India, Jan. 21 -- Around 38% of India's cattle rearers prioritise non-market uses like dung and draught power over milk sales.

This trend is particularly strong in states like Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Policies that reflect the diverse roles cattle play in rural livelihoods, beyond just milk production, are needed.

More than a third of India's cattle rearers do not sell milk - the primary objective associated with bovine rearing - but instead prioritise non-market uses such as dung, draught power and income from selling animals, according to a new study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) released on 20 January 2026.

The study estimated that about 38 per cent of cattle rearers, or nearly 30 million households, do n...