Madurai: Rising temperatures and worsening water scarcity have led to a significant decline in milk procurement by Aavin’s Madurai division, with daily collection dropping by nearly 20,000 litres over the past week. Officials said procurement has fallen from 1.70 lakh litres per day to 1.50 lakh litres, largely due to heat stress affecting dairy cattle in key milk-producing regions.
The decline has been reported mainly from Usilampatti taluk and the Chellampatti and Sedapatti blocks of Madurai district, which together contribute a major share of milk supplied to Aavin.
Dairy experts attribute the reduction to heat stress in cattle, which adversely affects both milk yield and milk composition. According to dairy sector experts, prolonged exposure to high temperatures causes animals to reduce feed intake and experience physiological stress, including excessive panting and saliva loss. Such conditions can lower milk production by 10–25 per cent, depending on the animal’s health and management practices.
“Heat stress directly impacts the productivity of dairy animals. Milk yield can decline by one to two litres per animal per day, while milk fat and protein levels are also negatively affected,” said M. Palaniappan, former Director of the Madurai District Cooperative Milk Producers Union.
Milk farmers have also raised concerns over inadequate water availability and shrinking fodder resources. The lack of rainfall in recent weeks has dried up ponds and small water bodies across rural areas, affecting both agriculture and livestock rearing.
Tamil Nadu Milk Farmers Association (Madurai) President A.C. Venmani Chandran stated that average milk production per cow has declined considerably in several villages. “Animals are struggling due to insufficient water and green fodder. Milk production that typically ranges between seven and eight litres per day has fallen to nearly five or six litres in many cases,” he said.
Farmer cooperative societies have already begun reporting losses. The Melamatharai Milk Cooperative Society in Usilampatti, for instance, has recorded a decline of approximately 70 litres in daily milk collection. More than 300 milk cooperative societies located in Usilampatti, Chellampatti and Sedapatti collectively contribute over 70 per cent of the milk procured by Aavin’s Madurai division.
Weather conditions have further aggravated the situation, with daytime temperatures ranging between 35°C and 38°C and only sparse rainfall recorded across the region. Experts warn that if high temperatures persist, milk production may decline further in the coming weeks.
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Officials from Aavin confirmed that heat stress is the primary reason for the reduced procurement. “The fall in milk collection has been particularly severe in the three affected blocks, bringing total procurement down to 1.50 lakh litres per day,” an official said.
Animal husbandry experts have recommended immediate mitigation measures to minimise production losses. Farmers have been advised to provide insulated and well-ventilated shelters for dairy animals, avoid grazing during peak heat hours after 11 a.m., ensure continuous access to clean drinking water, and supplement cattle diets with concentrated feed and minerals to prevent dehydration and maintain productivity.
Dairy scientists note that climate-induced heat stress is becoming an increasingly important challenge for India’s dairy sector. Improving cattle housing, adopting heat management practices, and strengthening water and fodder availability will be critical to sustaining milk production during extreme weather events.
The current situation in Madurai highlights the growing vulnerability of dairy farming to climatic fluctuations and underscores the need for long-term strategies to safeguard both livestock welfare and farmers’ livelihoods.
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