Economic Assessment of Milk Production with Improved Fodder in Tamil Nadu, Southern India: Two-stage Least Square Approach

Abstract

Dairying has been an important auxiliary enterprise and regular source of income to the farmers. Indian dairy industry has grown commendably with the seven-fold rise in milk output since independence; however, the productivity of the milch animals was relatively low owing to inadequate fodder and inefficient input management. This study investigates the factors influencing milk production under enhanced fodder production in Tamil Nadu using the two-stage least square method. Primary data were obtained from 407 dairy farm households during the year 2021-22. Two models using single-cut and multi-cut fodder were employed to assess the factors determining milk production in dairy farms. The findings of the first stage regression of both models show that fertilizers, seeds, area under fodder, herd size, machinery, farming experience and education were the determinants of the fodder production. In the second stage, factors that influence milk production were fodder, concentrates, herd size, dairy experience, and education. Efficient utilization of feed coupled with concentrates will enhance milk production. The adoption of multi-cut fodder will offer succulent nutrient-rich fodder throughout the year to the cattle, even in the lean season and as a result, it improves the productivity of milk in the dairy farms.