MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO COMBAT LOW PRODUCTIVITY OF INDIAN DAIRY FARM ANIMALS

MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO COMBAT LOW PRODUCTIVITY OF INDIAN DAIRY FARM ANIMALS

 Vishal Kumar Sinha*, Ritesh Patel, Md. Imran, Sanjiv Kumar

Department of Veterinary Pathology, Bihar Veterinary College, Patna-14

Introduction

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 (2019’s 20th Livestock Census). Keeping animals as a livelihood offers a means of generating cash and promoting the well-being of rural communities. For dairy farmers, the production of milk and milk products is crucial. About 25% of India’s GDP comes from the agriculture and related industries, including the dairy industry (Agriculture Today, 2022). India is the world’s top producer of milk, contributing 23 percent of global. Despite having a large number of cattle and producing a lot of milk, India produces less milk per animal. In contrast to the global average of 2238 kg/year, Indian dairy cows only produce 1538 kg annually.

History of Dairy Development in India

The history of dairy development in India is marked by significant milestones, particularly the White Revolution, which transformed the dairy sector. Initiated in the 1970s, the White Revolution, led by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), aimed to increase milk production through cooperative structures and improved dairy farming practices. This movement led to a substantial increase in milk production, making India the largest milk producer globally.

The White Revolution

The White Revolution, also known as Operation Flood, was a landmark project initiated by the NDDB in 1970. It was the world’s largest dairy development program and aimed to create a nationwide milk grid. The program was implemented in phases and focused on increasing milk production, augmenting rural incomes, and providing fair prices to consumers. The success of Operation Flood transformed India from a milk-deficient nation to the world’s largest milk producer.

Role of Verghese Kurien

Verghese Kurien, known as the “Father of the White Revolution,” played a transformative role in India’s dairy sector by spearheading Operation Flood, which revolutionized milk production and distribution. His visionary leadership centered on empowering farmers through the formation of cooperatives, ensuring they retained control over the entire milk production process and received a fair share of the profits. The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets the Amul brand, stands as a significant achievement of his cooperative model. Kurien also introduced various technological innovations, such as modern dairy equipment and crossbreeding practices, to enhance the productivity and genetic potential of dairy animals. Beyond the dairy industry, he was a staunch advocate for rural development and agricultural growth, influencing national policies to support these areas. His comprehensive approach not only transformed the dairy sector but also contributed significantly to improving rural livelihoods in India.

 Challenges

An essential component of agriculture, livestock farming can help marginal and small farmers become more financially stable and contribute significantly to the socioeconomic development of rural households.

India has very low animal output for a variety of reasons, including poor management, a lack of feed and fodder, a lack of farmer advice, and restricted access to livestock extension services.

1. Shortage of feed and fodder– Dairy animals that are productive face competition from an excessive number of infertile animals for the limited supply of grain and fodder.  Because of industrial expansion, the grazing area is shrinking significantly each year, which causes a lack of feed and fodder to meet demand. Dairy animals’ performance is limited by the widening gap between supply and demand for feed and fodder. Furthermore, the animal production system is hampered when dairy animals are fed subpar fodder. Inadequate feeding is caused by the small and marginal farmer’s limited financial resources as well as the agricultural laborers involved in dairy growth. Diseases caused by mineral deficiencies arise when a mineral mixture is not supplemented. Expensive feeding lowers the dairy industry’s earnings.
2. Breeding system– In the majority of Indian cattle breeds, late maturity is a prevalent issue. Cattle owners are unable to recognize heat symptoms during the estrus cycle in an effective manner. Animal performance is becoming less efficient due to the increasing calving interval. Abortion-causing diseases cause financial losses for the sector. Infertility is caused by vitamin, hormone, and mineral deficits.
3. Education and training– Safe dairy products could be produced as a result of intensive education and training programs on appropriate dairy practices, but for them to be successful, they must be interactive. In this view, it is crucial that all staff members receive education and training so they can comprehend their work and grow to have a sense of responsibility. However, the management’s strong commitment is necessary to design and implement such initiatives in the dairy sector, which can occasionally be a roadblock.
4. Health– Veterinary hospitals are situated in remote areas. The disparity in the number of cattle and veterinary facilities leads to insufficient health care for animals. There is a high rate of calves’ death, particularly in buffalo, as a result of the frequent deworming program and lack of adherence to a periodic immunization schedule. There is insufficient immunity developed to prevent different cow illnesses.
5. Hygiene conditions– Many cattle owners expose their animals to harsh weather conditions by failing to provide them with enough shelter. Mastitis is caused by unhygienic conditions in milking yards and livestock sheds. The amount of milk and other product deterioration and storage quality is reduced when it is produced in an unsanitary manner.
6. Marketing and pricing– The price that dairy farmers receive for their milk supply is not fair. Since the price of milk is determined by the amount of fat and solid nonfat milk in the milk, the fat content of crossbred cow’s milk is decreasing as a result of the widespread crossbreeding program with the Holstein Friesian breed. Due to a lack of marketing resources and extension services, farmers are also not seen favorably by the public when it comes to choosing commercial dairy farming over other careers. Households in both urban and rural areas have self-imposed banned door-to-door sales of liquid milk during the pandemic, forcing farmers to sell their entire crop to dairy cooperatives at a significantly reduced price.
7. Cost:Furthermore, while there is a significant shortage of fodder and calf feed, which has increased input costs, the demand for milk and milk products has decreased as a result of the shop closures.
8. Market fluctuations: Additionally, Covid-19 has nearly completely stopped providing private veterinary care, which has resulted in the death of millions of animals. since of the way milk is produced and sold in India, milk producers are extremely vulnerable to even small shocks since consumer employment and income fluctuations can have a significant impact on the demand for milk and milk products. As a result, much work needs to be done to preserve this vital area of the Indian economy.
9. Export problems– India is the world’s largest producer of milk in terms of total quantity produced, but its average milk production per cow is still far lower than that of many other developing nations as well as industrialized nations. The mechanized systems of milking, cooling, and chilled storage are difficult to implement on India’s small milch-animal holdings, which hinders efforts to increase quality at the farm production stage. India is a big user of milk because of its enormous population as well as the fact that it is home to the world’s largest vegetarian population, for whom milk is the sole required animal product. In contrast to other major dairy exporting nations, India has very little milk surplus left over for export. Despite occasional cases of the illness in certain regions of the nation, many Western nations see India as having a widespread prevalence of foot and mouth disease (FMD). India must work together to end FMD and broaden the notion that the country is free of the ailment that affects dairy animals. In most developed nations, cow’s milk is the only milk that is widely consumed; buffalo milk is virtually unknown, although India produces a sizeable amount of buffalo milk. Foreign consumers frequently demand dairy products made from cow milk since they are unsure whether buffalo milk is suitable for human consumption.

 Mitigation Strategies

1. Catering to demand and consumption– India is the world’s greatest consumer of milk. At present, the amount of milk available per person is 370 grams, above the global per capita milk availability of 260 grams per person. Increased population, greater income levels that translate into more purchasing power, a greater desire to try new cuisines, and growing health consciousness are all predicted to fuel an increase in the market for milk and related goods. The proportion of milk and milk products in Indian consumers’ monthly per capita food expenditures is gradually increasing. The dairy industry is in for a prosperous future as the demand for milk continues to climb.
2. Startup– The Indian dairy industry has seen a rise in startup activity, which has paved the way for innovative livestock breeding and maintenance techniques, organized supply chain management, higher-quality products, product diversification, food safety, dairy technology, and expert marketing. Though it is still in its infancy, dairy entrepreneurship has the potential to revolutionize the dairy business.
3. New Technologies– Modern technologies like artificial intelligence, sophisticated analytics, and the Internet of Things are being relied upon by a large number of private businesses, co-ops, and startups to increase milk production, identify anomalies in milk production, decrease milk waste, monitor livestock health, forecast weather, build last-mile logistics infrastructure, and digitize operations. Although milk farmers and vendors in rural areas still cannot afford or access this technology, it is only a matter of time until they do, with backing from the government and business.
4. Diversifications of products– An increasing number of Indians are now demanding Value-Added Dairy Products (VAP) such as UHT/flavored milk, cheese, flavored/frozen yoghurt, ice-creams, butter, buttermilk, milk shakes and baby foods for their deliciousness, superlative edge to balanced nutrition, power of real ingredients and larger shelf life than raw milk. There is also a huge demand for these products in retail food chains, fast food outlet and coffee.
5. Management of Reproductive Health– The dairy industry’s enhanced productivity can be attributed to artificial insemination (AI) utilizing semen from genetically superior sires. Since its debut, AI has raised annual production by at least 150 kg. Even now, most farms only produce a small portion of the genetically potential milk that they could. Reproductive problems are the most frequent and expensive causes of dairy cows being culled too soon.
6. Environmental Conditions– Environmental factors can have an impact on herd productivity even in the best of housing arrangements. High-yielding cows are less tolerant of high outside temperatures, consume more dry matter, and produce more heat internally. When there are no times of cooling and excessive humidity combined, the intake of dry matter is often decreased and milk yield is decreased. To counteract heat stress, farmers have implemented a range of strategies. Large, open sides and ends (sometimes higher than 4.3 m) are built into new facilities to maximize natural ventilation. Fans and spray systems are used to maintain cow comfort. Tunnel ventilation can be installed into older enclosed structures to ensure sufficient air movement. As long as they are kept dry and protected from the wind and rain, dairy cattle can withstand extremely cold temperatures. Nonetheless, there have been notable deaths in parts of the United States that typically have moderate winters. Open-lot or dry-lot dairy cattle should always have access to shade during the warm months and protection from the wind.
7. Management of Dry cow– The majority of postpartum illnesses in dairy cows have risk factors that are present during the dry season and manifest clinically after calving. Prenatal risk factors include muddy corral conditions, overcrowding, inadequate or excessive energy intake, and poor regulation of calcium intake and absorption. These can result in diseases like hypocalcemia (milk fever), hypomagnesemia, udder oedema, ketosis, displaced abomasum, lameness, and mastitis. During this time, dairy health management programs must concentrate on preventive measures including vaccination, hoof care, corral maintenance, and nutritional monitoring. They also need to keep an eye out for the onset of these diseases in the herd.
8. Some common welfare measures should be taken in terms of regular incentives, campaigns, regular checkups by veterinarians and many more that will attract more farmers to give their animals milk regularly at constant rates that willingly increase the milk procurement by increasing milk production.

CONCLUSION

In recent decades, the Indian rural economy has relied heavily on the dairy sector. Nonetheless, the dairy industry has emerged as one of the most vulnerable segments of the rural economy due to the high price elasticity of milk and milk derivatives. Therefore, governments at all levels must address this situation and create a comprehensive framework for the sector’s overall growth, considering the significance of the dairy industry for both farmers and consumers.

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* M.V.Sc. Scholar.

  Email: vishalbvc17@gmail.com

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