Budget Expectation 2024-25: Dr RS Sodhi

"In India, we need to increase productivity per animal. Cross-bred cows' average productivity is 8.5 liters per animal per day. For desi cows, the average productivity is 3.4 liters. Average buffalo productivity is 6 liters per day.

Our productivity is growing at the rate of 2.1 percent per annum. Consumption is growing at the rate of 5 to 5.5 percent per annum. Hence, it is clear that we must increase the productivity of each animal. We already have more than 300 million cattle and buffalo. We cannot afford more.

Need to reduce the cost of milk per liter

Consumers can't keep paying higher prices every year. There is an urgent need to reduce the cost of milk per liter. This shall make milk more affordable for the Indian masses.

On one side, we want the milk business to be more remunerative for the milk producers. On the other hand, we want to make milk affordable for consumers. This shall happen only with higher productivity.

Major issues of concern

We need a higher feed conversion ratio. That is possible with better breeding and better feeding practices. Coming to the better breeding side, more and more animals must be covered under AI. There is a need to achieve a higher conception ratio.

AI Interventions

More trained human resources is essential for efficient AI. Sex-sorted semen needs to be more affordable. In sex-sorted semen and embryo transfer, we need a better conception ratio. If farmers have better breeds of animals, we can reduce the inter-calving period, and achieve faster first calving.

In India, there are 23 per cent NECO (Never Even Conceived Once) animals. There are practices to treat infertility among cattle. 10 to 15 pc of the NECO animals can be brought in the fertile range. In this way, more milk can be produced.

Shortfall of Feed

Our dairy farmers face a shortfall of feed. There is a 36 pc shortfall of green fodder, an 11 pc shortfall of dry fodder and a 44 pc shortfall of concentrate. We need higher availability of crop roughage.

In India, we feed the animals whatever is left over after human consumption. Our model is low input and low output. Because of low productivity, a significant portion of our feed is only for maintaining the body. Rs 90 to Rs 100 is the feed cost to maintain the animal's body. Whatever feed is given above is converted to milk. With better feed, the animals shall yield more milk, and the cost of production shall be reduced. We need fewer animals and more milk per animal for a higher feed conversion ratio.”