Sustainable Dairy Farming: Challenges and Opportunities in the 21stcentury
Dr. Dibyajyoti Talukdar
Assistant Professor
Department of Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology & Obstetrics
College of Veterinary Sciences & AH
Central Agricultural University
Selesih, Aizawl, Mizoram
Abstract:
In India, the dairy sector plays a vital role in enhancing food and nutritional security, as well as the overall welfare of the country. Livestock holds a central position and significantly contributes to the country’s robust agricultural economy. The profitability of a dairy farming operation relies on four primary components: breeding, nutrition, healthcare, and management strategies. The reproductive patterns and capabilities of animals directly affect their overall productivity. With improvement in technical knowledge, introduction of better germplasm and better managemental practices, dairy farming has been gaining an opportunity of employment and development since last few decades with its promising and challenging farmers.
Key words: Dairy farming, growth, profitability, challenges, opportunities
The livestock rearing has been an essential part of human civilization since prehistoric times. These activities have not only contributed to the availability of food and draft animal power but have also played a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. In the context of Indian agriculture, livestock holds a central position and significantly contributes to the country’s robust agricultural economy. It constitutes a pivotal sub-sector within the Indian agricultural landscape and plays an essential role in the livelihoods of majority of farmers, thereby contributing to the sustainability of agricultural operations. Additionally, livestock complements and supplements agriculture by providing crucial inputs, improving household health and nutrition, enhancing sources of income, creating employment opportunities, and serving as a reliable resource during times of necessity, often referred to as “mobile banks on hooves” (Gummagolmath et al. 2021).
This sector also plays a vital role in enhancing food and nutritional security, as well as the overall welfare of the country. Approximately 8.80% of India’s population is engaged in the livestock sector, and it supports around two-thirds of the rural community. The livestock segment makes a significant input to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, accounting for 4.11%, and it constitutes 25.60% of the total agricultural GDP. Almost 20.50 million people depends on livestock for their livelihoods in India, which contributing to 16% of the income of tiny farm households and benefiting 14% of the total rural households. Livestock holds substantial potential for providing non-farm employment and income in rural areas, making it a significant sector for women’s empowerment and equity. In Indian condition, women are competent to manage livestock and livestock products more effectively than other assets, like land and other agricultural activities or small industries (Vijayalakshmy et al. 2023).
According to 20th Livestock Census in 2019, the total cattle population in India was approximately 192.49 million, with indigenous cattle constituting 73.83% (142.11 million) and exotic/crossbred cattle constituting 26.19% (50.42 million) of the total. Roughly 125.34 million milch animals, including cows, were there (in-milk and dry). India continues to be the largest producer of milk in the world. Several measures have been initiated by the Government to improve the production of livestock, which has brought about significant increase in milk production. Milk produced during 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 were 222.07 million tons and 230.58 million tons respectively, marking an annual growth of 3.83%. In India, per capita accessibility of milk was around 459 g/day in 2022- 23 (Annual Report- NDDB, 2023-2024), which was higher than the world per capita accessibility of 322 g/day in 2022.
The dairy sector is of immense significance for India for several reasons. It serves as a substantial industry, providing employment to over 80 million rural households, primarily composed of small and marginal farmers, as well as those without land. Notably, this sector plays a crucial role in job creation, particularly for women, and has been a leading force in promoting women’s empowerment. India holds the distinction of being the world’s largest milk producer, contributing 23% of the global milk production. In the financial year 2020-21, India’s dairy industry reached an striking 210 million tons. The per capita availability of milk has seen a remarkable increase, rising from a mere 107 grams per person in 1970 to 427 grams per person in 2020-21, surpassing the world average of 322 grams per day in 2021. The success of Operation Flood, an initiative for dairy development in India, has led the Indian dairy and animal husbandry sector to become a primary source of income for a substantial number of rural households, most of whom are either landless, small, or marginal farmers. India has proudly held the title of the world’s largest milk-producing country for nearly two and a half decades (Press Information Bureau, 2022).
The profitability of a dairy farming operation relies on four primary components: breeding, nutrition, healthcare, and management strategies. From an economic point of view, several crucial factors are instrumental in effectively managing a dairy farm such as daily average milk production, milk yield during lactation, the highest yield, the age at which the first calving occurs, the time between calving’s, and the duration between calving events etc. These aspects collectively impact the productivity and reproductive efficiency of dairy animals. In the field, various issues related to productivity and reproduction can impede the ability of animals to reproduce effectively, potentially leading to a significant reduction in reproductive efficiency or, in rare cases, infertility. Hence, it is vital to provide dairy farmers with education and guidance on specific strategies to address reproductive problems in dairy animals (Tomar et al., 2023).
Currently, crossbreeding local cattle (mostly Bos indicus) with exotic Bos taurus cattle is a commonly used technique to increase the fertility and milk production of cows in tropical areas (Galukande et al., 2013). India’s rise to becoming the world’s leading milk producer has been greatly facilitated by a crossbreeding program for dairy cattle (Wakchaure et al. 2015). In India, the Zebu cattle crossbreeding with exotic genetics is thought to be a national policy and is implemented both on organized farms and in the field. This crossbreeding initiative, which dates back to India’s third five-year plan, has had a significant impact on the nation’s milk production (Bagesar et al. 2023).
The reproductive patterns and capabilities of animals directly affect their overall productivity. Adaptation to reproductive conditions within a specific environment is a critical consideration for enhancing livestock characteristics. It is important to note that, in some developing countries and based on experiences in the home country, the productive performance of crossbred cows may not meet expectations. This may be attributed to a lack of adaptability to adverse environmental conditions, limited availability, and the value of maintaining high-yielding breeds in the existing socio-economic context. Regardless of the approach to genetic improvement, identifying the best genotype within and among breeding stock is of utmost importance (Haque et al. 2011).
Various factors in the environment, including the herd, year, calving season, age at calving, and management practices, play a significant role in shaping the performance and assessment of individual animals and populations (Payne and Wilson, 1999). To optimize conditions in intensive farming systems, meticulous planning and administration of facilities are essential, grounded in a comprehensive understanding of animal physiology. The timing of calving emerges as a critical element influencing both productivity and reproductive traits. High rise of temperatures lead to increased respiratory rates, resulting in a noticeable decrease in feed intake as well as milk production. It is important to highlight that the calving season significantly affects overall milk output, with cows calving in winter demonstrating the highest milk production for each lactation compared to those calving during dry summer or wet summer-autumn (Amasaib et al., 2011).
Most of the cows used to produce milk in Mizoram and other North East region are crossbred and native cows (Malsawmdawngliana and Rahman, 2016). The mountainous terrain necessitates the preference of intensive rearing practices, leading to dairy cattle being housed in sheds for the majority of their lives. Fluctuations in fodder availability due to seasonal variations significantly impact the production and health of these animals. Most ingredients in concentrate feed are not locally produced in Mizoram and other north-east region, requiring a reliance on supplies from neighboring states. The prolonged dry months in north-east region especially in Mizoram (November to March) exacerbate fodder scarcity, leading to the utilization of leaves from banana trees and other jungle trees as feed for the animals (Talukdar et al., 2022). Heavy rainfall and subsoil leakage contribute to the poor quality of fodder grown within the states. Limited irrigation infrastructure further restricts fodder cultivation, especially during the dry season. The combination of confinement housing, insufficient feeds and fodders, and environmental challenges results in the suboptimal dairy cattle’s output in the region.
Traditional dairy farming plays a longstanding role in the Northeast India where the whole population is relying on the substantial milk production. However, with improvement in technical knowledge, introduction of better germplasm through Artificial Insemination and better managemental practices, dairy farming has been gaining an opportunity of employment and development since last few decades with its promising and challenging farmers in the region. The combination of confinement housing, insufficient feeds and fodders, and environmental challenges results in the suboptimal dairy cattle’s output in India.
References:
20th Livestock Census, (2019). Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
Amasaib, E.O., Fadel-Elseed, A.M., Mahala, A.G. and Fadlelmoula, A.A. (2011). Seasonal and parity effects on some performance and reproductive characteristics of crossbred dairy cows raised under tropical conditions of the Sudan. Livest. Res. Rural. Dev., 23(4): 1-6.
Bagesar, J.L., Patil, S.M. and Naik, S.D. (2023). To assess the effect of dry period on the subsequent production and reproduction performance of Holdeo (Holstein Friesian x Deoni) interse. J. Pharm. Innov., 12(1): 316-317.
Galukande, E., Mulindwa, H., Wurzinger, M., Roschinsky, R., Mwai, A.O. and Sölkner, J. (2013). Cross-breeding cattle for milk production in the tropics: achievements, challenges and opportunities. Animal Genetic Resources/ Resources GénétiquesAnimales/ RecursosGenéticos Animals.,52: 111-125.
Gummagolmath, K.C. and Murthy, L. (2021). National Institute of Agriculture Extension Management (MANGE). Livestock Extension Services: Time to think Beyond Treatment and Breed Improvement.,2: 3-7
Haque, M.N., Haque, M.R., Parvin, A. and Hussain, M.M. (2011). Productive and reproductive performance of different Crossbred cattle at Sylhet Govt. dairy farm. Progress. Agric., 22(1 and 2): 47-54.
Malsawmdawngliana, R. and Rahman, S. (2016). Management practices followed by the dairy farmers of Mizoram, India. J. Livest. Sci., 7: 220-225.
Payne, W.J.A. and Wilson, R.T. (1999). An introduction to animal husbandry in the tropics (No. Edn 5). Blackwell Science.
Press Information Bureau (2022). Government of India. https://pib.gov.in/FeaturesDeatils.aspx?NoteId=151137andModuleId%20=%202. Accessed on 24 October 2023.
Talukdar, D., Sarma, K., Kalita, G., Rahman, S., Goswami, R., Chethan, G.E., Das, H. and Konwar, B. (2022). Role of Animal Husbandry Practice in Upliftment of Socio-economic status of Mizo farmer: A Review. Bhartiya Krishi Anusandhan Patrika. doi: 10.18805/BKAP572.
Tomar, D.S., Lathwal, S.S., Singh, P. and Devi, I. (2023). Evaluation of productive and reproductive performance of dairy animals in district Muzaffarnagar of Uttar Pradesh. Indian Res. J. Ext. Edu., 23(3): 60-65.
Vijayalakshmy, K., Chakraborty, S., Biswal, J. and Rahman, H. (2023). The role of rural indian women in livestock production. Euopean J. Humanities Soc. Sci., 3(1): 91-98.
Wakchaure, R., Ganguly, S., Para, P.A., Praveen, P.K., Kumar, A. and Sharma, S. (2015). Development of crossbred cattle in India: a review. Int. J. Emerging Technol. Adv. Eng., 5(10): 169-183.
