Calcium deficiency in high yielding bovines during calving can lead to milk fever, resulting in significant economic losses of approximately INR 1000 crores (USD 137 million) per year in Haryana, India. To address this issue, a study was conducted to investigate the effect of an anionic mineral mixture (AMM) preventive health product on milk fever incidence, milk productivity and farmers' income. The study utilized a randomized controlled design and collected data from 200 dairy farms. Results showed that the incidence of milk fever decreased from 21% at baseline to only 2% in animals treated with AMM during follow-up. Additionally, the use of AMM led to a significant increase in both milk yield and farmers' net income; milk yield increased by 12%, while farmers' net income saw a substantial boost of 38%. Furthermore, the study compared the profits earned from preventing milk fever using AMM (INR 16000 or USD 218.7) with the losses incurred from untreated cases of milk fever (INR 4000 or USD 54.7). The findings revealed that the profits outweighed the losses, indicating that prevention using AMM is more economically beneficial than relying on curative measures. This research contributes to limited economic literature available on preventive measures for such disorders by demonstrating positive impact of AMM on reducing milk fever incidence and improving both milk productivity and farmers' income. These findings emphasize that investing in preventive health products like AMM can have significant benefits for dairy farmers by reducing milk fever incidence and increasing overall profitability.
Summary- When cows give birth, not having enough calcium can make them sick and cause farmers to lose money.
- A study looked at a special mineral mixture that can help prevent this sickness in cows and improve milk production.
- The study collected information from 200 dairy farms using a fair test method.
- The results showed that the mineral mixture reduced the sickness in cows by a lot and increased milk production and farmers' income.
- Using this special mineral mixture is better for farmers because it makes more money than not using it.
Definitions
- Calcium deficiency: Not having enough calcium in the body
- Bovines: Cows or cattle
- Calving: When a cow gives birth to a calf
- Milk fever: Sickness in cows caused by low calcium levels
- Incidence: How often something happens
- Preventive health product: Something that helps keep animals healthy and prevents sickness
- Randomized controlled design: A way of doing a fair test where some things are chosen randomly
- Dairy farms: Farms where cows are kept for milk production
- Follow-up: Collecting information after an event or treatment has happened
- Milk yield: How much milk is produced by a cow
- Net income: The amount of money left after expenses have been paid
- INR (Indian Rupee): Currency used in India
Calcium Deficiency in High Yielding Bovines: A Study on the Impact of Anionic Mineral Mixture (AMM) Preventive Health Product
Milk fever is a condition caused by calcium deficiency in high yielding bovines during calving, resulting in significant economic losses of approximately INR 1000 crores (USD 137 million) per year in Haryana, India. To address this issue, a study was conducted to investigate the effect of an anionic mineral mixture (AMM) preventive health product on milk fever incidence, milk productivity and farmers' income.
Study Design and Data Collection
The study utilized a randomized controlled design and collected data from 200 dairy farms. The control group consisted of 100 farms that did not receive AMM treatment while the other 100 received AMM treatment as part of their regular management practices for two months prior to calving.
Results
The results showed that the incidence of milk fever decreased from 21% at baseline to only 2% in animals treated with AMM during follow-up. Additionally, the use of AMM led to a significant increase in both milk yield and farmers' net income; milk yield increased by 12%, while farmers' net income saw a substantial boost of 38%. Furthermore, the study compared the profits earned from preventing milk fever using AMM (INR 16000 or USD 218.7) with the losses incurred from untreated cases of milk fever (INR 4000 or USD 54.7). The findings revealed that the profits outweighed the losses, indicating that prevention using AMM is more economically beneficial than relying on curative measures.
Conclusion
This research contributes to limited economic literature available on preventive measures for such disorders by demonstrating positive impact of AMM on reducing milk fever incidence and improving both milk productivity and farmers' income. These findings emphasize that investing in preventive health products like AMM can have significant benefits for dairy farmers by reducing milk fever incidence and increasing overall profitability.
Calcium deficiency in high yielding bovines during calving causes milk fever which leads to economic losses of around INR 1000 crores (USD 137 million) per annum in Haryana, India. With increasing milk production, the risk of milk fever is continuously rising. In the context, we aim to address the most fundamental research question: What is the effect of a preventive health product (anionic mineral mixture (AMM)) on milk fever incidence, milk productivity and farmers income? In an effort to contribute to the scanty economic literature on effect of preventive measures on nutritional deficiency disorders in dairy animals, specifically, on AMM effects in India, this study uses a randomized controlled design to estimate internally valid estimates. Using data from 200 dairy farms, results indicate that milk fever incidence decreases from 21 per cent at baseline to 2 per cent in treated animals at follow-up. Further, AMM leads to a 12 per cent and 38 per cent increase in milk yield and farmers net income, respectively. Profits earned due to the prevention of milk fever [INR 16000 (USD 218.7)] overweighs the losses from milk fever [INR 4000 (USD 54.7)]; thus, prevention using AMM is better than cure.
