Commercial and small scale dairy farming in India is no doubt playing an important role in the total milk production and economy of our country and almost all regions of India are suitable for setting up dairy farming business. Most of the dairy farmers in India are raising animals in small scale scale traditional methods. They are not aware about the modern farming methods and improved techniques for dairy farming As a result, some farmers are losing their investment instead of being benefited. Proper business plan, well management and care can ensure maximum production and profit from dairy farming business. I have described here the importance, setting up steps and some problems of dairy farming in India.
Why Dairy Farming in India?
There are many benefits of starting dairy farming business in India. Here I am describing the main importance and benefits of dairy farming in India.
There are many benefits of starting dairy farming business in India. Here I am describing the main importance and benefits of dairy farming in India.
- Dairy farming business is a traditional business. So, you don’t have to worry about marketing your products. You can easily sell your products in almost every place of India. And dairy product market is active round the year.
- Dairy farming is eco-friendly and it doesn’t pollute the environment.
- Dairy farming business doesn’t require highly skilled labor. You can easily setup small scale dairy farm with your family labor.
- Great business opportunities for unemployed educated young people. Proper plan and management can ensure maximum production.
- Numerous highly productive native Indian and foreign breeds are suitable for farming according to the climate and environment of India.
- You can apply for loan in your local NGO or banks.
How safe is dairy business...?
Dairy farming is a safe business for the following reasons:
Dairy farming is a safe business for the following reasons:
- It is eco-friendly and does not cause environmental pollution as compared to other industries.
- Requirement of skilled labour is relatively less.
- Dairy product market is active round the year.
- Minimum investment on inventory. (No need to to stock raw materials in huge quantities.)
- Entire establishment can be shifted to a new location (if need arises e.g. Fire, Floods etc.)
- One can insure animals.
- Less energy requirement. Biogas plant fed with cow dung can supply maximum energy to meet farms day to day requirement. Decomposed slurry of such plant can also be effectively used as organic manure.
Limitations and Constraints:
- Breeding of animals and getting expected milk yield is a biological phenomenon, which depends upon various factors.
- Dairy farming besides good planning requires hardworking, reliable and alert manager. In India, usually persons from the family take the responsibility.
- Inadequate management of feeding, heard health and lack of quality control in various stage of production can cause major loss affecting the profitability of the entire venture.
How to Start Dairy Farm in India...?
Setting up dairy farming business in India is not so easy. You have to go through several important steps for setting up dairy farming in India. Consider the following tips while starting dairy farming business in India.
Setting up dairy farming business in India is not so easy. You have to go through several important steps for setting up dairy farming in India. Consider the following tips while starting dairy farming business in India.
- First of all, you have to decide the aim and objective of your farm (includes housing, feeding, breeding, number of animals to be maintained etc.
- Try to visit some commercial dairy farms. Discuss with the experienced farm owners about his dairy farming system and secrets. Try to visit as much farms as possible. This will help you to analyze various farming systems and extremely broaden your knowledge.
- While visiting various farms, try to analyze their every event deeply.
- Visit your nearest veterinarians and discuss about the possibilities of dairy farming in your area.
- If your plan is to maintain the farm by your own, then try to work for an existing farm for at least six months.
- Be conscious about the availability of food and its costs. You also have to stock food for adverse seasons.
- You have to employ hardworking labor with some practical experience. In some cases you can also train them for specific dairy farm jobs.
- Visit your nearest market occasionally and observe the price and demand of live animals and dairy products. Keeping good relation with market help you for getting proper value of your products and purchasing necessary commodities.
- And lastly, try to learn more and more about dairy farming in India. Read a lots of books, visit numerous farms, gather experience, make proper business plan and finally do it.
Getting some initial professional training…
Opportunities for training are available with most of the:
Alternately, you can also look for training facilities of non-governmental organizations that are active in farming sectors.
Opportunities for training are available with most of the:
- Agricultural/Veterinary Universities of various states
- Krishi Vigyan Kendras
- State Department of Animal Husbandry
- State Institute of Rural Development
Alternately, you can also look for training facilities of non-governmental organizations that are active in farming sectors.
Breeds
There are numerous native Indian and highly productive foreign breeds available. You can choose any of them. You can raise both cows and buffaloes together in separate rows under same shed. Cow’s milk is lower in fat than buffaloes milk. Visit the market and try to understand which product has high demand. For profitable commercial dairy production Murrah, Surti, Mehsana, Jaffarabadi, Badhawar etc. are common and popular buffalo milch breeds. Gir, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar are popular cow breed. You can also go with highly productive foreign breeds like Holstein Friesian, Brown Swiss, Jersey etc. All those breeds are suitable for farming in the Indian weather. Always keep in mind the market while choosing breeds for your dairy farming business.
There are numerous native Indian and highly productive foreign breeds available. You can choose any of them. You can raise both cows and buffaloes together in separate rows under same shed. Cow’s milk is lower in fat than buffaloes milk. Visit the market and try to understand which product has high demand. For profitable commercial dairy production Murrah, Surti, Mehsana, Jaffarabadi, Badhawar etc. are common and popular buffalo milch breeds. Gir, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar are popular cow breed. You can also go with highly productive foreign breeds like Holstein Friesian, Brown Swiss, Jersey etc. All those breeds are suitable for farming in the Indian weather. Always keep in mind the market while choosing breeds for your dairy farming business.
Selecting the animal to farm with –
Cows v/s. Buffaloes
Cows v/s. Buffaloes
Cows
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Buffaloes
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A suggestion to help you in deciding the animal to farm with:
Middle class health-conscious Indian families prefer low fat milk for consumption as liquid milk. We suggest you to go for a commercial farm of mixed type. (Cross breed, cows and buffaloes kept in separate rows under one shed). Conduct a through study of the immediate market where you are planning to market your milk .You can mix milk from both type of animals and sold as per need of the market. Hotels and some general customers (can be around 30%) prefer pure buffalo milk. Hospitals, sanitariums prefer cow’s milk.
Middle class health-conscious Indian families prefer low fat milk for consumption as liquid milk. We suggest you to go for a commercial farm of mixed type. (Cross breed, cows and buffaloes kept in separate rows under one shed). Conduct a through study of the immediate market where you are planning to market your milk .You can mix milk from both type of animals and sold as per need of the market. Hotels and some general customers (can be around 30%) prefer pure buffalo milk. Hospitals, sanitariums prefer cow’s milk.
The minimum economic size to go with?
Under Indian condition a commercial dairy farm should consist of minimum 20 animals (10 cows, 10 buffaloes) this strength can easily go up to 100 animals in proportion of 50:50 or 40:60. After this however, you need to review your strength and market potential before you chose to go for expansion.
Under Indian condition a commercial dairy farm should consist of minimum 20 animals (10 cows, 10 buffaloes) this strength can easily go up to 100 animals in proportion of 50:50 or 40:60. After this however, you need to review your strength and market potential before you chose to go for expansion.
A glance at the Infrastructure and Manpower requirements
The space required per animal should be 40 sq.ft in shed and 80sq.ft open space. Besides, you will also need:
The strength of labourers in your farm can vary with number of animals usually the thumb rule is one labour for every 10 animals on milk or 20 dry animals or 20 young stock.
The space required per animal should be 40 sq.ft in shed and 80sq.ft open space. Besides, you will also need:
- One room 10” x 10” for keeping implements.
- One room 10”x 12” for milk storage
- Office cum living room of suitable size.
- Water tank capable of storing minimum 2000 liters
- Bore well with capacity to fill water tank in 1 hr
The strength of labourers in your farm can vary with number of animals usually the thumb rule is one labour for every 10 animals on milk or 20 dry animals or 20 young stock.
Care & Management
Taking good care is the key to every livestock farming business. So, you also have to take good care of your animals. Try to keep the animals free from all types of cattle diseases. Vaccinate them timely. Provide them nutritious food and clean water regularly. Make a stock of necessary medicines and other materials.
Taking good care is the key to every livestock farming business. So, you also have to take good care of your animals. Try to keep the animals free from all types of cattle diseases. Vaccinate them timely. Provide them nutritious food and clean water regularly. Make a stock of necessary medicines and other materials.
Marketing
Marketing your products is not a problem in India. Dairy product has huge demand throughout the India. You can easily sell your products in almost every places of our country. So, don’t worry about marketing, just take good care of your animals.
Marketing your products is not a problem in India. Dairy product has huge demand throughout the India. You can easily sell your products in almost every places of our country. So, don’t worry about marketing, just take good care of your animals.
Problems of Dairy Farming in India
Every business has some problems or difficulties. Dairy cow farming also has some problems. The main limitations and constraints of dairy farming in India are listed below.
Every business has some problems or difficulties. Dairy cow farming also has some problems. The main limitations and constraints of dairy farming in India are listed below.
- High infrastructure and feeding cost is the main constraint of dairy farming business.
- Most of the farmers don’t serious about the total expenditure and profit from this business. The don’t count the value of green food which they grow with their crop.
- Breeding process of animal depends on various factors. It is a biological phenomenon and getting expected milk production depends on proper breeding process. But most of our farmers are not conscious about this due to lack of proper publicity and public announcement by the government.
- In accordance with making good business plan, dairy farming requires hard working, proper care, good management and you have to be alert always. In our country, one of the family member take care of the animals. But for commercial purpose, you have to employ several experienced people with high salary.