Shunya Agritech, an agritech startup, has released findings from its Doodh Darpan impact study, which was designed to evaluate the role of Nutri Ankurit Feed (NAF), a hydroponically grown, chemical free and soil-less feed, on dairy productivity. Conducted in six villages of Kanpur Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh, the field trial was carried out in May 2025, when temperatures frequently exceeded 38°C and heat stress typically reduces milk quality and yield. The study aimed to compare outcomes for farmers using NAF against those relying on traditional feed practices.
The objectives included assessing changes in milk quality through fat and SNF (solids-not-fat) percentages, tracking milk quantity available for sale, and analysing farmer revenues and net incomes. The study sought to determine whether NAF could maintain or improve productivity during extreme summer conditions while reducing costs of conventional feed.
Methodology and Scope
The study adopted a controlled pre-post comparative A/B design. Two distinct cohorts of buffalo livestock were observed. Cohort A, the test group, included 10 animals that were introduced to NAF after an initial baseline period. Cohort B, the control group, consisted of six animals that continued with traditional diets comprising green forage, dry fodder, concentrates, wheat bran, and mustard oilcake.
Milk samples were collected twice daily at partnered milk collection centres between 2 May and 25 May 2025. Data was digitally recorded and validated using official sale receipts, which captured fat and SNF values and determined the price paid to farmers. More than 650 individual milk sale transactions were analysed.
Key design elements included separate milking of test animals, digital traceability of all entries, and precise income tracking based on sale receipts. Farmers were also free to adjust rations after NAF introduction, a factor reflected in the feed cost data.
Findings on Milk Quality and Yield
The introduction of NAF led to measurable improvement in milk fat percentage for the test group. Average fat levels rose from 6.67% in the pre-NAF phase to 7.00% in the post-NAF period, marking a 5% increase. Fat percentages remained stable for the control group, at 7.28% on average. SNF values for the test group remained steady, with a slight rise from 8.73% to 8.75%. The control group recorded a small increase from 8.14% to 8.26%, but this did not contribute to income gains due to reduced milk volumes.
In terms of milk quantity available for sale, the test group saw only a marginal decline of 2%, from 2.87 to 2.82 litres per session. By contrast, the control group recorded a sharp 15% fall, from 2.26 to 1.92 litres per session, a reduction consistent with common seasonal patterns during extreme summer.
Impact on Farmer Revenues and Incomes
For the test group, milk revenue rose by 4% due to improved fat percentage and stable SNF, with per session earnings increasing from INR 154 to INR 160. The control group, however, experienced a 14% decline in revenue, falling from INR 127 to INR 109, largely driven by reduced sale volumes.
Net income, calculated as milk revenue minus feed costs, also showed marked differences. Test group farmers recorded an 8% increase in net income per milking session, rising from INR 96 to INR 104. The income gain resulted from both improved milk quality and lower reliance on expensive feed supplements. In contrast, the control group’s net income fell by 25%, dropping from INR 70 to INR 52. The combined effect created a clear income advantage for NAF users.
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The study further estimated that these gains could translate to an additional INR 6K per animal annually, with potential to rise to INR 10K as milk volumes improve beyond summer months. By comparison, the differential with traditional feed practices could result in an annual income gap of INR 18K – INR 20K per animal.
Additional Observations
Sub-cohort analysis revealed that older animals and those with multiple calvings showed the strongest response to NAF, with notable improvements in fat content and income stability. Farmers who reduced or eliminated costly feed components such as mustard oilcake after adopting NAF also recorded better net income outcomes. This suggests that NAF could effectively substitute for high cost supplements while maintaining productivity.
Limitations and Future Directions
The study acknowledged limitations, including variability from hand milking practices, the small sample size, and the geographic scope restricted to a single agro climatic zone in Uttar Pradesh. While the dataset of over 650 records is considered robust for a district level trial, Shunya Agritech emphasised the need for larger, multi-state studies across varied climatic conditions to confirm and expand the findings.
The Doodh Darpan study highlights how hydroponic feed can support dairy farmers in managing the dual challenges of heat stress and rising input costs. By maintaining milk quality, stabilising sale volumes, and lowering feed expenses, NAF provided measurable economic gains for smallholder farmers in the trial. The findings point toward the potential of subscription based fodder models like Shunya Agritech’s to improve both livestock nutrition and farmer incomes in rural India.