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India, despite being the world's largest milk producer, trails significantly in milk yield per animal, according to a Lok Sabha panel reviewing the National Dairy Development Board. While indigenous Gir cows have seen their average yield rise from 3.25 kg/day in 2013–14 to 4.17 kg/day in 2022–23, this is still exceptionally low on global standards. In stark contrast, cattle in New Zealand exceed India’s yield by 128%, and Denmark’s average stands at a remarkable 10,187 kg/year—over five times India’s 1,948 kg/year.
Nevertheless, India’s dairy sector and dairy farm ecosystem remain a pillar of national nutrition and rural economy. Confirmed by the PIB report, India contributes 24.76% of global milk production, with total output growing at a 5.62% CAGR over the past decade, reaching 239.3 million tonnes in 2023–24. It also delivers 471 grams of milk per capita daily, well above the global average of 329 g/day.
Yet this high aggregate belies systemic inefficiencies. Smallholder-dominated cooperatives and fragmented dairy farm infrastructure limit yield per cow, even as demand pressures mount. The panel emphasizes that to compete globally and uplift farmer incomes, India must invest in genetic upgradation, feed quality, veterinary services, and structured productivity enhancement programs at the dairy farm level.
Industry Insight
India’s dairy success lies in massive output, but unlocking future growth depends on elevating animal-level productivity. Prioritizing breed improvement, optimized nutrition, and farmer-centric tech integration at the dairy farm will be essential to ensure sustainability, competitiveness, and value realization across the dairy value chain.
Source : Dairynews7x7 Aug 26th 2025 multiple sources of feed
