“Aligning public investment with this diverse reality requires moving from uniform dairy strategies to differentiated, responsive policies that reflect how households actually value cattle, the constraints they face, and how climate risks for the sector are evolving. This will not only ensure acceptance of public interventions, thereby improving the effectiveness of budget allocations, but also preserve the rich diversity of rearing systems across the country,” said Abhishek Jain, fellow and director, Green Economy and Impact Innovations, CEEW.
Even in states with relatively formalised dairy sectors such as Maharashtra and Karnataka, over 30 per cent of rearers prioritised non-milk benefits, mainly dung and draught power. Socio-cultural and religious motivations also remained significant: In Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Assam, more than 15 per cent of rearers cited these as their foremost reason for keeping cattle.
Low Herd Size
These varied motivations were also reflected in the structure of cattle ownership across the country. The study showed that half of India’s rural cattle rearers owned just one or two animals; small herds concentrated in hilly, central and eastern regions, while larger herds (over five animals) were more prevalent in states such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Punjab.
At the same time, low diversity at the household level — both in terms of bovine type and breed — shaped productivity outcomes and resilience. It was found that 82 per cent of rearers owned only one bovine type.
