Page 31 - Think Grain Think Feed - Noc 2025 Issue

www.benisonmedia.com CONFERENCE OUTCOMES · DMI and a rise of 2–3 kg in milk yield per

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

Commercial TMR: Benefiting Small Dairy
cow per day.
Farms
TMR ensures consistent fulfilment of
Total Mixed Ration (TMR) is an optimal
·
blend of dry fodder, green fodder, and
nutritional requirements, improves body
concentrate, ensuring that each bite
and fertility, increases milk yield, fat%,
delivers uniform nutrition. Feeding twice
and SNF%, improves ROI by reducing
daily with a 7-hour interval helps condition score, enhances animal health
maintain gut health. feeding costs, and saves time and labour.
· Under the National Livestock Mission, · To strengthen raw material security, Banas
farmers are eligible for up to 50% subsidy Dairy is expanding TMR production
for installing TMR plants—up to INR 1 through a new plant and has initiated
crore (or INR 50 lakh for investments contract farming to ensure reliable green
Dr. Ashok Patel
Banas Dairy above INR 1 crore). fodder supply.
· Production-purpose TMR is available at Takeaway Message:
INR 16/kg, while maintenance-purpose TMR offers small dairy farmers a cost-effective
TMR is priced at INR 13/kg. way to deliver balanced nutrition, improve
· NDDB trials on 31 early- to mid-lactation animal health and productivity, boost milk
cows recorded an increase of ≥0.5 kg in yield and quality, and reduce feeding
labour—ultimately increasing profitability.

TMR & Milk Quality · TMR significantly improves animal health:
· Concentrate feed alone cannot meet the milk production increases by 10–15%,
nutritional requirements of cattle; high- repeat breeding and mastitis cases decline,
quality fodder is essential, and TMR milk yield remains consistent across
remains one of the most effective methods lactation, and somatic cell count and
for ensuring uniform, balanced feeding. aflatoxin levels decrease—resulting in
better milk quality and higher farm
· TMR has a shorter shelf life (approximately
income.
7 days) compared to conventional cattle
feed (up to 2 months). · Adoption of TMR can potentially raise
farm-level milk output by up to 11,000
· Feeding should be customized according
litres per month.
to the animal's life stage and requirements.
Takeaway Message:
Chandrashekhar Jagtap · Silage is commonly outsourced, but
Kisan Feeds contract farming provides greater control A progressive and educated new generation
over silage quality. must enter dairying with strong record-keeping,
scientific feeding practices, and long-term
· Water intake rises when animals are fed
planning. With the right approach, TMR can
TMR; hence loose housing systems tend to
enhance milk quality, increase yields, and drive
offer better performance results.
sustainable profitability.
Making Sustainability Profitable

Holistic Sustainability production, sustainable proteins,
· True agricultural and livestock resilient supply chains, and enhanced
sustainability requires an integrated food safety and loss-prevention
approach that combines farmer-centric systems.
financing, well-defined production Takeaway Message:
standards, and strong collaboration Supportive government policies and
across public, private, and institutional multilateral partnerships – such as those
stakeholders. driven by IFC, World Bank, and national
· IFC is leveraging global expertise to development bodies – are vital to scaling
Shiva Mudgil advance Sustainable Agribusiness, sustainable agriculture models and
IFC encompassing sustainable crop mitigating systemic risks.
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