Climate Change Poses Severe Threat to India's Dairy Industry and Cattle Health
India, recognized as the world's largest producer and consumer of milk, faces significant challenges as climate change increasingly impacts its cattle population. According to the National Dairy Development Board's Annual Report for 2023-2024, milk production in the country reached 188 million tonnes in 2019 and was projected to grow to approximately 242 million tonnes by 2023-2024. This vital sector contributes around 5% to the national Gross Domestic Product and supports the livelihoods of more than 80 million farmers engaged in cattle rearing.
New Study Highlights Widespread Climate Impacts on Cattle
A comprehensive analysis titled 'Cattle and Community in a Changing Climate', released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water on January 20, reveals alarming trends. The study, based on a survey of over 7,300 cattle-rearing households across 15 states covering 91% of India's bovine population, found that more than 50% of buffalo and crossbred cattle rearers, along with over 40% of indigenous cattle rearers, have reported adverse impacts from rising temperatures.
The researchers involved in this critical study include Abhishek Jain, Nikita Tank, Aastha Bafna, Ruchira Goyal, Chandan Jha, Stuti Manchanda, Madhumita Srinivasan, Rohan Gupta, Sara Haris, Arti Agarwal, and Apoorve Khandelwal. Their findings underscore how climate change-related impacts can lead to livelihood loss and income reduction for cattle rearers, potentially affecting the broader economy.
Direct Consequences: Disease Surge and Heat Stress
The CEEW report identifies increased disease incidents as the most prominent climate change-related impact, with 33% of surveyed households reporting this issue. Abhishek Jain, a co-author of the study, explained that higher temperatures directly trigger health problems such as heat stress and heat stroke in animals.
Rising wet-bulb temperatures, which account for both air temperature and moisture, create favorable conditions for vectors like flies and ticks to proliferate. This escalation increases the risk of vector-borne diseases, including lumpy skin disease. Warmer temperatures compromise the immune systems of cows and buffaloes, reducing their ability to fight infections and, in severe cases, leading to mortality.
Buffaloes, with their darker skin that absorbs more heat, experience greater restlessness due to elevated temperatures. This restlessness, combined with increased disease rates, directly affects milk output by shortening lactation periods, reducing productive days, and causing early retirement of bovines.
Milk Production Decline and Breed Vulnerability
Jain further noted that higher temperatures cause animals to eat less, similar to humans, resulting in decreased milk production. Additionally, elevated temperatures slow down the digestive systems of animals, particularly crossbreds, further diminishing yield. The report indicates that between 12% and 14% of surveyed cattle rearers are already witnessing a dip in milk output due to rising temperatures.
Crossbreds and buffaloes show greater vulnerability to climate change impacts compared to indigenous cows. Unlike indigenous breeds that have adapted to tropical conditions over millennia, crossbred bovines struggle to cope with rising temperatures. For instance, Jersey cows imported from the United Kingdom for crossbreeding have fewer sweat glands per centimeter on their bodies than indigenous cows, making heat dissipation more difficult.
Feed Scarcity and Economic Challenges
As climate change intensifies, feed and fodder are becoming scarcer, raising animal-keeping costs. The CEEW study reveals that over 70% of rearers face challenges accessing affordable feed and fodder, exacerbating economic pressures on smallholder livestock owners. According to the 77th round of the National Sample Survey Organisation in 2019, the average bovine herd size in rural India is 3.14 animals, highlighting the predominance of small-scale operations.
Urgent Need for Climate Resilience and Adaptation
With 75% of cattle rearers wanting their next generation to continue animal rearing and 40% aiming to expand herd sizes, building climate resilience in the sector is crucial. Researchers recommend several adaptive measures:
- Selective Breeding: Emphasizing selective breeding within indigenous breeds to enhance both productivity and climate resilience, as crossbred animals lack similar adaptive capacities.
- Infrastructure Improvement: Enhancing animal shed infrastructure to protect cattle from rising temperatures. The survey found that one in four rearers struggles to acquire resources for building sheds.
- Government Support: Providing subsidies and cheaper loans for constructing well-ventilated, shaded animal sheds that create better microclimatic conditions.
- Nutritional Assurance: Ensuring adequate nutrients in feed and fodder to boost animal immunity and disease resistance.
The study concludes that tailored awareness initiatives are essential to help rearers understand climate risks and make informed, sustainable decisions for herd expansion. Future-proofing the dairy sector against climate risks requires comprehensive strategies to ensure resilience amid evolving environmental and economic challenges.
