By Vrap · Tue May 19 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Rising Temperatures Strain India's Cattle and Dairy Economy

India's dairy industry is feeling growing pressure from rising summer temperatures, according to a recent report by Mongabay India. The story documents how dairy operations across the country are absorbing the economic toll of heat stress on animals, feed costs, and milk supply.

Source: As temperatures rise, cattle and the related economy feels the strain — Mongabay India, May 2026.

What the report covers

Mongabay's report highlights several intersecting pressures that Indian dairy farms now face during the May–June heatwave window:

Reduced milk yield as cattle and buffalo eat less in extreme heat
Higher cooling and water costs for farms trying to maintain production
Animal health stress including reduced fertility and increased disease
Fodder shortages as drought and heat reduce green fodder availability
Vulnerability of crossbred Holstein-Friesian cattle which dominate commercial Indian dairy but tolerate Indian summers poorly

Why this matters

The economic stakes are large. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has previously estimated annual heat-stress losses to the Indian dairy sector at ₹10,000–25,000 crore. As average summer temperatures rise and heat waves lengthen, that number is expected to grow.

For an individual smallholder dairy with 5–10 cows or buffaloes:

A 15–25% milk yield drop in May–June translates to ₹15,000–30,000 in lost revenue per cow per summer
Increased feed costs (more concentrate to compensate for reduced intake) add another ₹3,000–5,000 per cow
Veterinary expenses for heat-related disease and reduced fertility add further costs

A farm that doesn't adapt its summer management can lose ₹20,000–40,000 per cow per summer to heat stress alone.

Practical steps farmers can take now

Our detailed guide to Heat Stress in Dairy Cattle covers the full management protocol. The five highest-impact interventions for an Indian dairy facing this summer:

Shade and ventilation — the single most important intervention. A high, light-coloured roof drops indoor temperature by 4–6°C versus direct sun.
Cool drinking water 24 hours a day — every litre of cool water absorbs body heat as the animal drinks it.
Roof or body sprinklers — combined with fans, drop felt temperature 5–8°C in the shed.
Wallowing pond for buffalo — non-negotiable; buffaloes cannot sweat efficiently and need to lie in water for 4–6 hours per day during peak heat.
Bypass fat supplementation — see our Bypass Fat article. Fat metabolism produces less body heat than carbohydrate, helping animals maintain milk yield despite reduced feed intake.

Breed and sourcing considerations

For long-term resilience, Mongabay's report indirectly raises a question that many Indian dairy operators are increasingly asking: are indigenous zebu breeds a better choice for hotter conditions than crossbred Holstein-Friesian cattle?

Indigenous breeds like Sahiwal, Gir, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi, and Kankrej tolerate Indian summer heat dramatically better than HF crosses. They produce less milk in absolute terms — typically 2,000–3,500 L per lactation versus 3,000–5,000 L for HF cross — but their production curve is much more stable through the hot months. Over a lifetime, the economics can favour indigenous cattle in regions with consistently high summer temperatures.

For new dairy operations starting in hot regions (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu), indigenous breed selection deserves serious consideration.

What we're tracking

cattlefeed.info will continue to monitor the impact of climate on Indian dairy through:

Daily price updates on key raw materials — today's prices
Practical nutrition guides for managing summer feeding
News coverage of major industry developments

For practical heat-stress management this summer, see our complete Heat Stress in Dairy Cattle guide.

Read the original report: As temperatures rise, cattle and the related economy feels the strain on Mongabay India.