Low Productivity of Indian Dairy Animals: Challenges & Mitigation Strategies

Low Productivity of Indian Dairy Animals: Challenges & Mitigation Strategies

(FOCUS ON REPRODUCTION AND NUTRITION STRATEGIES IN TRANSITION COW)

1. SATHESHKUMAR*

Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics

Veterinary College and Research Institute

Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University

Orathanadu – 614625, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

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Success of Indian economy mostly relies on Agro-Livestock sector. On the other hand, sustenance of agro-livestock sector is largely dependent on the dairy industry which forms the base for livelihood of major rural populace.

As per the Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics – 2023 (BAHS, 2023), the milk production has increased from 165.40 million tonnes in 2016-17 to 230.58 million tonnes in 2022-23 (Table 1). The major portion of the total milk production is contributed by indigenous Buffaloes (31.94%) and crossbred cattle (29.81%), followed by native and non-descript cattle and buffaloes. Further, Bhogal and Beillard (2023) stated an increase in Indian dairy cattle and buffalo population in the year 2023 (194.2 and 113.3 million respectively) when compared to the year 2019 (192 and 110 million respectively). The increased milk production could be correlated with increased livestock population, but the annual growth rate of milk production is found to be steadily decreasing from 6.38 per cent in the year 2016-17 to 3.83 per cent in the year 2022-23 (BAHS, 2023). Thus the low productivity of our dairy animals is very much evident.

TABLE 1: Milk production and per capita availability details of our Nation (BHS, 2023)

Challenges on productivity of the dairy animals

BAHS (2023) documented a steady increase in per capita availability of milk from 351 gm/ day in 2016-17 to 459 gm / day in 2022-23 (Table 1). The increased demand could be attributed to the awareness among the public on the nutritive value of milk and availability of more value added dairy products. The increased demand is being catered by the increase in the cattle population but not the productivity of the individual animal. This is the serious concern about the sustenance and profitability of the dairy sector, which is clearly indicated by a proportionate decline in annual growth rate when compared with previous years. The increasing trend in per capita availability of milk indicates that productivity of the dairy animals should be increased with their existing population, so as to cater the increasing demand, rather than increasing the population.

Milk production is directly dependent on two important factors viz., Nutrition and Reproduction. Both these factors have an intricate interplay in the production of the dairy animal, and any hindrance in the coordination poses the major challenge in quality and quantity of milk yield. Eventhough nutritional factor aids in maintaining and improving the quality and quantity of milk production, ‘Reproduction’ is the basic for sustained milk production in any herd.

Nutrition and Reproduction are blended in the ‘transition period’ of a dairy cow. Transition phase highlights the crucial physiological, metabolic and nutritional transformations that take place during the pre-, peri- and postpartum period in a cow (Martens, 2020). During this period, the nutrient demand increases as a future need for milk production. After parturition, this demand doubles within a few days and further increases to 3-5 times within a few weeks. Improper management of the transition period negatively influences the productivity and economy. Thus these two factors should be concentrated to develop new strategies for improving production from individual animals which add up for the improved dairy industry on a whole.

Nutritional Strategies in transition cow to augment and maintain milk production  

The profitability of a dairy farm is heavily reliant on the successful transition period during lactation period of the animals. Any nutritional or management limitations during this critical time can hinder the cow’s ability to achieve maximum milk production. The primary challenge for cows is the abrupt and significant increase in nutrient requirements for milk production, occurring at a time when dry matter intake and consequently, nutrient supply are insufficient to meet the demand. Metabolic changes in peri-parturient cows associated with the onset of negative energy balance (NEB) appear most responsible for the coordinated detrimental effects on metabolic health and reproductive performance. NEB delays early ovulation and recovery of postpartum reproductive function and exerts carryover effects that reduce fertility during the breeding period. It is crucial to reduce the prevalence of metabolic diseases by adopting the transition cow management strategies (Redfern et al., 2021).

Cardoso et al. (2020) concluded that creating and providing well-balanced diets that meet the nutritional needs of cows while controlling total energy intake to match requirements before calving can help reduce the severity of NEB following calving. The reproductive performance of dairy cows can be enhanced by offering a prepartum diet that is fully acidified and has a negative dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD), along with appropriate dietary calcium concentrations (2.0% of dry matter). Hence dairy farmers, veterinarians and nutritionists ought to evaluate a blend of established tactics to enhance cow performance, as the optimal choices rely on real-world situations. Rabelo et al. (2003) determined that increasing the energy density of prepartum diets is associated with improved DMI, energy intake, and overall energy balance. This higher energy intake led to a more substantial increase in milk production rates in cows fed high-energy diets compared to those with lower energy diets Lopez-Gatius et al. (2022).

Strategies to improve fertility to ensure sustained milk production

Calf crop of any dairy farm determines the sustained milk production. At any given time about 70% of the cows in a farm should be in production for a profitable dairy enterprise. Based on the need only, ‘One calf per year’ concept was developed and propagated. Despite increasing veterinary intervention, fertility in dairy cattle has shown a consistent decline. Transition period represents a significant moment in the cow’s preparedness for the next conception by rejuvenation of the genital tract and resumption of ovarian cyclicity. Mills et al. (2018) remarked that defining the transition period clearly can aid in making better management decisions. A significant factor influencing the initiation of ovarian activity and the ability to maintain cyclicity is postpartum energy balance.

Santos et al. (2003) reported that low fertility in lactating dairy cows arises from a complex interplay of factors, including energy balance, ovarian function, uterine health and overall well-being, which collectively influence subsequent reproductive performance. Cows experiencing a NEB tend to have reduced frequencies of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulses, lower luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse frequencies, and decreased oestradiol production. These factors contribute to the development of anovulatory dominant follicles, as described by Cheong et al. (2016). Prolonged postpartum anovulation is a consequence of negative energy balance, and its duration is inversely correlated with subsequent fertility in dairy cows, as observed by Butler (2000).

Enhancing fertility in lactating dairy cows can be accomplished through appropriate feeding management strategies during the transition period. Over time, scientific interventions have been conducted to enhance energy balance by providing supplements of bypass fat and proteins. Cows fed with 30 per cent more than the recommended dietary energy during the last trimester of pregnancy showed slightly better performance compared to cows on a low-energy diet. A prepartum diet with increased calcium concentration and full acidification (Anionic) led to enhanced reproductive performance and improved uterine immune function during the postpartum period. The improvements were evident through a shortened duration to first ovulation and a tendency towards a lower service per conception rate (Ryan et al., 2020).

Proper pre-calving care can positively influence hormonal balance and improve the likelihood of timely and successful ovulation after calving. Raja (2024) stated that 30 per cent of cows which were fed with high energy diet (in the form of bypass fat) during the transition period exhibited the oestrus signs in the first postpartum ovulation. This indicated that the supplementation of bypass fat could influence the exhibition of oestrus signs. Further he stated that the inclusion of bypass fat diet demonstrated enhancement in genital tract involution, exhibited a more favourable postpartum ovarian rebound and in turn better fertility. The research also recorded that milk production was significantly increased in dairy cows fed with high energy ration during the transition period.

Conclusion:

Incorporation of high energy diet in terms of bypass fat would provide better energy supplementation in addressing the metabolic requirements without affecting the rumen function. Thus it could be concluded that high energy diet in the transition period can be recommended for better utero-ovarian rebound, fertility and milk production in crossbred cows of our region. Further, Lab to land research should be concentrated on production of low cost balanced ration and improved reproductive management to augment and sustain the milk production among Indian dairy cattle

 References:

Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (2023). Govt. of India, Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairying, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.

Bhogal, S. and Beillard, M.J. (2023). Livestock and Products Annual – 2023. USDA.

Butler, W.R. (2000). Nutritional interactions with reproductive performance in dairy cattle. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 60: 449-457.

Cardoso, F. C., K. F. Kalscheur and J. K. Drackley (2020). Symposium review: Nutrition strategies for improved health, production, and fertility during the transition period. J. Dairy Sci., 103(6): 5684-5693.

Lopez-Gatius, F., M. Llobera-Balcells, R.J. Palacín-Chauri, I. Garcia-Ispierto and R.H.F. Hunter, (2022). Follicular size threshold for ovulation reassessed. insights from multiple ovulating dairy cows. Animals, 12: 1140: 1-9

Martens, H., 2020. Transition Period of the Dairy Cow Revisited: I. Homeorhesis and its changes by selection and management. J. Agri. Sci., 12: (3): 1-13.

Mills, K.E., D.M. Weary, and M.A.G. Keyserlingk, (2018). Identifying barriers to successful dairy cow transition management. J. Dairy Sci., 103: 1749–1758

Redfern, A.E., L.A. Sinclair, and P.A. Robinson, (2021). Dairy cow health and management in the transition period: The need to understand the human dimension. Res. Vet. Sci., 137: 94–101.

Ryan, K. T. A. R. Guadagnin, K. M. Glosson, S. S. Bascom, A. A. Rowson, A. J. Steelman, and F. C. Cardoso, (2020). Increased dietary calcium inclusion in fully acidified prepartum diets improved postpartum uterine health and fertility when fed to Holstein cows. Theriogenology, 142: 338-347.

Raja, S. (2024) Postpartum utero-ovarian rebound and fertilityof crossbred cowssupplemented with high energy anionic diet during transition period. Ph.D thesis submitted to TANUVAS.

Santos, J.E.P., S.O. Juchem, K.N. Galvao and R.L.A. Cerri, (2003). Transition Cow Management to Reduce Metabolic Diseases and Improve Reproductive Management. Adv. Dairy Tech., 15: 287-305.

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