Feeding Management Practices and Nutritional Status among Smallholder Dairy Farmers Across Indian States: A Multi-State Field Assessment

Abstract

India is the world's largest milk producer, with smallholder farmers contributing substantially to national dairy output. However, productivity remains constrained by suboptimal feeding practices, inadequate green fodder availability, and limited use of balanced concentrates and mineral supplements. This study assessed feeding management practices among smallholder dairy farmers across Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Data were collected from 9,639 farmers in 973 villages, 140 tehsils/blocks, and 41 districts. Information was recorded on green and dry fodder feeding, concentrate feeding, feeding during pregnancy, concentrate feeding to calves and heifers, mineral supplementation, type of concentrate used, and concentrate cost. The results showed substantial inter-state variation. Regular green fodder feeding was highest in Maharashtra and Punjab, whereas adoption was very low in Odisha, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Regular concentrate feeding was higher in Maharashtra, Punjab, and Gujarat. Additional concentrate feeding during pregnancy was commonly practised in Punjab, Bihar, and Jharkhand, but remained limited in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Mineral supplementation was critically low in most states, except Punjab and Jharkhand. Purchased concentrate feed was dominant across states, although Uttar Pradesh showed greater use of homemade concentrates. The average concentrate cost ranged from ₹14.38/kg in Bihar to ₹18.76/kg in Rajasthan. The findings indicate important nutritional gaps in smallholder dairy systems and support the need for region-specific feeding strategies, mineral supplementation programmes, fodder development initiatives, and extension interventions for sustainable dairy development in India.