Page 19 - Think Grain Think Feed - Noc 2025 Issue

www.benisonmedia.com INTERVIEW like multi-cut sorghum, (excellent, but rare), 60:40 integrated operations can be done at policy, can. That's a system problem being diverted for ethanol. www.benisonmedia.com

Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 12 | Issue 1 | Nov 2025
Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 12 | Issue 1 | Nov 2025

At the same time, alcohol
processor and farmer
we need to solve.
get recognised as bird-flu
(acceptable, practiced in
super/red Napier, berseem,
plants generate Distillers
levels?
Punjab's dairy sector is
free, provided they meet
Punjab), 50:50 (most
fodder moringa. Use
Dried Grains with Solubles
cooperatives or farmer
prescribed biosecurity,
commercial dairy farms
considered an exemplary
A large survey conducted by
groups for specialised
valuable feed ingredient.
rearing of calves, growers,
other states learn from the
30:70 (is practiced in Middle-
norms. This is a game-
than 6,000 milk samples
DDGS has moderately high
East Dairy farms)
changer for trade and
across India. Around one-
Punjab experience?
and heifers. Provide enough settle with this) and 40:60 or testing and surveillance FSSAI in 2019 tested more model for India. What can (DDGS), which can be a
space, light, ventilation, and Drinking Water: Milk export. third of samples failed to Dairy is growing at about protein, energy, and fat with
clean flooring. Smallholder contains 88% water. Dairy Recognition of poultry as meet minimum standards for 4–5% per year, and poultry at good amino acid
dairy is the backbone of rural cows must have free access agriculture: In several states, fat, SNF, and water. About 3 7–8%. But if you look at digestibility. If properly used,
economy — but it must be to clean, cool water poultry is now formally to 5% of samples exceed organised dairy growth, it can replace part of maize
treated as an asset-based throughout the day (ideally treated as part of agriculture, tolerable limits of various north-western India and part of soybean meal. I
enterprise, not just a sideline 24×7). In tie-stall systems easing land conversion, antibiotics, heavy metals and especially Punjab stands out. have used up to 14% DDGS
activity. where watering is done only agricultural power tariffs, and aflatoxin M1. In other words, Their average calving interval (maize + rice) in dairy rations
As genetics improve, which 2–3 times a day, aim for at other benefits. over 70% of India's milk is at is 15–18 months. In many without affecting the
life stages and least 5–6 times. Use NAIP: National Artificial par with global standards, other states, it's often >24 performance. The pellet
management aspects are sufficiently large and deep Insemination Programme and roughly 90% is safe for months. Shorter calving durability index (PDI) drops
most critical from a troughs so cows can through MYTRI human consumption. intervals mean a steady flow when inclusion exceeds
feeding perspective for immerse the muzzle up to ABIP: Accelerated Breed Policy level: Segregated of replacement stock and around 8–10%. Rice DDGS in
dairy cattle? the nostrils and gulp several Improvement Programme: collection infrastructure, more days in milk. broilers, can be used up to
Every stage is equally litres at once. Use separate sex-sorted semen at separate lines for Transplanting the Punjab 2–3%, whereas in layers can
important but pregnant, bins for water and feed. subsidised price with 95% procurement of premium model “as is” to small land- be used up to 5-6%.
calves, and transition cows Cows have more taste buds female calves. and ordinary milk. Incentives holding regions with mostly DDGS is highly variable feed
are more critical stages. than humans and are very NLM: National Livestock to milk processors to pay landless dairy farmers is not ingredient in India. Quality of
Ensure ad-libitum amount of sensitive to smell. Provide Mission: funding for fodder differential prices depending straightforward. But the DDGS mainly depends upon
forage is available shade to overhead water development, compound on the quality of milk. principles like DM-based type of grain used (FCI reject
throughout the year, quality tank. feed mills, feed-testing labs, Processor level: Stop mixing feeding, better reproductive grains, broken rice, maize,
comes next. Offer enough Cows should be sitting for processing infrastructure for good and bad milk in the management, and housing jowar, etc.), amount of
quantity. How to know you 12–14 hours a day and egg, meat and milk including same tanker. Create at least that allows natural behaviour soluble added back and
have fed enough? A ruminate at least 8 hours a cold chain. two collection lines at the can and should be adapted. method of drying. This leads
minimum of 5% should be day. Provide dry and soft village level (e.g., green line Public–private partnerships to variation in colour,
AHIDF: Animal Husbandry
the leftover. Never feed floor preferably sand as cows and yellow line). Use the in genetics, forage and nutrient composition, sulfur
Infrastructure
concentrate to an empty do not prefer wet concrete premium line for export and infrastructure development and urea content. DDGS
Development Fund: interest
stomach. Offer forage first, or stone floor. high-value added products, can help replicate the best often gets labelled as “high-
subvention and partial
then offer concentrate, or You have served on the guarantee, encouraging and the regular line for bulk elements of Punjab in other risk” for mycotoxins. Yes, it
mix concentrate with forage Animal Husbandry private investment in domestic use. Several private geographies. can be contaminated, but we
(TMR) to avoid ruminal Department and modern infrastructure. Corn is expected to must remember mycotoxins
players already follow this.
acidosis. Feed only 3 kg of contributed to policy NADCP: National Animal Cooperatives must adopt contribute around 46% of are not uniformly distributed
concentrate per meal, decisions. In your view, Disease Control this. ethanol in any feed lot. Proper
increase number of meals as which has been the most Programme: Targeting free Farmer level: Educate farmers production—approximatel sampling, multiple grabs,
per Dry Matter Requirement impactful dairy or poultry vaccination against FMD, for clean milk production, y 5 billion reducing sample size and lab
(DMR). Maintain optimum policy in recent years? Brucellosis, PPR and ASF. testing are crucial. In
litres—consuming 13.1
udder hygiene, proper
Forage–concentrate ratio: Compartmentalisation NDLM: National Digital storage and quick chilling. million tonnes of the practice, focus mainly on
Historically, farmers fed (zoning) for avian influenza Livestock Mission (Bharat Awareness about withdrawal nation's 42 million tonnes aflatoxin B1, keeping total
something like 80% forage, free status: A single outbreak Pashudhan): A 12-digit ear- periods after antibiotic of corn output. How do levels in the finished feed
20% concentrate on DM in one corner of country, tag-based national database treatment. The key message you see this impacting the below 20 ppb, and use
basis. Today, ratios in many entire country was declared covering all animal details. is: rural smallholder milk is Indian feed sector and good-quality toxin binders at
places have slipped to 50:50 “bird flu-affected” and Milk quality remains a not inherently “bad”. Often, suggestions for the same? appropriate dosage.
or even below, some places exports were hit. Now, with concern, especially excellent milk from a two- India produces around 42 I don't see ethanol expansion
even 30:70 like Kerala. AI-free compartments regarding SCC, Aflatoxin buffalo household is being million tonnes of maize, and as a long-term “threat”
The optimum Forage: notified under DAHD as per M1, antibiotic residues and mixed with poor-quality milk a growing share — about because there is
Concentrate ratio is 80:20 WOAH norms, specific heavy metals. What should from elsewhere in the same one-third of the corn is simultaneous increase in

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