Prevention Is Better Than Cure: Experimental Evidence From Milk Fever Incidence in Dairy Animals of Haryana, India

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that using anionic mineral mixture (AMM) as a preventive measure significantly reduces milk fever incidence in dairy cows, increases milk yield, and boosts farmers' income, proving prevention is more cost-effective than treatment.

Contribution

It provides the first randomized controlled evidence from India showing the economic and health benefits of preventive supplementation with AMM in dairy farming.

Findings

Milk fever incidence drops from 21% to 2% with AMM.

AMM increases milk yield by 12%.

Farmers' net income increases by 38% with AMM.

Abstract

Calcium deficiency in high yielding bovines during calving causes milk fever which leads to economic losses of around INR 1000 crores (USD 137 million) per annum in Haryana, India. With increasing milk production, the risk of milk fever is continuously rising. In the context, we aim to address the most fundamental research question: What is the effect of a preventive health product (anionic mineral mixture (AMM)) on milk fever incidence, milk productivity and farmers income? In an effort to contribute to the scanty economic literature on effect of preventive measures on nutritional deficiency disorders in dairy animals, specifically, on AMM effects in India, this study uses a randomized controlled design to estimate internally valid estimates. Using data from 200 dairy farms, results indicate that milk fever incidence decreases from 21 per cent at baseline to 2 per cent in treated animals at follow-up. Further, AMM leads to a 12 per cent and 38 per cent increase in milk yield and farmers net income, respectively. Profits earned due to the prevention of milk fever [INR 16000 (USD 218.7)] overweighs the losses from milk fever [INR 4000 (USD 54.7)]; thus, prevention using AMM is better than cure.