A recent study reveals that many Indian farmers do not prioritise milk production from their cattle. Instead, they use cattle for dung, draught power, and selling animals. This finding challenges the common belief that milk is the main reason for rearing cattle. The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) conducted the study.
The study estimates that about 38% of cattle rearers, which is nearly 30 million households, do not sell milk. While 31% of these rearers use milk for their families, around 5.6 million households raise cattle for purposes completely unrelated to milk.
This trend is more noticeable in certain states. In Jharkhand, a high 71% of rearers do not prioritise milk sales. In West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh, over 50% of rearers focus on other uses. Even in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, known for their dairy sectors, over 30% of rearers prefer benefits like dung and draught power.
These findings highlight that cattle rearing in India is a complex livelihood system. It’s not just about producing milk. This is especially true for smallholder farmers facing climate challenges.
The study surveyed over 7,300 cattle-rearing households across 15 states. This covers 91% of India’s cattle population. In nine of these states, less than half of the rearers said milk sales were their main goal.
These households usually own only 1-2 indigenous cattle. The study notes that indigenous cattle are important for non-market uses like family nutrition, dung, and providing power for farming. This is often part of larger farming systems.
Abhishek Jain from CEEW stated that public investment needs to match this diverse reality. He suggested moving away from uniform dairy policies. Instead, policies should be tailored to how households value cattle, their challenges, and changing climate risks. This will make government help more effective and preserve different farming methods.
Socio-cultural and religious reasons also play a part. In Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam, over 15% of rearers keep cattle for these reasons.
The study also looked at cattle ownership. Half of India’s rural cattle rearers own only one or two animals. Larger herds are more common in states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.
Many households own only one type of bovine. This can make them vulnerable to climate and economic shocks. This is particularly true where indigenous cattle, buffaloes, or crossbreds dominate specific regions.
Small farmers contribute less to the total output. They account for only 29% of milk production and 22% of milk sales. This is due to challenges like small herd sizes, lack of feed, and difficult farming conditions.
Nearly three out of four cattle rearers find it hard to get affordable feed and fodder. This is a major problem across the country, even where fodder is available. Declining grazing lands is also a concern in many states.
Despite these issues, the adoption of modern feeding practices like silage and balanced nutrition programmes is very low, at only 5%.
Ruchira Goyal from CEEW mentioned that feed and fodder shortages affect everyone. She believes that better extension services and supply chains can help small rearers.
Climate change is already impacting livestock keepers. Over half of buffalo rearers and half of crossbred cattle rearers reported problems due to climate factors. These include diseases, animal deaths, and stress in animals.
Many households plan to expand their herds in the future, often by adding more of the same type of cattle they already own. This suggests a continued need for diverse approaches to cattle rearing.