The situation is compounded by a growing fodder crisis, with heat and erratic weather affecting crop availability and quality. As feed becomes scarcer and more expensive, dairy farmers are struggling to maintain herd nutrition, further weakening production performance and increasing operational costs.

This combination of lower output and higher input costs is beginning to influence milk prices, creating ripple effects across the dairy value chain. Consumers may face higher prices, while processors must navigate tighter supply conditions and fluctuating raw milk availability.

Experts highlight that heat stress not only reduces immediate milk yields but can also have longer-term impacts on animal health and reproductive performance. This raises concerns about sustained productivity and the resilience of India’s dairy systems under increasingly volatile climate conditions.