Sustainable dairy farming-Recent trends

Sustainable dairy farming-recent trends
Dr.T.P.Sethumadhavan

In India dairying is currently in a state of transition with rapid development in milk production, processing and marketing facilities benefiting rural milk producer and the under privileged urban consumer. Out of 210 million cattle and 75 million buffaloes more than 54% of milk is from buffaloes; which constitute around 33% of livestock population. In terms of economic accomplishment, milk is number one farm commodity towards contribution to National economy. India is currently the largest milk producing country in the world. With the implementation of GATT agreement livestock production and marketing has to be viewed in a global perspective. Sustained economic growth and rising domestic incomes are driving rapid growth in livestock product demand. Of the total households in rural areas, about 73% own livestock. Income from livestock sector accounts for 15-40% of total farm household incomes. Small and marginal farmers account for 3/4th of this household, raising 56% of bovine population. Dairy sector employs more than eight percent of India’s labor force.

During the last four decades, Kerala witnessed spectacular growth in dairying. Though the state has none of the natural attributes to make it an ideal dairy zone, (the year round hot and humid climate, highland pressure, scarcity for fodder, high rain fall and consequent mineral depletion from soil), Cattle development programme is very successful in transforming nearly 90 percent of unproductive cattle population to high yielding crossbreds with an average daily yield of 6.5 litres per animal. As a result milk production has increased from 2.2 lakh tonnes during 1963-64 to around 27 lakh tonnes in 2006-07.
Per capita consumption of milk per day in the state is over 232 grams. Indian council of Medical Research-ICMR recommends 280 gms of milk per day. But the gap between requirement and availability of milk is getting narrowed in this state. Decreasing cattle population in the state is mainly due to increasing productivity of crossbred cattle. As productivity increases number of unproductive cattle get reduced. Increasing domestic demand for milk shows that per capita consumption of milk is getting increased in the state. This is a major strength, which can be exploited through augmenting domestic milk production in the state. In order to meet the increased demand for milk during lean season; the state is procuring milk from nearby states.
Recent shortage of milk in the state and subsequent price rise for the milk marketed through Kerala state milk marketing federation-milma reveals that cost of production of milk in the state has increased substantially. But there is a huge demand for fluid milk in the state. If the availability of milk increases, per capita consumption of milk will steadily improve. Even though milma is the market leader of packeted milk in the state, of the total quantity of milk produced in the state, milma is procuring only around 12 percent of the milk produced. Rest goes to the unorganized sector.
Recently the term ‘sustainability’ has been evolved slowly keeping pace with development of production activities and the size of the human population. Due to the increased quantity of milk and milk products required for the future and the rapid development of new technologies that can modify the production systems of animals, sustainable approach to dairy cattle production is more important. Recent reports from International Food Policy Research Institute, 2020 Global Food Outlook- trends, alternatives and choices projects that child malnutrition will decline by only 20% over the next 20 years unless more aggressive measures are taken. Food and feed safety is a major concern for all over the world. It will be even more important as world trade expands and as transportation between countries becomes easier

The recent liberalization of external trade in livestock products emphasizes the importance of improving the efficiency of the domestic processing industry in order to remain competitive with imports.

Information and knowledge play critical roles in the management of natural resources and sustainable development. During the last four decades planning for higher milk output was based only on scientific knowledge. There is now widespread acceptance of the worth of indigenous knowledge also. It is also to be recognized that sustainable and environmentally sound agricultural production is a task to be achieved in partnership with different sectors of the society including Governments, research institutions, farmer organizations, NGO’s, industry and the media. Efforts should be accelerated to ensure scientific and development community through research- extension systems to adopt, tailor and improve sustainable practices of indigenous technologies for wider diffusion. This should be coupled with scientific breeding, feeding, management and disease control measures. Cardinal rules of profitable dairying are to reduce in inter calving period and age at first calving.
Even though Kerala has a breeding policy, many progressive dairy farmers suggest that they are not getting the required quantity of milk from the crossbred cows. Pure exotic breeds like Jersey and Holstein Frisian can be tried on an experimental basis in the hill track area of the state. Case studies from Egypt, Korea and UAE suggest that pure exotic cattle breeds can be tried on an experimental basis in the state.
During past in dairying production oriented programmes were given more importance without giving much emphasis to marketing. But production oriented programme coupled with marketing is the need of the hour in the state. So a marked led extension programme has to be evolved giving due weightage to rural marketing. During surplus season, farmers are unable to market the entire quantity of milk produced. Value addition is needed for increasing profit margin from dairying. Milk can be converted in to value added products like butter, ghee, curd, peda, ice cream, cheese, etc based on location specificity, demand and available technology.
Of the total cost involved in dairying more than 75 percent is for feed alone. During the last 3 decades feed cost has increased 200 percent in the state whereas cost of milk has been increased only by 50 percent. More than 90 percent of the raw materials needed for compounded cattle feed are coming from nearby states. In order to make the system sustainable, farmers need to follow scientific feeding and management strategies. Productivity enhancement programme has to be given more emphasis. Cultivation of fodder crops needs special attention. Dairy farmers having limited land availability can think of cultivating azolla at their homesteads. Azolla contains more than 25 percent protein, which will improve milk production and fat content in milk. Compounded feed and adlimitum water should be given separately. All types of new technologies in feeding has to be followed to increase milk production. Bypass fat and protein feeds, probiotics, urea molasses block, chelated mineral mixtures, total mixed ration concept; etc can be effectively used to exploit production.
Total mixed ration-TMR concept developed by National dairy development board, Sumul dairy of Gujarat and Animal nutrition division of Sri. Venkiteswara Veterinary University, Hyderabad is one of the new technologies in feeding. Scarcity of fodder is a main problem as far as Kerala is concerned. Under TMR system, concentrates and fibre are mixed as per the nutrient requirement of milch cows. TMR blocks are of two types with 14.5 KG each. One for milch cows yielding up to 15 litres of milk per day and other for cows yielding up to 10 litres per day. While giving TMR blocks there is no need for giving additional feed or fodder. Only adlibitum water is needed. Areas where land availability is limited for fodder cultivation feeding of TMR blocks can be tried, which will help to improve milk production and fat content in milk.
Cattle shed should be constructed in an eco friendly manner. Cattle shed with adequate ventilation improves production. Floor of the cattle shed should be made concrete. Cow comfort measures in the cattle shed will optimize milk production. Management measures based on climate, season, stage of lactation, etc has to be followed. Milking, reproductive and disease control management measures will make dairying more profitable. Teat dipping and dry cow therapy has to be regularly practiced in order to control the incidence of mastitis. Regular vaccination against Foot and mouth disease, Hemorrhagic Septicemia and other disease control measures will be followed. Vitamin-mineral supplements have to given regularly. Postpartum deworming will help to improve production. Quality control measures like HACCP has to be followed from production to marketing. Clean milk production programme must be practiced in a regular manner.
Recently more entrepreneurs are interested to invest money in dairying. Recent trend is more towards commercial dairying in the state. Fully computerized high tech dairy farms have already established in Maharashtra. Moreover there is enough potential for starting commercial dairy farms in the state under public private partnership.