Lack of feed affects milk production in T.N.; Karnataka does better

Over the past seven years, milk production per crossbreed cow per day has remained almost static in the State, at a little over 7 kg/day/animal. 

Between 2018 and 2025, the total milk yielded in a day by one crossbreed cow has hovered around 7.1 kg. It saw only minimal fluctuation — from as low as only 7.03 kg in 2023-24 to a high of just 7.84 kg in 2024-25, as per the 2025 Basic Animal Husbandry (BAH) statistics.

Farmers, many of whom sell milk to the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Federation, whose popular brand is Aavin, say that this is due to the lack of proper feed. “Our cows, which over the years have become crossbred due to the introduction of Jersey bulls, need 400 grams of concentrate feed (containing food stuff for energy such as protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals) to produce a litre of milk.”

“This is apart from the concentrate feed and dry fodder and green grass needed to keep the animal alive at times when it does not produce milk. Farmers have to spend ₹30 as feed and fodder per animal. But as we are unable to spend so much, cows that can produce up to 10 litres of milk a day are producing only around seven litres of milk a day,” said A.P. Gunasekaran, a veterinarian. 

M.G. Rajendran, secretary, Tamil Nadu Milk Producer’s Welfare Association pointed out that dairy farmers also had to spend on labour, vaccinations, and treatments. “In neighbouring Karnataka where crossbred cattle produce 10.71 kilograms of milk/day/animal, the government provides a subsidy of ₹5/ litre to farmers. Recently, the government announced that the subsidy would increase to ₹7/litre. In that State, toned milk is sold at ₹46/litre enabling the government to pay the farmer well. However, that is not the case in Tamil Nadu. We get a subsidy of ₹3/litre and milk is sold at ₹40/litre,” he said. 

According to Basic Animal Husbandry (BAH) statistics, Tamil Nadu has lost area under fodder crops, while Karnataka has improved its coverage. In 2018-19, Tamil Nadu had 48,000 hectares under fodder crops. This has now been reduced to 35,000 hectares in 2025. In Karnataka, it has gone up from 71,000 hectares to 90,000 hectares during the same period. 

A milk industry expert said that Aavin was started based on the Amul model. “The Karnataka federation studied Tamil Nadu’s model and implemented that. Now they have overtaken us in terms of production.” 

Earlier, Aavin used to provide subsidised veterinarian services. That has stopped now. Without taking efforts to produce more milk, Aavin continues to create infrastructure to process milk, he said.

During the last budget, the milk major had the capacity to process around 50 lakh litres of milk. At present, Aavin procures only 30 lakh – 35 lakh litres of milk/day. “If Aavin needs to survive and thrive for the sake of the over nine lakh milk pouring farmers, the Amul model needs to be revived,” he emphasised.