDB, 2018).
2. Livestock progress can be tracked and breeding programs can be watched over with artificial intelligence. In order to increase conception rates, it is important to use various advancements in heat detecting technology to inseminate animals at the appropriate moment. To produce more female calves, sex sorting technology (using sexed semen) and embryo transfer technologies can be used. In contrast to exotic and crossbred animals, programs for the conservation of native breeds will produce a population of resilient animals that can endure the harsh climate of the country. Since buffalo are better suited to the Indian environment and their slaughter is not prohibited, farmers should be encouraged to raise buffalo instead of adding to the growing number of stray cattle, which is becoming a significant problem in the nation.

For the purpose of determining the breeding values and potential for production of young bull calves and heifers for their early selection, NDDB has developed two programs: INDUCHIP for cattle and BUFFCHIP for buffalo. The distribution of bulls for the generation of semen has been suggested by NDDB based on genetic merit.

3. Farmers should be taught the value of a balanced diet and vitamin and mineral supplements through a variety of extension programs. An animal’s ability to reproduce is strongly influenced by the minerals that are present in its food. It has been demonstrated that an excess or shortage of minerals affects reproduction. In dairy animals, minerals play a helpful role in restoring follicular activity and enhancing fertility. Therefore, it is necessary to adequately supplement animals’ diets with minerals in order to reduce the risk of reproductive failure and other reproductive problems.Low protein consumption has been demonstrated to diminish estrus cyclicity, hence diets with enough protein according to each animal’s metabolic demands should also be supplied. The Ration Balancing Program was started by the National Dairy Developmental Board (NDDB) to teach farmers how to feed dairy animals in a balanced manner. With the aid of software developed for this program, an animal’s profile can be used to formulate a balanced feed ration that works with a variety of electronic devices, including laptops and mobile phones. Stats are available at https://www.nddb.coop/information/.
4. To enable real-time reporting of disease outbreaks, the National Animal Disease Reporting System (NADRS) needs to be improved with digitalization and infrastructure support. Vaccination campaigns against all illnesses that can be prevented by vaccination, which target vulnerable livestock species, are another form of intervention.
5. Farmers should be taught proper farm management techniques, how to care for their animals, and different hygienic measures they can take to reduce the prevalence of reproductive disorders on their property. In order to detect and manage infections like mastitis, brucellosis, and other reproductive system abnormalities that could lower milk output, cattle should undergo routine screenings by a veterinarian.
6. One sensible milk price strategy that can be suggested is one that allows farmers to recoup their input costs. It is necessary to structurally reform the dairy cooperatives with the backing of the National Dairy Development Board. Improved marketing facilities and supply chain management for animal products could be the third potential intervention.
7. The supply chain is inadequate and the cattle market is underdeveloped. Just 20% of milk was purchased by private dairies and dairy cooperatives; the remaining 32% was sold to unorganized businesses (DAHD, 2018). Organized marketplaces are required for the marketing of dairy. Transportation facilities, milk collection centers, and bulk milk refrigeration should all be provided (NDDB, 2018). Up to 2022–2023, the government wants half of the milk to come from the organized sector (DAHD, 2018).

Conclusion

In the end, stakeholders are acknowledging that the agriculture industry has undergone a structural change during the past ten years. The agriculture sector’s new growth engine is livestock. The production, value addition, and export of dairy, fisheries, poultry, and other products have enormous potential in the livestock sector. In addition to performance, there are other issues that could pose a barrier to sustainable production. In order to accomplish sustainable development goals, increase farmers’ income, provide food security for the population, and seize possibilities in international markets, we must overcome these obstacles.

Reference

20^th livestock census (2019) Government of India. All India Report, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Government of India, New Delhi, 2019.

Chaturvedi, A. (2022). Small and marginal farmers in animal husbandry- the risk mitigation approach. Agriculture Today- the National Agriculture Magazine.; 25 (7):16-18.

DAHD (2018). Annual Report https://dahd.nic.in/reports/annual-report-2016-17.

IGFRI Vision (2050). Indian grassland and fodder research institute, 7-23.

Government of India, (2021). Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey 2020-2021.

NDDB(2018). Annual Report https: // www. nddb. Coop / sites / default / files / NDDB_AR_2016-17_Eng.pdf accessed on 6^th May 2018.

OIE (2018). http: // www. oie. Int / wahis_2 / public / wahid.php / Disease information / status detail 24 April.

Planning commission (2019). https: // niti. gov.in / planning commission.gov.in / docs / aboutus / committee / wrkgrp11/wg11_rpanim.pdf .

Sharma, J.K., Sharma, S.K., Singh, N.K. (2015). Problems and constraints of unorganized dairy farms in Jaipur region of Rajasthan. SGVU Int. J Environ. Sci. Technol. ;7(2):1-8.

Singh, B., Prasad, S., Sinha, D.K., Verma, M.R. (2013). Estimation of economic losses due to FMD in India. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences;83(9):964-970.

Vijay, D., Gupta, C.K., Malviya, D.R. (2018). Innovative technologies for quality seed production and vegetative multiplication in forage grasses. Curr. Sci. 2018;114 (1):148-154.

Please follow and like us: