{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Heatwave and a Late Monsoon Threaten Milk Yields, But Vets Say This Simple Feed Formula Can Help",
  "summary": "With the monsoon crawling in slowly and humidity climbing, cows and buffaloes are producing less milk with lower fat content, so Dr. Brihaspati Bharti, in-charge of the Satna district veterinary hospital, has laid out a full feeding formula to keep dairy animals healthy through the spell.",
  "content": "Half of July has gone by, yet the monsoon is still crawling in at a sluggish pace this year. Even without heavy rain, humidity levels have shot up, and it isn't just people who are feeling the strain, milk-producing cows and buffaloes are struggling too. In this kind of weather, falling milk yields, dropping fat content, and animals falling ill are common complaints. According to Dr. Brihaspati Bharti, in-charge of the Satna district veterinary hospital, farmers who pay close attention to feed and care right now can avoid much of this loss. He says a balanced, nutrient-rich diet is the single most important step during this humid stretch, since the right combination of green fodder, grain and nutrients can offset much of the damage caused by heat and a delayed monsoon.\n\nGreen fodder holds the real key to milk output\nThe animal husbandry department is currently encouraging farmers to grow green fodder varieties such as MP Chari and Hybrid Napier, and has already distributed seeds and saplings of these varieties free of cost to several farmers. The advantage is that farmers can grow these crops on their own land and produce nutritious, organic green fodder for their animals right at home, cutting down dependence on the open market. For those who want a year-round fodder supply, making silage, essentially a pickled form of green fodder, is an excellent option. It can be prepared easily at home and fed to animals whenever fresh green fodder runs short.\n\nIncrease concentrate gradually, never all at once\nExperts advise against suddenly raising the quantity of concentrate, or grain mixture, in an animal's diet. Instead, it should be increased gradually over 7 to 10 days so the animal's digestive system can adjust without trouble. Concentrate is best fed mixed with dry straw and green fodder as a TMR, or Total Mixed Ration. As a general rule, cows should get 1 kilogram of extra concentrate for every 3 litres of milk they produce, while buffaloes need 1 kilogram of extra concentrate for every 2 to 2.5 litres of milk. The grain mix itself benefits from maize, wheat and bran, along with mustard, cottonseed or other oilcakes as a protein source.\n\nExtra care for animals giving more than 15 litres a day\nIf a cow or buffalo is producing more than 15 litres of milk daily, simply increasing plain grain isn't enough, and can actually backfire by causing an upset stomach or acidosis. For such high-yielding animals, bypass fat and bypass protein are useful, along with roughly 100 grams of baking soda as a rumen buffer. This combination keeps digestion running smoothly and has a direct, positive effect on milk production.\n\nTraditional Baghelkhand ingredients still deliver results\nDr. Bharti points out that flaxseed, mustard, cottonseed and cotton-based concentrate, all easily available in the Baghelkhand region, help raise both milk quantity and fat content when fed correctly. Cottonseed should be soaked overnight in water and boiled thoroughly the next morning to break down gossypol, a harmful compound it contains. Cottonseed cake needs to be soaked in water 4 to 5 hours before feeding. Flaxseed should be lightly roasted and coarsely ground, with only 100 to 200 grams mixed into the grain each day. Mustard is better fed coarsely ground and cooked with porridge rather than whole, and its share should never exceed 10 to 15 percent of the total grain mix. All of these ingredients deliver real benefit only when mixed thoroughly with dry straw and green fodder before feeding.\n\nWhen green fodder runs short, jaggery and gram flour step in\nWhen enough green fodder isn't available, adding nutritious alternatives to the diet becomes essential. Dr. Bharti explains that cooking jaggery (khand) and gram flour (besan) in water and feeding the mixture gives animals an instant burst of energy along with a good dose of protein. This reduces physical weakness, raises protein and fat levels in the milk, keeps the digestive system strong, and eases the stress that heat and humidity place on the animal. That said, if animals are already getting enough MP Chari or other green fodder, the need for such additional measures drops considerably.\n\nSoaking oilcake correctly matters just as much\nMustard, cottonseed or groundnut cake should never be placed directly in front of an animal to eat. It needs to be soaked 4 to 6 hours before feeding, in a ratio of 1 part cake to 2 to 3 parts water, so it swells properly and its harmful compounds are neutralised. The cake should never be boiled, since boiling destroys the essential protein and nutrients it contains. Once the cake turns completely soft, it should be mixed with dry straw and green fodder before feeding. During this hot, humid season, oilcake should not be left soaking in water for more than 8 to 10 hours, since fermentation and fungal growth become likely beyond that window. With the right feeding practices and a balanced diet, farmers can keep their milk-producing animals healthy through this tough weather and prevent a drop in milk output.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThis directly affects milk output and the earnings of dairy farmers.\n\n• Across India: Dairy farmers everywhere face falling milk and fat levels during humid, low-rain spells, and following the right feeding routine can help them limit losses and protect their income.\n• In Satna and Baghelkhand: Farmers here can boost milk and fat output at little extra cost by correctly using locally available flaxseed, mustard, cottonseed and cotton cake.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Why does milk from cows and buffaloes drop during this weather?\nA slow monsoon means less rain but rising humidity, which stresses animals and reduces both their milk yield and fat content.\n\n2. Who is Dr. Brihaspati Bharti?\nHe is the in-charge of the Satna district veterinary hospital and shared this information in a conversation with Local 18.\n\n3. Which green fodder varieties are considered best for animals right now?\nThe animal husbandry department is promoting MP Chari and Hybrid Napier varieties and has been supplying farmers with their seeds and saplings.\n\n4. How much extra concentrate should cows and buffaloes be given?\nAs a general rule, cows need 1 kilogram of extra concentrate for every 3 litres of milk, while buffaloes need 1 kilogram for every 2 to 2.5 litres of milk.\n\n5. What special care is needed for animals producing more than 15 litres a day?\nInstead of just increasing grain, farmers should use bypass fat, bypass protein and about 100 grams of baking soda as a rumen buffer to avoid stomach upset or acidosis.\n\n6. What must be done before feeding cottonseed or cotton cake?\nCottonseed should be soaked overnight and boiled the next morning to remove the harmful compound gossypol, while cotton cake needs to be soaked in water 4 to 5 hours before feeding.\n\n7. What can be fed to animals when green fodder is scarce?\nCooking jaggery and gram flour in water and feeding the mixture gives animals instant energy and protein, which also raises fat and protein levels in the milk.\n\n8. How long should oilcake be soaked in water?\nOilcake should be soaked for 4 to 6 hours before feeding, but during hot, humid weather it should not stay in water for more than 8 to 10 hours since that raises the risk of fungal growth.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/lifestyle/umasa-ke-mausama-men-bhi-dudha-ki-balti-nahin-hogi-khali-pashu-chikitsaka-ne-batae-asana-upaya-7923",
  "category": "Lifestyle",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-15",
  "tags": [
    "Animal Husbandry",
    "Dairy Cattle",
    "Cow Buffalo Milk",
    "Green Fodder",
    "MP Chari",
    "Baghelkhand",
    "Cattle Feed",
    "Monsoon Humidity"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}