Jayaram Kumar, Karnataka, INDIA co-owner, who is very happy with the financial
returns from the Dairy farm.
Milk production and reproductive functions of milk animals are negatively
impacted by temperature rise during summer and also by the sharp temperature
decline in winter. The high temperature causes stress due to increased body heat
leading to low heat dissipation from the body surface. High heat load in lactating
cross breed cows reduces their milk production and shorten duration of lactation
periods. Information on milk production of cross breed cows with specific emphasis
on climate change is not available therefore an attempt has been made to find out
the sensitivity of lactating cross breed cows to changes in temperature during
extreme summer. The impact of temperature rise and decline has been analysed on
the milk production and reproductive functions. From the macro perspective, a
systematic research study is required to examine the impact of climate change an
animal production system in India; however, it is appropriate to highlight some
important points. The livestock development policy in India has emphasised
crossbreeding of Indian cattle with exotic sires since the inception of planning in
India in early fifties. The goal was increased milk production; as a result, about
17.5 % of the dairy cattle in the country are now crossbred, starting from a negligible proportion three decades ago it shows that the crossbred animals, on account
of their higher milk yield, are economically most suitable for farmers. However,
cross-sectional data shows that, in general, the productivity of crossbred cattle is
lower in areas where the mean annual temperature is higher.
2 Literature Review
The studies indicated that India loses 1.8 million tons of milk production at present
due to climatic stresses in different parts of the country. Global warming will further
negatively impact milk production by 1.6 million tons by 2020 and more than 15
million tons by 2050. High producing crossbred cows and buffaloes will be impacted
more than indigenous cattle. Northern India is likely to experience a greater impact of
global given the vulnerability of India to rise in sea level, the impact of increased
intensity of extreme events on the livestock sector would be large and devastating for
the low-income rural areas. The predicted negative impact of climate change on
Indian agriculture would also adversely affect livestock production by aggravating
the feed and fodder shortages. The livestock sector, which will be a sufferer of climate
change is itself a large source of methane emissions, an important greenhouse gas
(GHG). In India, although the emission rate per animal is much lower than the
developed countries, due to vast livestock population the total annual methane
emissions are about 9–10 Tg from enteric fermentation and animal wastes. Estimates
of the current contribution of livestock to anthropogenic climate change, expressed in
carbon dioxide equivalents, range from 8.5 to 18 %. This includes carbon dioxide
itself, mainly due to land use changes; methane emissions through enteric fermentation by ruminants; and nitrous oxide emissions, mostly from manure-handling
practices. Total emissions of all three GHGs are likely to increase in the coming
532
K. Sreenivasaiah
returns from the Dairy farm.
Milk production and reproductive functions of milk animals are negatively
impacted by temperature rise during summer and also by the sharp temperature
decline in winter. The high temperature causes stress due to increased body heat
leading to low heat dissipation from the body surface. High heat load in lactating
cross breed cows reduces their milk production and shorten duration of lactation
periods. Information on milk production of cross breed cows with specific emphasis
on climate change is not available therefore an attempt has been made to find out
the sensitivity of lactating cross breed cows to changes in temperature during
extreme summer. The impact of temperature rise and decline has been analysed on
the milk production and reproductive functions. From the macro perspective, a
systematic research study is required to examine the impact of climate change an
animal production system in India; however, it is appropriate to highlight some
important points. The livestock development policy in India has emphasised
crossbreeding of Indian cattle with exotic sires since the inception of planning in
India in early fifties. The goal was increased milk production; as a result, about
17.5 % of the dairy cattle in the country are now crossbred, starting from a negligible proportion three decades ago it shows that the crossbred animals, on account
of their higher milk yield, are economically most suitable for farmers. However,
cross-sectional data shows that, in general, the productivity of crossbred cattle is
lower in areas where the mean annual temperature is higher.
2 Literature Review
The studies indicated that India loses 1.8 million tons of milk production at present
due to climatic stresses in different parts of the country. Global warming will further
negatively impact milk production by 1.6 million tons by 2020 and more than 15
million tons by 2050. High producing crossbred cows and buffaloes will be impacted
more than indigenous cattle. Northern India is likely to experience a greater impact of
global given the vulnerability of India to rise in sea level, the impact of increased
intensity of extreme events on the livestock sector would be large and devastating for
the low-income rural areas. The predicted negative impact of climate change on
Indian agriculture would also adversely affect livestock production by aggravating
the feed and fodder shortages. The livestock sector, which will be a sufferer of climate
change is itself a large source of methane emissions, an important greenhouse gas
(GHG). In India, although the emission rate per animal is much lower than the
developed countries, due to vast livestock population the total annual methane
emissions are about 9–10 Tg from enteric fermentation and animal wastes. Estimates
of the current contribution of livestock to anthropogenic climate change, expressed in
carbon dioxide equivalents, range from 8.5 to 18 %. This includes carbon dioxide
itself, mainly due to land use changes; methane emissions through enteric fermentation by ruminants; and nitrous oxide emissions, mostly from manure-handling
practices. Total emissions of all three GHGs are likely to increase in the coming
532
K. Sreenivasaiah