Impact of Heat Stress on Cattle

28 Sep Impact of Heat Stress on Cattle

This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “Impact of Heat Stress on Cattle”. This topic has relevance in the Agriculture section of the UPSC CSE exam.

For Prelims:

Reduced Natural Mating Behavior?

For Mains:

GS 3: Agriculture

Issues Faced by Dairy Farmers?

Status of Milk Production in India?

Why in the news:

A study published in the Lancet estimated that increasing temperatures could reduce milk production in India’s arid and semi-arid regions by 25 per cent by the end of the century.

Impact of Heat Stress on Cattle

Reduced Natural Mating Behavior

• Elevated temperatures have a detrimental effect on cattle’s ability to display natural mating behavior.
• This results in a decrease in both the duration and intensity of oestrus, which is the female animal’s readiness to mate.

Decreased Conception Rates

• During summer seasons, there is a notable decrease in conception rates among cattle, with a range of 20% to 30% reduction, according to studies.

Increased Sensitivity in Lactating Dairy Cows

• Lactating dairy cows are more sensitive to heat stress compared to non-lactating (dry) cows, as indicated by research findings.

Greater Impact on High-Yield Cows

• Cows that produce higher quantities of milk are more challenged by heat stress than lower-yielding animals.
• This is due to the positive relationship between milk yield and heat production.

Impact on Milk Production

• The rise in temperatures, particularly affecting cross-bred cows, poses a significant challenge to sustaining milk production.
• Meeting domestic demand becomes more complex, and there is a potential decline in per capita consumption of dairy products.

Direct Impact on the Dairy Sector

• Changes in the temperature-humidity index directly stress animals, leading to reduced milk production in the dairy sector.

Indirect Impact on the Dairy Sector

• Adverse climate events can indirectly affect the dairy sector by impacting the availability of feed and water for cattle, further affecting production and overall sustainability.

Issues Faced by Dairy Farmers:

Government Policies Impacting Milk Productivity

• Dairy farmers allege that government policies are exacerbating challenges rather than addressing core issues in the dairy sector.

• The government has introduced a policy for sex-sorted semen production aimed at achieving “90% accuracy” in producing female calves. This policy is intended to boost milk production and control the population of stray cattle.
• Over the next five years, approximately 5.1 million pregnancies will result from this program, which provides a subsidy of Rs 750 or 50% of the cost of sex-sorted semen for assured pregnancy. Concerns have been raised about the unintended consequences of this policy, as it may lead to a gradual decline in the male cattle population.

Growing Female Cattle Population

• The policy, through artificial insemination and natural service, is expected to result in a higher proportion of female calves.
• The government has not considered the potential use of male cattle in agriculture.

Utility of Unproductive Female Animals

• An additional issue is the utility of female animals once they become unproductive, as selling cows has become difficult due to anti-slaughter rules in many states.

Status of Milk Production in India:

As of the latest available data from ‘Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2022,’ India maintains its position as the largest milk-producing country globally. Here is an overview of the key statistics:

• Total Milk Production (2021-2022): India’s total milk production reached an impressive 221.06 million tonnes during the 2021-2022 period.
• Contribution by Indigenous Cattle: Indigenous cattle make up a significant portion of milk production in the country, contributing approximately 10.35% of the total milk production.
• Contribution by Non-Descript Cattle: Non-descript cattle, another category of cattle, contribute around 9.82% of the total milk production in India.
• Contribution by Non-Descript Buffaloes: Non-descript buffaloes also play a substantial role, contributing about 13.49% of the total milk production in the country.
• Top Five Milk Producing States: The top five states contributing significantly to milk production in India are Rajasthan (15.05%), Uttar Pradesh (14.93%), Madhya Pradesh (8.06%), Gujarat (7.56%), and Andhra Pradesh (6.97%).
• Global Contribution: India’s milk production makes a substantial global impact, contributing approximately 23% of the total global milk production.

Source:https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/17-million-missing-climate-change-government-policies-could-deal-lethal-blow-to-indian-dairy-sector-91935

Q.1 Arrange the Indian states in descending order based on their milk production:

1. Rajasthan
2. Uttar Pradesh
3. Madhya Pradesh
4. Gujarat

Select the correct answer using the codes below:

(a) 1, 2, 3, 4

(b) 2, 1, 4, 3

(c) 1, 2, 4, 3

(d) 2, 1, 3, 4

ANSWER: A

Q.2 Consider the following statements:

1. India is the highest milk-producing country in the world.
2. India ranks number one in cattle & buffalo population

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWER: C

Q.3 “The dairy sector is both a contributor to and a victim of climate change.” Comment.

rishabh