Spatio-temporal dynamics of bovine population and milk production in Andhra Pradesh

Investigating inter-district variations in bovine population dynamics and milk production, and understanding their drivers, is essential for targeted interventions towards dairy development. This study analysed district-wise trends in bovine population dynamics and milk production in Andhra Pradesh from 2007 to 2019, using secondary data collected from various sources. Trend analysis was performed by estimating compound annual growth rate. All districts witnessed a considerably higher rate of increase in the population of crossbred females, indicating the substitution of low-yielding indigenous animals with high-yielding crossbred cattle. The results revealed significant inter-district variations in the level of dairy development, as reflected in bovine density, bovine composition, herd efficiency ratio (HER), and milk production. District-level determinants of HER were analysed by employing paneldata regression. The density of veterinary institutions, tractor density, and rainfall were found to have a positive and significant influence on the HER.