Milk is an evergreen commodity whose demand will never decrease as it an important part of any person’s diet. With the increasing population, the demand for milk has also increased in recent years. After the White Revolution in India, the country became the largest milk producer in the world. The milk production in India sees a significant contribution from both small and large-scale dairy farms. So, if you are looking to establish a dairy farm business, you can establish that with confidence. No doubt it will take some investment in terms of finance, time and effort, but it will be worth it. If you have experience or not, this article will help you understand the finer nuances of setting up a dairy farm business. Here are some aspects that you will have to understand before you start.
- Research
Research is the most important part of setting up anything and everything. Before venturing out, you must every minute detail of how you can establish your dairy farm business. You can study about different animals that suit the dairy farm business and their demand. Researching about a few successful dairy farms will give you a lot of valuable information. You can also contact agricultural and government institutions to understand the requirements for setting up a dairy farm business.
- Meet the experts
It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an expert in the field. Expert advice will give your thoughts a new perspective and fine-tune your plans. Take the advice of people who have been in the industry for years. Remember, it is a part of your learning so do not feel shy to ask questions, it will only help you gain valuable insights.
- Regulatory work
Setting up a dairy farm will require different compliances in the form of necessary approvals and business licenses from local authorities. You must contact the authorities to understand the approval process and work accordingly to get the license. Whether you build your farm from scratch or buy an old one, you will have to follow the legalities in both cases.
- Subsidy and Loan
Setting up a dairy farm will require a lot of upfront investment in terms of money. However, there are a lot of banks that offer easy loan facilities under the Dairy Farm Business Loan scheme. Contact your nearest bank to get more details about the loan scheme.
- Infrastructure planning
A good and open infrastructure with proper ventilation makes it easier for animals to move around, remain disease-free and give better results. You must also plan your storage facilities, water system, milking areas, sheds for weather protection, other equipment, etc. All these factors will contribute to your expenditure, but it will be a one-time investment. So make sure you invest wisely to avoid any hassles later.
- Breeds
There are several Indian and foreign livestock breeds available and you can choose a few depending on your needs. You can even raise cows and buffaloes together in the farm by keeping them in separate rows. Depending on your location and size of the business, you can research for different breeds.
- Feeding program
Contact a nutritionist who can help you identify the best feed for calves, heifers, dry cows and lactating cows. You can either opt for total mixed ration or graze cattle. Both are essential for cows to keep themselves healthy, give milk and raise their valves.
- Waste management
Dairy farms generate plenty of manure, which, if managed well, can become beneficial for the dairy owners. It can be used for crops, compost and can even be sold for additional revenue. You will also need a manure management plan as well as a nutrient management plan, depending on the size of your farm. You can contact local authorities for setting up these plans.
- Marketing and business development
Once you have established your business, you should move towards developing and marketing it. Since milk and milk products have good demand, it will not be difficult for you to do good business. In this digital age, you can opt for social media as a marketing tool besides using other traditional marketing methods.
Prompt’s solutions for setting up a dairy farm
Prompt is a leading name in the Indian dairy industry, which is transforming the lives of those involved in the dairy supply chain. We provide innovative solutions that meet the requirements of dairy farm owners at various steps of the dairy farm cycle. Some of our solutions that will help you in setting up a farm are:
- Farm 365 Animal Husbandry App
This app is designed for Indian farmers to help them manage their cattle efficiently. It helps farmers improve the breed, promote data-driven animal trading, prevent in-breeding, support preventive healthcare practices, provide medication based on animals’ health history and monitor the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) of cattle. The key benefits of the Farm 365 Animal Husbandry App are:
- Provides animal-wise data recording system
It provides information about important lifecycle events of cattle and records historical data that helps to monitor their productivity and efficiency.
- Inbuilt Ration Calculator
It helps farmers trace the exact feed requirement of each animal and prevent over or underfeeding of the animal.
- Real-time alerts
Helps improve cattle feeding and reduce the inter-calving period, resulting in increased yield, healthy herd, and profitable farm.
- BovSmart Animal Heat Detection System
It is an innovative collar device for cows made with a comfortable and non-invasive IoT (Internet of Things) solution. It helps farmers detect the onset of the cow’s heat cycle which can help them in the timely breeding of animals for better profits. The key benefits of BovSmart Animal Heat Detection System are:
- Monitors cow activity 24/7
The BovSmart Animal Heat Detection System works 24/7 to detect the heat of cows based on their activities and movement. Even sniffing and chin resting and is detected to ensure that no heat is missed. The system records precise data and provides actionable insights to inseminate the cow at the right time for best conception chances.
- Detects cows that do not show heat
The BovSmart Animal Heat Detection System monitors the activities of cows and provides comprehensive data that shows why they are not ovulating.
Prompt has set out to empower Indian dairy farmers and improve their financial condition by making the right use of technology. To know more details about these products, get in touch with us today.
