Cattle Rearing Extends Beyond Milk Sales
More than one-third of India’s cattle rearers do not sell milk and instead prioritise non-market uses of bovines, according to a new study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). The findings are based on a first-of-its-kind survey of over 7,300 cattle-rearing households across 15 states, representing 91 per cent of India’s bovine population, including cows, buffaloes, bulls and bullocks. While milk supports over 80 million livelihoods and contributes around five per cent to India’s GDP, the study shows that cattle rearing functions as a broader livelihood system, especially in a changing climate.
Non-Milk Uses Play a Major Role
The study, titled Cattle and Community in a Changing Climate, finds that seven per cent of rearers keep cattle exclusively for non-milk purposes such as dung, draught power or income from selling animals. This share rises to nearly 15 per cent in states such as West Bengal and Maharashtra. Around 74 per cent of rearers value dung for manure, fuel or sale. Many also depend on cattle for draught power and wider farm support. Indigenous cattle play a particularly important role in these non-market uses within integrated farming systems.
In states including Jharkhand, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh, more than half of rearers prioritise household milk consumption, and dung use over milk sales. Even in relatively formalised dairy states such as Maharashtra and Karnataka, over 30 per cent of rearers place greater value on non-milk benefits.
Policy Focus Needs to Broaden
Abhishek Jain, Fellow and Director Green Economy and Impact Innovations at CEEW, said India’s dairy policies remain heavily focused on milk output. However, cattle rearing on the ground operates as a diverse livelihood system shaped by regional contexts, farmer typologies and climate risks.
He noted that aligning public investment with this diversity requires a shift from uniform dairy strategies to more responsive and differentiated policies. Such an approach would improve the effectiveness of budget allocations and help preserve the diversity of cattle-rearing systems across the country.
Feed and Fodder Shortages Emerge as Key Constraint
The study highlights feed and fodder shortages as the most widespread challenge facing cattle rearers. Three out of four rearers reported shortages, driven by affordability issues, shrinking grazing lands and limited land for fodder cultivation.
Despite existing government interventions, awareness remains low. Around 80 per cent of rearers are unaware of programmes such as silage-making and ration balancing, and adoption stands at just five per cent. In contrast, fewer than a quarter of rearers reported major animal health or breeding challenges, reflecting improvements in artificial insemination, vaccination and deworming coverage.
Climate Change Adds New Risks
Climate change is intensifying pressures on the sector. The study finds that 54 per cent of buffalo rearers, 50 per cent of crossbred rearers, and 41 per cent of indigenous cattle rearers reported climate-related impacts. These include higher disease incidence, mortality and heat stress. While indigenous cattle are more resilient, many rearers seeking to expand prefer higher-yielding crossbreds and buffaloes. The study warns that this shift could increase vulnerability to climate stress unless adaptive measures are adopted.
Small Rearers Dominate in Numbers, Not Output
Half of India’s rural cattle rearers own just one or two animals. These small herds are concentrated in hilly, central and eastern regions. Larger herds, with more than five animals, are more common in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Punjab.
Although small rearers account for half of all rearers, they contribute only 29 per cent of total milk production and 22 per cent of milk sales. Medium and large herds generate most of the marketable surplus.
Call for Targeted Livestock Policies
Ruchira Goyal, Programme Associate at CEEW, said feed and fodder shortages cut across regions, animal types and herd sizes. She emphasised that improving extension services and fodder supply chains could deliver immediate benefits for small rearers.
The study recommends that programmes such as the National Livestock Mission adopt more targeted approaches aligned with rearer typologies and regional needs. Key priorities include strengthening last-mile veterinary services, supporting non-milk value chains such as dung-based energy and manure, and integrating climate considerations into breeding and housing decisions.
