Low-Cost Feeding Strategies for Dairy Farmers in India

Dairy farming plays an important role in the livelihood of millions of farmers in India, providing regular income, employment, and nutritional security. However, one of the major challenges faced by dairy farmers is the high cost of feeding dairy animals. Feed alone accounts for nearly 60–70% of the total cost of milk production, making it the largest expenditure in dairy farming. In recent years, the prices of concentrate feeds, oilseed cakes, and fodder have increased considerably, which has reduced the profit margin of farmers and affected the sustainability of dairy enterprises.