Dairy production has been an integral element of the agricultural landscape for thousands of years. India is primarily an agrarian economy, with over 70% of the population living in villages, where animals play an essential role in socio-economic life. Milk, cheese, butter, ghee, and other high-quality meals are produced by livestock. India is not just one of the world’s top milk producers but also the world’s largest consumer of milk and milk products.
Due to a supply shortage, we have to import considerable amounts of milk products to meet internal demand.
Importance of dairy farming
Among all animal products, milk is a nutritious food. It contains the many vital food nutrients necessary by the human body in proper amounts in an easily digestible form. Milk promotes the digestibility of other foods when it is included in the human diet. Milk productivity varies by country, as some countries have surpluses, while others have deficits, and other countries have availability that meets their needs. Milk is produced by a significant number of small, medium, and big farms in India.
The number of commercial dairy farms in metro and big-city urban and semi-urban areas is increasing exponentially. Buffaloes produce about 49% of milk, followed by cross-bred and exotic cows, indigenous cows, and goats with 27%, 21%, and 3% of milk output. Camels, sheep, and yaks also provide a small amount of milk. The state of Uttar Pradesh produces the most milk in India, followed by Rajasthan.
In India, dairy farming has progressed from a rural lifestyle to a professionally managed industry. Dairy production is a significant secondary income source for many rural communities in India.
Employment potential in dairying
India has a modest percentage of the global milk trade, and only a small portion of the total milk produced is processed. In the informal sector, milk sellers acquire milk from local producers and sell it in urban and semi-urban regions. Around 65–70% of the entire milk production is handled by these milk merchants. The growth of the human population has a direct impact on food demand. However, as the world’s cultivable lands dwindle, the livestock sector’s role becomes even more critical, not just in terms of nutritional security but also in terms of job creation.
In India, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is the chief regulator of dairy imports and exports. Many populations, especially Indians living in other countries, like Indian milk desserts. The rasgulla is a fantastic illustration of this, as it has earned a place of honour as a sweetmeat worldwide. It is evident that demand for such products will continue to rise in the future, raising export possibilities. In terms of global dairy product production economics, nations with low milk production costs, such as India, are likely to benefit the most from the burgeoning dairy boom. As a result, the evolving scenario in the dairy business, both nationally and internationally, is clear.
Important Breeds Of Cattle
A breed is a sufficiently large group of animals that have evolved through the application of the principles of breeding over several centuries and as a result of hard human efforts. Animal breeding is the practice of carefully developing domestic animals in order to improve their desirable characteristics. Selective breeding and cross-breeding are two of the most common animal breeding procedures. A breed’s members share a common ancestry and physiological and economic features that are passed down through the generations.
In India, milk is produced by a variety of indigenous (desi) cattle breeds as well as cross-bred cattle. The indigenous (Bos indicus) and exotic (Bos taurus) cattle breeds are crossed to create cross-bred cattle. The presence of hump is one of the most differentiating traits of indigenous cattle. Cattle breeds are classed as milch purpose breeds, dual-purpose breeds, or draft purpose breeds based on their utility. In India, there are 41 well-known and certified indigenous cattle breeds named Gir, Hariana, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, and Tharparkar milch types.
Exotic Breeds
Exotic cattle breeds have been introduced into India to increase milk production. Holstein Friesian, Brown Swiss, Jersey, and Ayrshire are some of the exotic cattle breeds. Exotic dairy cattle breeds were developed in various climates, and they have high milk-producing potential, but they are not well adapted to the Indian environment. In India, a significant portion of the cattle population is raised for milk and draught/draft. Only about 22–25 percent of cattle are categorised as breeds, with the rest classified as non-descript.
Crossbred cattle
Cattle cross-breeding refers to mating animals from different established breeds, such as Holstein, Friesian and Sahiwal. Crossbreds are the offspring of crossbreeding, and they have a variety of traits from both parent breeds. India’s milk output has increased as a result of a dairy cattle cross-breeding initiative.
Conclusion:
The dairy industry has played a key role in India’s socio-economic change. It has resulted in numerous job opportunities as well as better nutritional advantages. Animal husbandry is a significant sub-sector of the agriculture sector, accounting for around 28.6% of total agricultural value output.