International Journal of Farm Sciences 5(1) : 122-134, 2015 Water use efficiency in milk production under different groundwater regimes in southern Karnataka MAHIN SHARIF and PK DIXIT* University of Agricultural Sciences, College of Sericulture Chintamani 563125 Karnataka, India *National Dairy Research Institute, Southern Regional Station (ICAR) Adugodi, Bangalore 560030 Karnataka, India Email for correspondence: sharif.mahin@gmail.com ABSTRACT The study comprised of computation of cost of milk production, cost of groundwater and water use efficiency (WUE) in milk production of different species of milch animals under different levels of groundwater regimes (safe, semi-critical, critical and overexploitation). The study was carried out in the Chamarajanagar and Mysore districts of Karnataka state which happen to represent both different groundwater regime and progressive dairy region. The study indicated noticeable variations in unit cost of groundwater extraction and it was highest in overexploited area (Rs 3.54/m 3 ) followed by critical (Rs 1.91/m 3 ), semi-critical (Rs 1.07/m 3 ) and safe (Rs 0.80/m 3 ) areas. Daily water depleted by the animals in the process of milk production was highest by crossbred cows (7.79 to 13.71 m 3 /day/ animal) followed by buffaloes (4.89 to 12.07 m 3 /day/animal) and local cows (3.61 to 5.96 m 3 /day/ animal). The study also revealed that economic efficiency of water use (net income per unit of water use) in milk production from crossbreds was positive and it was in the range of Rs 2.18 to 4.29/m 3 and negative economic efficiency of water use was recorded in milk production from local cows (Rs 1.48 to 6.45/m 3 ) and buffaloes (Rs 0.63 to 6.37/m 3 ). Due to higher milk yield in crossbreds the higher WUE of (0.84 to 1.37l/m 3 ) followed by local cows (0.51 to 0.81 l/m 3 ) and buffaloes (0.38 to 0.87 l/ m 3 ). Depletion of direct water in the process of milk production was marginal in comparison with the water depleted to produce the feed and fodder of dairy animal and hence emphasis should be given to increase the WUE in production of feed and fodder. Keywords: Groundwater exploitation; water use efficiency; milk production INTRODUCTION Water is one of the critical factors of animal production drawn from nature particularly pivotal role it plays in animal physiology and indirectly in the production of feed and fodder to sustain the animal production system. The direct importance of water in milk production is well defined and tangible. But it was estimated by FAO that in the period from 2001 to 2007 on average 37 per cent of the cereals produced in the world were used for animal feed (Anon 2011) and it connotes the