By Capt.
(Dr.) A.Y. Rajendra, CEO – Animal Nutrition Business, Godrej Agrovet Limited
India’s
dairy sector must urgently strengthen its resilience to climate change as
predicted El Niño conditions threaten a deficient monsoon, prolonged heatwaves
and rising heat stress on cattle. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has
projected monsoon rainfall at around 90% of the long-period average, with a 60%
probability of a deficient season. This raises concerns for milk production, as
delayed or weak monsoons offer little relief from extreme summer temperatures.
While
India is the world’s largest milk producer, its productivity remains low.
Average milk yield is only 4.87 kg per cow per day, compared to the global
average of 7.18 kg. Heat stress further widens this gap. Studies show drought
conditions can reduce milk yields by over 25%, while global evidence from El
Niño-affected dairy systems indicates production losses of 25–30%. In India’s
predominantly smallholder dairy sector, such climate shocks also influence
farmer behaviour, leading to reduced investment, delayed herd expansion and
greater focus on maintaining only productive animals. Climate stress affects
dairy farming at multiple levels. Heat reduces milk yield, weakens immunity and
impairs reproductive performance, while shortages of fodder and water further
affect productivity. As climate change makes extreme weather more frequent,
adapting dairy farming is no longer optional.
The
first step towards resilience is better nutrition. Heat stress significantly
reduces feed intake. Lactating cows begin consuming less feed at temperatures
of 25–26°C, with intake dropping sharply above 30°C and by as much as 40% at
40°C. Water availability is equally critical, with every litre of milk requiring
around 4–5 litres of water. When animals consume less feed and water, milk
production, health and reproductive efficiency all suffer.
Scientifically
formulated compound feeds help bridge this nutritional gap. Their
nutrient-dense composition enables cattle to receive essential nutrients
despite lower feed intake while generating less metabolic heat during
digestion. Balanced nutrition also improves feed efficiency, compensates for
poor-quality fodder, supports reproductive performance and strengthens
immunity, enabling animals to better withstand climate stress.
Nutrition,
however, must be supported by good farm management. Providing shade,
well-ventilated housing and uninterrupted access to clean drinking water helps
reduce heat stress. Good hygiene, timely vaccination, regular veterinary care
and clean milking practices are equally important for preventing diseases that
directly affect milk production. Investments in chilling infrastructure and
hygienic milk storage also improve milk quality and reduce wastage.
Knowledge
transfer will play a critical role in accelerating adoption. Digital advisory
platforms, demonstration farms and farmer training programmes can help
disseminate best practices, while emerging technologies enable farmers to
monitor animal health and productivity more effectively. Continued investments
in breeding programmes will also help develop more heat-tolerant and productive
cattle.
Building climate resilience requires collective action. Industry can support farmers through awareness programmes, demonstrations and scientific feeding solutions, while government initiatives such as the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and Pashu Aushadhi are already strengthening breed improvement and veterinary care. Continued policy support, easier access to credit and incentives for adopting climate-resilient practices will further accelerate progress.
As
climate uncertainty becomes the new normal, improving dairy productivity is
about far more than increasing milk yields. It is about protecting farmer
livelihoods, strengthening food security and building a dairy sector that can
withstand future climate shocks. Building resilience today will ensure India’s
dairy sector remains productive, sustainable and prepared for the challenges
ahead.