CLFMA, PDFA discuss solutions for modern, sustainable dairy farming

Divya Kumar Gulati

The knowledge sessions

One of the key technical sessions featured Dr Harish Dharne of Berg and Schmidt India Pvt Ltd, who delivered an insightful presentation on effective management of transition cows and highlighted the critical role of choline in improving metabolic health, reducing transition-related disorders and enhancing milk production.

The knowledge sessions continued with Dr Mukesh, who shared practical strategies on managing dry cows and preparing them for the next lactation cycle, emphasizing the importance of nutrition, health management and timely interventions.

The academic segment was further strengthened by Dr Hujaz Tariq from Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, who addressed participants on scientific dairy management practices and the latest advancements in livestock production.

The morning program concluded with addresses by Mr Gulati and Daljeet Singh, PDFA President, who reaffirmed the need for greater collaboration among farmers, researchers and industry stakeholders to enhance productivity, improve animal welfare and ensure long-term sustainability of the dairy ecosystem.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Gulati said, “India’s dairy sector has immense potential to become even more productive and globally competitive, provided scientific feeding practices and modern livestock management become integral to every dairy farm. Knowledge sharing initiatives such as these play a vital role in bridging the gap between research and the field. At CLFMA of India, we remain committed to supporting farmers through science-led nutrition, industry collaboration and continuous capacity building that ultimately improves animal health, farm profitability and food security.”

The evening session

The evening session, hosted at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ludhiana, shifted the focus towards feed manufacturing, ingredient innovation and market intelligence, bringing together feed millers and industry executives for discussions on emerging opportunities and current industry challenges.

The session commenced with a welcome address by Munish Sharma, General Manager of PDS, followed by a presentation from Chris Markey, Regional Director – Southeast Asia & Oceania at US Grains and BioProducts Council, on distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as an alternative feed ingredient.

The session explored the growing relevance of DDGS as a cost-effective and nutritionally valuable ingredient that can contribute to more sustainable feed formulations.

The program further featured SV Bhave, Managing Director of Berg and Schmidt India Pvt Ltd, who provided an overview of the current scenario in oils & oilcakes, discussing market dynamics, raw material availability and evolving sourcing trends impacting the livestock feed sector.

A key highlight of the evening was an engaging panel discussion on present challenges in feed industry, moderated by Mr Bhave. The discussion brought together distinguished industry leaders including Mr Gulati; Mr Singh; Ashok Gupta, President of AFMA, and Dr RS Grewal, Director of Extension Education at GADVASU.

The panel deliberated on raw material availability, feed affordability, adoption of scientific nutrition, quality standards, emerging technologies and the importance of collaboration across the livestock value chain to ensure sustainable growth.

“For dairy farmers, access to practical knowledge is just as important as access to quality inputs. Today’s discussions reinforced that better transition cow management, balanced nutrition and timely adoption of scientific practices can significantly improve milk yield, animal health and farm profitability. We are grateful to CLFMA of India and all the experts who shared valuable, field-oriented insights that our farmers can readily implement. Such collaborative initiatives strengthen the connection between research, industry and the farming community, ultimately making our dairy sector more resilient and future-ready,” said Mr Singh.

The event concluded with an interactive networking session, enabling meaningful engagement among dairy farmers, feed manufacturers, researchers, veterinarians and industry experts, further strengthening partnerships aimed at advancing India’s dairy and livestock sectors.

Daljit Singh (left) and Divya Kumar Gulati