India's record milk output is put to the test by extreme heat

* Extreme heat reduces milk production and fertility

The cost of adaptation for small dairy farmers is rising

Scientists warn that climate stress could threaten future output

Bhasker Tripathi

The baby was so tiny, it had almost no hair. Bharadwaj gave it milk and it slowly recovered.

Scientists believe that such preterm births are a part of a larger pattern of intensifying summers, linked to climate changes.

Bharadwaj’s?small farm? of six cows near Delhi, India is typical for millions of people in the country, which is responsible for a quarter or more of global milk production. Most of that comes from farms of between two and five cows.

Dairy accounts for 5% of India’s GDP, and provides jobs to more than 80,000,000 farmers. The government predicts that demand for milk will increase as incomes rise and the population increases.

Experts say that extreme heat causes cows to consume less food, produce less milk, have difficulty conceiving and produce fewer offspring. Farmers spend more money trying to keep their animals cool and fertile.

Bharadwaj explained that "Milk Production Falls by Nearly 30% During Extreme Heat", describing the way in which falling output and increasing cooling costs are steadily eating away at his earnings.

Record Production

India's agricultural success story for decades was the rise in milk production, a result of crossbreeding programs designed to increase productivity while meeting growing urban demand.

According to data from the government, India's production of milk reached a record high 239 million tonnes during fiscal year 2023-24, an increase of nearly 64% over a decade.

Researchers, dairy experts and farmers claim that rising temperatures are exposing this model's vulnerabilities.

According to scientists at the National Dairy Research Institute, heat stress can reduce feed intake as well as divert energy from reproduction and milk production. High-yield cows are especially vulnerable, as their metabolisms generate high levels of heat.

Researchers found that heat stress causes more miscarriages, and reduces milk fat content. This is bad for farmers, who are paid based on the amount of solids and fat in their milk.

Farmers spend more money on specialised feed and on water or electricity to cool down their animals.

Bharadwaj invested 200,000 rupees (2,100 dollars) to modify his cattle sheds. He added tarpaulins and ventilation systems to reduce heat stress. Yearly maintenance cost another 50,000 rupees for repairs caused by?frequent storms.

Pankaj Navani is a dairy entrepreneur who advises on climate adaptation for livestock. He said that larger dairy operators, such as those in Punjab, had adapted faster because they treat dairy more like a business and invest in cooling systems and ventilation, as well as feed management.

Most dairy farmers have limited resources and a small number of cows, making such an investment difficult.

Navani says that small backyard dairy operations of two to four cows will likely decline.

Reduce Heat Stress

Abhinav Garav, lead advisor of sustainable dairy practices at Environmental Defense Fund India (a Delhi-based nonprofit), said that farmers are more likely to invest into climate-resilient methods if they see clear economic benefits, but for households who already struggle with shrinking margins, it is difficult.

NDRI has developed multiple strategies to reduce heat stress. These include breeding heat-tolerant cattle and improving shed design.

Scientists in the country recently registered a heat resistant cattle breed that is designed to maintain milk production under hotter conditions. However, they claim it would take a long time to spread such interventions over millions of small farms.

Scientists say buffaloes are sensitive to heat, as they depend heavily on water to regulate their body temperature.

NDRI's research has shown that buffaloes who previously required wallowing only for a few months in the summer now require cooling?support between March and November.

Government livestock data shows that crossbred and exotic cows account for a significant share of India's dairy output due to their productivity. Indigenous breeds, however, contribute a much smaller percentage, but are increasingly considered by some farmers to be better adapted to the rising temperatures.

Bharadwaj stated that he selected indigenous breeds, such as Tharparkar, because they are more resistant to extreme heat and need fewer medical treatments than exotic breeds.

Researchers warn, however, indigenous breeds may not be enough to solve India's dairy challenges in the long term. The dairy system in India was designed to increase productivity and meet the rising demand. Lower-yielding cattle could struggle to meet future demand without improvements in breeding and management, including feed management, cooling systems, and animal health.

Companies are now offering heat stress products for livestock in India, as a result of repeated?heatwaves.

IBISA is a Luxembourg-based company that offers parametric livestock insurance, which triggers payouts when temperatures exceed pre-defined thresholds. It has insured over 360,000 cattle in India across four heat seasons, and paid out more than $350,00 to farmers who suffered productivity losses due to extreme warmth.

Officials from the company say that insurance only protects farmers to a certain extent against rising temperatures. "What farmers don't need is just insurance." Maria Mateo, CEO of IBISA, said that farmers need to become more resilient and adaptable to the heat.

Bharadwaj, who farms near Delhi, is facing another challenging summer. The feed will need to be adjusted, and there will be more money spent on cooling and supplements.

(source: Reuters)