Development of organic feeding system for milk production by
Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, UPY

Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest control.
Organic farming uses fertilizers and pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides) if they are considered natural (such as bone meal from animals or pyrethrin from flowers), but it excludes or strictly limits the use of various methods (including synthetic petrochemical fertilizers and pesticides; plant growth regulators such as hormones; antibiotic use in livestock; genetically modified organisms, human sewage sludge; and nano materials) for reasons including sustainability, openness, independence, health, and safety.

Standard as guidelines:
• IFOAM basic standards
• Indian standard---- Strictly followed NPOP system, standards and guidelines.

Process for organic fodder production…..
• Fix the standards, system of production, area and requirements, livestock followed NPOP)
• Primary analysis of soil, water and livestock physiology (Analysis for heavy metals and micronutrients)
• Certification agency and collaborators (FOLLOWED SGS)
• Conversion of conventional field to organic at least 3 yrs.
• Prepare farm plan information on area locality, planting materials
• Soil fertility and crop management
• Manures and fertilizers along with sources
• Pest control and management
• Irrigation and weed control
• Farm processing, harvest, storage, transport and marketing
• Animal husbandry-Nos, breed, feed and fodder used, housing, vaccination and deworming, fly and rat control in shed, dung disposal, Forage conservation
• Disease control, history of any synthetic hormone, antibiotic used
• Manure management
• Milk handling
• All animal records
• Animal identification system
• Transport and Marketing of products
• Maps and all documents of transaction




Organic milk production strategies….
 Preferred indigenous breed of cattle- Gir, Tharparkar, Sahiwal cattle and Murrah buffaloes-for high adaptability
 Organic fodder and feed production
 Soil, water and nutrient management
 Fertilizers-FYM, Green manure, Vermi compost, mulching
 Crop/fodder rotation
 Animal health management through vaccination, herbal deworming, herbal/ homaeopathic treatment, limited life saving drugs
 Welfare through spacing, grazing, ad lib feeding, watering and natural services
 Herbal pest management
 Use of legumes in pasture

Standard Protocols.
 Conversion of conventional field to organic field using biofertilizers by 36 months.
 Production of feed and forages in situ.
 All input and out analysis to maintain residue levels BDL.
 Follow NPOP standard.
 Follow standard animal husbandry practice.
 Approach certification agency after 1 yr of start of project.
 Maintain standard in situ.

Fertilization:
A. Production of Farm Yard Manure in a separate area without contamination and dung produced from animal fed organic feed and fodder produced in the system.
B. Green mulching in the system.
C. Vermicompost production (Earth worm- I foetida)

Application of fertilizers: FYM @ 20 t/ha, top dressing with vermicompost @ 1 t/ha, calculated following standard NPK requirement for a particular crop. Use of Pesticide: Herbal---- Neem oil

Starting of Organic Milk Production Process:
1. Select Indigenous breed of cattle either available at your locality or suitable Indian cattle breed like Gir, Tharparkar or Sahiwal.
2. Calculate requirement of Feed & Forage for those animal.. Viz.




Step C: Analysis of Inputs and out puts:
 Chemical analysis for composition from standard laboratory for Input utilized like Soil, Water. FYM etc.
 Analysis of output like – milk, fodder, grains or any product.

Step D: Animal Housing and management:
 Space per animal should be given as per Indian standard( >ISI standard, we have given double the ISI space).
 Housing should be loose type East-West direction.
 Vaccination and deworming allowed as per NPOP norms.
 Treatment of illness will be through Ayurvedic or organic means.
 If life saving drugs used- animal should be withdrawn from system up to 30 days of last treatment used.
 Drinking water should be free from any pesticide or chemical residues.
 Hygienic means to be followed for every operation.

Advantages of Early Weaning
 Dams of early weaned calves are in better condition at calving and that carries over to breeding season.
 Calves can be fed to grow to their genetic potential when forage conditions are not optimal for the dam.
 It may be the key to more efficient feed use during times of drought or other periods of feed shortage.
 Early weaned calves are very efficient of converting feed to gain.
 A high percentage of early weaned calves fed a growing ration for a short period of time then stepped-up on a high concentrate diet can achieve a USDA Quality Grade of average choice or better.
 Early weaning permits more cows to be carried on a limited forage supply.
 Calves weaned before or very early in the breeding season, pregnancy rates will be greater for thin cows.

Step E: Auditing by certification agency:
Every year of auditing and check analysis, residue control in inputs and out put products.

Step F: Phased certification of system.
Out Come:
A. 1. Conventional field (4.5ha) converted to certified organic field by 30 months of initiation of project following NPOP standards.
2. Organic fodder production system developed. Certified organic fodder and grain produced from the system to produce organic milk. GFY increased up to 15-30% under different organic production process.
3. Soil quality interms of available Organic C& NPK increased (2-3%) in 6 years of organic fertilization.
4. Soil health in terms of nematode, bacteria and soil nutrients was better under organic system.
B. 1. Cetrtified organic milk produced from the 4th yr of project. Certification done by SGS India Ltd, Gurgaon, affiliated afterwards by APEDA.
2. Fatty acid in milk was palmitic (25.2-26.62%), Oleic (18.11-20.98) and Myristic acid(10.05-11.00). Linoleic i.e Omega 6 and Linolenic i.e Omega 3 was more in organic milk.
3. Tharparkar cows produced more Omega 6&3 fatty acid than Sahiwal and Gir.
C. Disease incidence in animal was negligible except more external injuries under organic system. Routine vaccination and deworming followed as per recommendation.
Reproductive performance, in terms of calving interval, dry period, AFC was better under organic feeding system.