Indian Milk Bubbles Up as Population Sinks

INDIA - The latest statistics from India have revealed that although the cattle population in the country has decreased, overall milk production is on the up.
calendar icon 24 June 2008
clock icon 2 minute read

The latest Indian census shows that there has been a decrease of 16.56 per cent and 13.62 per cent in the buffalo and cow population, respectively, in the state.


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"Farmers have now started studying economy of the livestock sector and disposed of unproductive and less productive animals."
Dr BS Sidhu, Director Animal Husbandry, Punjab

On the other hand, the milk production has increased by 18 per cent. According to Express India, at present, 85 per cent of the cow population is cross-bred and has the highest average milk production per day as compared to other states.

“The per capita availability of milk is 939 grams per day— which is highest in the country— while the national average is 225 grams. Punjab has just 1.5 per cent cattle population of the country, but contributes 10 per cent milk to the Central pool,’’ Dr BS Sidhu, Director Animal Husbandry, told Express India.

“This has been possible by increasing productivity of our cross-bred cows through the latest techniques like embryo transfer technology (ETT), ova pick Up (OPU) and in-vitro fertilization,” he said.

“Farmers are also turning towards commercialised dairy farming and are demanding government support for supplying them high-quality imported semen and high potential genetic embryos for their Holstein Friesian and Jersey cows and Murrah and Nilli Ravi buffalos,’’ he added. He said, “Farmers have now started studying economy of the livestock sector and disposed of unproductive and less productive animals.”

  • View the Express India story by clicking here.
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