India is home to 126 million productive cows and buffaloes, making the country the topmost milk producer in the world. Yet, as mentioned in the February 2024 Budget Session, milk productivity or milk production per animal remains low. As per the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, Indian breeds produce an average of 1,550 litres of milk per year, as against 10,000 litres of milk per year produced by those in the United States and Canada. Rearing these exotic breeds in India might not be a solution to address the low milk productivity considering their extreme susceptibility to diseases in our climatic conditions. However, tackling the emissions from the dairy industry could be a solution to this issue. A study by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada shows that reducing methane emissions from the dairy industry by 20% could increase milk yield by 1 litre per day per cow. This could mean an additional 38,000 million litres of milk per year or an increase in revenue by INR 2.2 lakh crore per year for India.
Emissions from dairy cattle
Dairy cattle are a major source of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, which are primarily produced during their digestion and maintenance. Among these, enteric fermentation is the most prominent source of emissions, accounting for 75% of the emissions (from the Indian dairy industry) as per estimates by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Enteric fermentation refers to a digestion process in which bacteria present in the animal’s gut break down feed, generating methane. The FAO describes that up to 12% of the gross energy intake is lost as methane, which is detrimental to not only milk productivity but also the environment.
Strategies to reduce methane emissions and improve productivity
Feed-based solutions
Digestion influences methane emissions, implying that the nature of feed is of prime importance. As per a Korean study, modifications in diet can reduce methane emissions from cattle by up to 60%. Thus, the Indian dairy industry should explore solutions based on easing the digestion process, including fine grinding of feed to pellets and switching to a more grain- or silage-based diet instead of a fully hay-based one. Further, small additions of supplements (such as red algae, biochar, and essential oils) can help overcome deficiencies and reduce emissions. For instance, research indicates that adding an amount of red algae supplement equal to 0.25%–0.5% of total feed can reduce methane emissions by 45%–68%.
Health monitoring
Constant monitoring of cattle health is also essential for maintaining low methane emissions. For an animal’s optimal health, the ambient temperature should not cross 25 °C. Temperatures beyond this can cause heat stress to the animal. The Temperature–Humidity Index (THI), which helps assess the heat stress in cattle based on the surrounding temperature and humidity, could have a heavy bearing on losses if a threshold is crossed. As per a study at the National Dairy Research Center, the daily milk yield of indigenous cattle reduces by 0.86 litre per unit increase in THI. This is one of the reasons for low milk production in summer or the ‘lean season’. Cattle stressed by heat, insufficient living space, and other social factors tend to have reduced digestion—a factor that nudges productivity and emissions. Taking steps to ensure clean and well-ventilated living spaces for cattle could go a long way in reducing emissions and boosting productivity. Some Indian start-ups are already working on solutions to monitor cattle heat and health.
The states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, the major milk producers, are the largest methane emitters in the country. These are also states that house the greatest number of cattle. Thus, the country should look into cattle health and the associated emissions especially in these states.
Going forward
As emissions are a valuable indicator of the dairy industry’s productivity, measures to reduce the same are crucial for India at this stage. Globally, Denmark is leading the way by bringing methane emissions from the dairy industry into focus and taxing emitters. While this is a rigid mechanism and has garnered criticism, cognisance of these emissions is an important lesson for India.
Programmes such as the Maharashtra Methane Mission that targets emission reduction by placing emphasis on enriching cattle feed can serve as a role model for other states. Investing in cattle feed and health improvement could target emissions, while boosting milk productivity significantly, as intended by the Rashtriya Gokul Mission. These steps will not only boost India’s milk productivity but also put the country on a path to achieve her Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of addressing emissions reduction.
