India’s livestock sector, home to the largest livestock population in the world with over 537 million animals, is both critical to rural livelihoods, as well as a key contributor to food security. However, the sector faces a ‘triple bind’ of growing demand, rising input costs, and increasing environmental pressure. While per capita consumption of milk, eggs and meat is steadily increasing, the traditional model of increasing herd size or volume of feed used is no longer sustainable, or even feasible. The critical shift we must now make is not about simply feeding more but, feeding better. Precision nutrition offers a significant opportunity to increase productivity, decrease emissions, and build resilience in livestock farming in an unpredictable future.
The Feed Burden and the Productivity Paradox
Feed accounts for up to 70% of input costs for livestock operations. Yet, Indian livestock productivity remains among the lowest globally. This contradiction stems largely from nutritional imbalances, generic feeding regimens, and regional fodder mismatches, which lead to both inefficiency and economic losses. Precision nutrition shifts the paradigm from “bulk feeding” to “targeted nourishment.” Feeding strategies often fail to account for the diversity of breeds, the local availability of feed and fodder, or the regional mineral profiles of soils.
A one-size-fits-all approach no longer holds water. Without knowing the advantages and limitations of local fodder, we risk giving animals bulk without benefit.
Precision nutrition corrects this course by matching an animal’s nutritional needs with the nutrient profile of available feed and fodder—tailored by region, breed, and lifecycle stage. It is both a science and a balancing act, one that aligns feed with green and dry fodder availability, local conditions, and specific production goals such as milk yield or reproduction.
Feeding Smarter, Not Just More
What we feed is just one half of the story. How we feed—and what we understand about animal requirements—is equally important. In a country like India, where crossbreeds and indigenous breeds coexist, nutrition must be precise to ensure animals perform to their potential.
A case in point comes from the Western Ghats, where farmers faced recurring skin issues in their cattle during monsoons. A study revealed that zinc leaching from the soil due to heavy rainfall was leading to a deficiency in the grass, and by extension, in the animals. Once zinc oxide was incorporated into feed, the symptoms disappeared. It was a simple fix, but only possible through localized, scientific insight- a hallmark of precision nutrition.
These interventions go beyond productivity. They improve animal welfare, reproductive performance, and the economic viability of farms. Farmers often report issues in their cattles like failure to conceive despite adequate feeding. In many cases, the root cause is nutritional—highlighting the need for formulations that go beyond calorie count to deliver the right micronutrients, at the right time, and at the right cost.
A Strategic Lever for Sustainability
Precision nutrition also presents a powerful lever for climate-smart agriculture. Feed innovations and balanced formulations can reduce methane emissions, optimize nitrogen use, and even cut down on antibiotic dependency by boosting immunity through better diets.
The growing use of silage shows how strategic feeding can also support sustainability. It reduces post-harvest losses, ensures year-round feed supply, and delivers more succulent, digestible nutrients to animals—particularly in rainfed areas. It’s not just about reducing costs. It’s about building systems that are predictable, durable, and resilient.
Technology as an Enabler, Not the Solution
India has made commendable strides in laying the groundwork for precision nutrition. Digital infrastructure is improving. However, implementation challenges persist- from affordability and awareness, to training and trust. Many farmers still equate nutrition with volume, not value. Bridging this knowledge gap requires capacity building, localized demonstrations, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Technology can support this shift, but it must remain a silent enabler, not the headline act. AI-powered ration tools, remote advisory apps, and feed monitoring platforms have a role—but only when built around farmer needs and made accessible through regional languages and culturally familiar interfaces. At its heart, precision nutrition is not a tool—it is a philosophy. It rests on five pillars: feed, fodder, breed, milk yield, and reproduction. Each must complement the other. You can’t out-feed poor fodder. Nor can you expect high yields from undernourished animals, however well-bred they may be. Only when this foundational harmony is achieved can we begin building tomorrow’s livestock ecosystem- one that is resilient, productive, and ready for the challenges of a changing world.
Building Tomorrow’s Livestock Ecosystem
India’s ambition to remain the world’s dairy powerhouse depends not on volume, but on value creation per animal. To achieve this, nutrition must become smarter, region-specific, and outcome-focused. We need to empower farmers with the right knowledge, support them with the right tools, and build an ecosystem where feed becomes a force multiplier—not just a cost center.
Because the future of livestock farming will not be defined by how much we feed, but by how precisely we do it.
By Capt. (Dr.) A.Y. Rajendra, CEO – Animal & Aqua Feed Business, Godrej Agrovet
