LOW PRODUCTIVITY OF INDIAN DAIRY ANIMALS: CHALLENGES & STRATEGIES

LOW PRODUCTIVITY OF INDIAN DAIRY ANIMALS: CHALLENGES & STRATEGIES

Dr. Jayashree. R, Professor, Dept. of Animal Genetics and Breeding

Veterinary College, Hebbal, Bangalore, KVAFSU

Email: jayavet@gmail.com, Contatct: 9448627916

Introduction:

The livestock sector has emerged as an important sector for ensuring a more inclusive and sustainable agriculture system. Raising livestock/animals is also a form of security against climatic and economic risks and a means of accumulating and maintaining financial reserves. Livestock maintenance is more way of life for the farmers and serves as a hedge against disasters such as floods and draughts.

Cattle in mythology and history

In India majority of the religious rituals (Hindu culture) encourages the use of cow milk, ghee, curd or a mixture of these ingredients with cow urine and dung known as Pancha gavya. Cows are worshipped with sanctity for it is the abode of many gods and goddesses. It is customary to boil milk on a stove or lead a cow through the entrance of new house during house warming ceremony. All these based on the religious sentiments and there are evidences in Hindu mythology like the “Kamadhenu” or “Cow of plenty” and is known as mother of the present cows. Nandhini is the daughter of Kamadhenu and all the temples have the statue of the bull “Nandi” which shows that the ancient wisdom on the importance of breeding cattle for their best production ability. The Vedic writings demonstrate not only pastoral and economic importance of cattle but in equal measure the ritualistic and sacrificial role of the animal. Without the presence of cows ghee there is no possibility of performing sacred rituals that will gratify the 33 million demigods who are responsible for universal management. [Ref: http://yadavhistory.com/mother_cow]. By the end of the Vedic period (800–600 BCE), the metaphoric, literary and figurative cow of the Indus Valley and early Vedic times had transformed into a literal object of sanctity, to be protected and revered in its own right.

Description of cattle in ancient literature

Two cattle breeds’ Milch cattle (Dhenu) that had early maturity and mating capacity and draught breed (anadvan) that matures at later age of five years. Breeds were known on the basis of breeding regions. Cattle breeding became a religious right. Rising of stud bulls by special feed consisting of salt and other substances is mentioned in vedas.

Nandi- Bull statue Balligavi, Shikaripura taluk, Shivamogga district, Karnataka state	White cattle preferred for Hindu Rituals Malnad Gidda Cattle, Shimoga	Bullock carts in use at Belgaum, Karnataka
Picture Courtesy:Dr Jayashree, R

Ancient Indians were very particular about selection of bulls which were used to multiply finds a mention in Matsya Purana, Manu smrithi, Apastamba sutra and Parasara Samhita. Kautilya’s Arthashastra mentions severe punishments were ordained for cruelty to animals. Maharishi’s Atri, Parasara, Gautama framed definite rules for cattle in ploughs. Agni purana mentions that King’s were envisaged to preserve the cattle of the country. Dedication of bulls for breeding purpose was a great ceremony and was performed under well laid down rules and regulations. The criteria for selection of the animals especially that of breeding bulls is mentioned in

Purana	Criteria’s for selection of bull
Vishnu purana	1. An offspring of heavy milker, with young ones living 2. Not deficient in any limb 3. Capable of protecting the whole herd
Mathsyapurana	1. Bull should have elevated shoulders, must be well built with roar like thunder, high stature and graceful walk. 2. Big hump, soft and straight tail, tender cheeks, broad back 3. Shining eyes, sharp horns and excellent switch of tail

Classification of cattle herds

1. In Kautilya’s Arthshastra the cattle herds were classified according to their productivity status and accordingly they were maintained as separate herds of almost 100 in each herd.  It is mentioned as the duties of the Superintendent of cows who shall supervise the herds in eight different categories.Herds maintained for wages	2. Herds surrendered for a fixed amount of dairy produce	3. Useless and abandoned herds	4. Herds maintained for a share in dairy produce (1/10th of the share is given to superintendent).
5. Classes of herds- Herds that are tameable used for further breeding and they are branded	6. Cattle that strayed- unclaimed ones	7. Cattle that are irrecoverably lost- due to disease or drowning or stuck in lightning	8. Cowherds shall apply remedies to calves or aged cows- The excess of milk is made into produce

The present day cows have been evolved from the humped Bos primigenius namadicus millions of years ago. The oldest evidence of cattle assuming any kind of symbolic role can be traced back to the temples and friezes of the Mesopotamian Civilization, which is thought to have influenced the Harappan Civilization of the Indus Valley. During the present scenario the annual festivals like Deepavali (Go Puja)or Sankranthi (maatu pongal) are always celebrated with due importance of the cow and bull.  During the rule of King Asoka in the 2^nd century BCE, and for a time ahimsa or non-violence became the law of the land. Other sects like Jainism and Buddhism also encouraged protection of cows under the philosophy of ahimsa (non-violence). Animal-shelters (pinjarapoles) and cow-homes (gaushalas) emerged all over the country (14^th -17^th centuries). During the Moghul reign too importance was given for cattle rearing for milk and milk products. Many indigenous milk products like Rabri, Phirni, khir etc were popular in Moghul period and they encouraged buffalo rearing for high milk production. During the British reign too Military dairy farms were established to meet out the demand for milk and meat. Most of the scientific breeding originated from these organized farms. During the freedom movement many Hindu organizations along with the leadership Mahatma Gandhi shifted the focus of the cow protection from a nationalistic and religious emphasis to a more scientific and economic perspective based on compassion and welfare. Commissions were appointed and cattle husbandry was promoted on scientific lines through the establishment of research institutes and dissemination of knowledge about model cattle farms.  “The State shall endeavor to organize agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle.” In 1966, several conservative Hindu political parties, Jain community, the Arya Samaj community, the Bhartiya Jana Sangh and others joined forces to march and form a Committee for Cow-Protection.  In summary, there have been 3000 years of events contributing to cow-centrism, cow-worship and a complete countrywide legal ban on its slaughter.

With all these evidences in ancient literatures/puranas/history it is understood that lot of importance have been given for selective breeding and categorizing the herds according to their status. Further breeding was targeted for increased milk production and the herd size have been always mentioned in hundreds which also indirectly indicates the availability of sufficient grazing pastures for such larger herds. But in due course with the various forces of geo political in nature and later changes in the policy decisions have resulted in low producing Indian cattle.

Commercialization of milk started in the early twentieth century. In the absence of fast transportation the milk a perishable commodity it was converted to milk products like ghee, butter, khoa and curd, whereas liquid milk was priced higher which caused the exploitation of common man by middleman. As a result the co-operative milk producers unions were started at Kaira District, Gujarath in the year 1946 which was later expanded across the country and now the milk societies and the union have become a livelihood for many farmers under the Operation Flood programmes.

Status of cattle population in the 19^th and 20^th century

India stands number one in milk production with 230.58 Mn Tonnes in the year 2022-23, forty eight percent of which comes from cows including 20% from indigenous and 28% from crossbred or exotic cows. The cattle population in the year 1992 country stood at 204.58 million, but this has substantially reduced to 192 million in a period of 27 years as per the 2019 livestock census. However the per animal productivity is far less in comparison to other nations. One of the major reasons is due to poor plane of nutrition in terms of good quality feed and fodder. The situation is still driven into a grave situation because of the vagaries of monsoon and so much so the cultivation practices continue to change depending on these. The loss of large areas of pastures has been attributed to land fragmentation by rural infrastructure projects and expansion of human dwellings to meet the expanding human population.

Bullock pair Belagaum, Karnataka	Native Calves Amrith Mahal farm, Ajjampura, Karnataka
Cross bred cattle show	Crossbred calves
Picture Courtesy:Dr Jayashree, R

As per the livestock census 2019, India has 14.21 crore indigenous cattle and 5.13 crore exotic/ cross bred population in India. The majority indigenous cattle (73.39%) have however, declined by 6.0% from that of previous census of 2012. There had been radical changes within cattle population over the last couple of years indicating a shift in the priority of the farmers from bullock production to milk production. In spite of all unfavourable circumstances indigenous cattle contributing immensely in the economy of the country through milk, draught, urine, dung, bones, hides, horns, etc.

Present day cattle breeds

India possess the largest and varied livestock population with large genetic variance in the form of breeds and strains with some of the most productive breeds in the world such as Murrah buffaloes, well adapted milch breeds such as Gir, Tharparkar, Sahiwal and Red Sindhi, elegant draught breeds such as Amrithmahal, Khillar, Hallikar and Kangayam and dual purpose breeds like the Deoni, Ongole etc.  These breeds are naturally adapted because of the factors that influence heat loss that includes

1. Physical nature of superficial tissues, especially their fat and water content
2. Blood flow through superficial tissues
3. Area body surface
4. Colour of body surface
5. Transudation of water
6. Sweat production and nature of its distribution on body surface
7. Nature of hair coat on body surface
8. Movements of the body surface
9. Volume of the respiratory ventilation per minute.

Adaptability of Indigenous breeds is characterized by: minimum loss of body, high temperature reproductive rate, high disease resistance, low mortality and good longevity. All these traits are polygenic and selection for improvement takes a very long time to active desirable changes especially because of the long generation interval.

The population of indigenous breeds of cattle is in the reducing trend while there is an increase in the cross bred population. However the overall cattle population is almost consistent with the livestock census data.

Thrust for conservation of animal genetic resources

In order to give a major thrust to conservation and development of indigenous breeds in a focused and scientific manner, Rashtriya Gokul Mission is being implemented under the National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development. The mission is implemented with the objectives of; a) Developing and conserving indigenous breeds; b) Undertaking breed improvement programme for indigenous cattle breeds so as to improve their genetic makeup and increase the stock; c) Enhancing milk production and productivity; d) Upgrading nondescript cattle by using elite indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Deoni, Tharparkar and Red Sindhi; and, e) Distributing disease-free high genetic merit bulls for natural service. The National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), which aims at enhancing food security and protection of resources such as land, water, biodiversity and genetics.

Present Day Challenges of Indian Dairy Animals

Availability of Breeds and performance recording

1. Vast number of breeds with least producing ability. No clear demarcation of the boundaries of pure breeding herds.
2. No authentic methods to identify different breeds and identification or certification.
3. Farmers are reluctant to maintain because they are low producing animals
4. Selection for draught animals over the centuries resulted in negative selection for milk production.
5. Non availability of semen of different breeds to maintain their purity in the breeding tract.
6. Field performance recording is lacking as the dairy farming is unorganized.

Breeding policy

1. Policy decision- Implementation of crossbreeding and encouragement by way of subsidies increased the number cross bred animals.
2. Marketability of the milk and milk products made the rearing of crossbred as an economically viable business.
3. Indiscriminate crossing of pure breeds of different states to other pure breeds of different states as there is no strict breeding policy or restriction of animal movements from pure breeding tract.

Other forces

1. Mechanization of agriculture now resulted in the disinterest among farmers to rear Indian draught cattle breed.
2. Unproductive and surplus cattle compete with humans for land and resources, cause substantial damage to crops,
3. Wasted resource- Unwanted cattle overgraze in the vast fields resulting in soil erosion.
4. Many cattle survive by scavenging food waste and hence are less productive and hence abandoned.
5. They also consume large quantities of indigestible and potentially toxic materials in their search for food residues, consuming large amounts of plastic bags which remain trapped inside the rumen, rendering the animal unable to eat and slowly starving to death.
6. Many cattle are smuggled across India’s borders for slaughter or travel long distances to those states permitting slaughter hence reduction in sizeable number of large breeds.
7. Reluctance to cull infected animals means that it is virtually impossible to control or eradicate this disease in Indian herds.

Animal Welfare

1. Housing in improper shelters, poor feed and water spacing.
2. No pasture land for grazing
3. Animals are transported and handled in a completely unregulated manner.
4. Poor ventilation and hygiene.
5. Frequent movement of new animals into the herd in a gaushalas are particularly conducive to the spread of this disease especially Brucellosis and other zoonotic diseases
6. Inadequacy of skilled labour, financial constraints and lack of veterinarian support
7. The culled animals which were mal nourished and with pre-existing reproductive disorders like anoestrous, repeat breeding, uterine infection, cervicitis, and mastitis are included to the healthy herd which predisposes to spread of diseases and a burden on management.
8. The new and existing animals are not screened for infectious zoonotic diseases and hence become a health hazard to both the workers and other cows.
9. Multidimensional animal welfare assessments on multiple animal herds have never been carried out.

Future strategies for improving the Indian Dairy cattle

Selection of cattle for milk production and breeding purpose plays a major role in improving the profitability of the rural farmers. Since time immemorial various selection methods have been adopted by the farmers as well in breeding farms. Selection of cattle based phenotypic traits like body coat colour, hair coat characteristics, skin thickness apart from other general health indicators.

1. In-situ conservation maintaining livestock genetic diversityfor preserving certain genetic traits, there is thus a strong rationale for “community-based” versus” on-station” conservation of livestock breeds.
2. Demonstrating the holistic benefits of agro-ecology across the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability Agro-ecology combines producers’ knowledge, including local and traditional knowledge, with formal scientific knowledge.
3. Nucleus herd of pure breeding animals with advanced breed recording.

• Genomic selection for the breeding herd

1. Maintaining parental lines with specialized traits
2. Benefit sharing of the animal breeders
3. Special management practices for breeding bulls.

• Introduction of artificial reproduction technologies like sex sorted semen and embryo transfer for faster propagation of elite bulls and dams.

1. Participatory approaches –Need based training and technology transfer and establishing community-based gene banks.
2. Participatory methods are best conducted by a local team (speaking the local languages).
3. Promoting the use of large quantities of agro-industrial by-products are generated worldwide, including straw, stalks, leaves, husks, shells, peel, lint, seeds/stones, fruit pulp, sugar-cane bagasse, sweet-sorghum milling, spent coffee grounds and brewers’ spent grains.

• Promotion of various milk and milk products with increased shelf life.

1. Commercializing, cold chain, packaging, marketing channels for various products
2. Advanced machineries for bulk production of products
3. Training and awareness. Continuous skill up gradation of the farmers is essential.

• Conducting of competitions and honouring individual animal breeders
• New technology in value added dairy products’ processing

1. Importance of neo natal care of elite animals
2. Hygienic farming practices and screening of animals for communicable diseases and zoonotic diseases.
3. Appropriate decisions n culling of unproductive and animals with permanent disability.
4. Creation of Bio village– Ensuring protection of water resources, best utilization of cultivated land.
5. Conservation of environment and ecological balance, local/original fishery cultivation,.
6. Fodder propagation with many varieties and adopting water conservation methods.

• Mixed farming practices, tree plantation, apiculture, neem tree plantation, herbal gardens

1. Organic farming, vermi-compost preparation and its utilization,
2. Bio pesticides, use of importance of medicinal herb planting are important features of this bio-village project.
3. Biogas production and electricity generation

• Geo tagging of livestock and products from indigenous breeds.
• Organizing livestock shows and especially more thrust on indigenous cattle breeds.

1. New product development for cattle feeding (total mixed ration)
2. Converting all the waste and barren lands to become a major space for fodder production
3. Water resources shall be improved by adopting water harvesting technologies and recycling of waste water after proper water treatment.
4. Incentives for use of Animal power– Animal drawn implements innovated by ICAR institutions to be encouraged.
5. Innovation of newer devices utilizing solar energy and animal power to be encouraged with a vision of utilizing the male stock of different breeds.
6. Use of animal power for medium to shorter distance transport of agricultural good within farm.

• Incentives for use of animal power

1. Loans for food & agro-based processing units
2. 100% income tax exemption available to new food processing, preservation and packaging units for the first 5 years of operation, and at the rate of 25%-30% thereafter
3. Incubation centres created for young entrepreneurs.
4. Ecotourism – The products from native breeds will be delicacy for the tourists. For example the milk of Gujjar Buffaloes in Uttar Pradesh is supplied to thousands of tourists and pilgrims.
5. Promoting the business among health conscious tourists
6. Introduction of value added products like ghee, flavoured yogurt, butter (with variants), flavoured milk, cheese etc.

• Development of eco parks with live animal exhibits and creation of possible human animal interaction.

1. Therapeutic animal resorts with facilities for human stay as well have a healthy relationship with animals.
2. Use of ICT technology– There is a need to improve data collection and to provide concrete guidance to governments and researchers on how to monitor and assess the evolution of mixed systems
3. Digital marketing platforms
4. Developing newer AI driven tools for popularizing the speciality of the products from indigenous cattle.

• Advanced technology to meet the international market demands.

1. Involving more rural youths  by up scaling their knowledge on using of ICT tools
2. Research studies on grazing and ruminating behaviour
3. Animal recording system using ICT
4. Integration of these aspects into higher education
5. Farmer’s field schools with specific goal focusing on the aspect of conservation of breeds.
6. The skill of the rural youths in surveying, documentation, economic valuation.

• Introduction of vocational training centres on the lines of ITI for various infrastructure Engineering related to dairy farming.(fencing, roofing, flooring)

1. Certificate and diploma courses on fabrication of animal handling equipments, feed mills, animal restraining equipments, transport of sick animals to hospitals
2. Research innovation on various animal welfare measures (Smart farming, detection of heat, automatic milk recording, climate alert system and control system)
3. Short term training programmes for filed level functionaries and agencies involved in rural development

• Have strong relationship with line departments and farm varisities.
• Financing and and Bank loans for young entrepreneurs.

Demonstration of fodder crops and Hydroponic fodder production
Cow dung products
Picture Courtesy:Dr Jayashree, R

 

1. Improving the crossbred population In India

Present scenario	Suggestions
1. Pure breeding ones with high productivity available in only organized private farms and the heavy investment is made on feeding of these animals.	i. Elite male calves shall be recruited for the semen production and female calves as ovum donors. ii. Female shall be superovulated and invitro or invivo embryo production can be done to safe guard the productive germ plasm.
2. Cross bred animals of high milk producing capacity but the productivity is limited to first three lactations and later they are culled and reach the hands of small farmers	i. The cows shall be maintained as ovum donors so that more calves of high productivity shall be produced. ii. Use of female sex sorted semen
3. Cross bred herd with an average milk yield in the range of 10 to 15 litres per day. These herds have inconsistency in lactation length and they are prone to be repeat breeders or affected with mastitis or metritis which may bring down the animals productivity drastically	i. Improving the feeding practices. ii. Incentives for fodder production iii. Training and awareness on hygiene and disease control measures iv. Support for construction of animal houses v. Use of female sex sorted semen vi. Encouragement by way of cattle shows and rewarding the farmers for adoption of all hygienic measures
4. Low producing cross breeds in which the cost of management is more hence lead to loss for the farmers	i. These animals shall be made into a village  herd and community rearing shall be thought off for improving the animals. ii. Value addition to the dung and urine of these animals and that shall be to diverted to organic food grain production, vegetables and horticulture crops
5. Crossbreds which have been back crossed with India breeds which shows inconsistent milk production	i. These can be surrogates for the embryo transfer program of indigenous pure breeds. ii. The manure shall be diverted for organic farming, biogas production and electricity generation.
6. Unproductive dry crossbred animals which are neither fit for milking nor can be used for draughting	i. Shall be tried for improving to next level or they shall be maintained only for dung and urine and various value addition shall be made from these and serve as revenue generation. ii. Shall be attached to the bio village programs

Summary of the Suggestions proposed

A comprehensive program shall be thought off by utilizing the existing germ plasm of both indigenous and crossbred cattle herd to bring a revolutionary change in the overall conservation of biodiversity by

1. Clean milk production- Climate smart farming system
2. Organic agricultural practices- Recycling and value addition to farm waste
3. Use of Bio energy as an alternate for electricity- Alternate sources of energy
4. Preserving the soil and water for the future generation- Nature conservation

References

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Name and Designation

Dr. Jayashree, R., M.V.Sc., PhD.

Professor, Dept. of Animal Genetics and Breeding

Veterinary College, Hebbal, Bengaluru- 560024