Livestock in India: Key Facts Quiz

Indian Livestock and Animal Husbandry

• William Moorcraft, a veterinarian from the first veterinary college (Lyons), was the first veterinarian to practice in India in a civil capacity.
• A severe famine in India (1876) affected 60 million people and killed 5.25 million. A famine commission's recommendations spurred agricultural improvements in India.
• Dr. Voelcker (1889) studied Indian agriculture and reported the buffalo was more valuable than cows as a dairy animal.
• Indian cows typically produced 1-2 liters of milk per day (variable by region), principally for six months. Exceptional breeds like Nellore produced over 10 liters daily.
• India imported skim milk powder before independence. City cattle living conditions were considered unhygienic.
• Arey Milk Colony was established (1949) near Bombay to move city cattle to healthier living conditions..
• India possesses enormous animal wealth, but productivity is low compared to other countries. 23% of the world's bovine population is in India, but only 12.5% of global milk production originates from India.
• In 1994, 66 million cattle and 39 million buffalo produced only 66 million tonnes of milk, while 10 million cows in the United States produced 70 million tonnes.
• This difference stems from a lack of planned selection for production traits. Previously, cows were valued for bulls with draught capacity, not for milk production.
• India has 57% of the world's buffalo and 16% of the world's cattle population. Uttar Pradesh (UP) holds the highest buffalo population and Tamil Nadu (TN) has the highest crossbred cattle. 60% of crossbred cattle are located in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Punjab.
• India ranks first in buffalo, second in cattle and goats, third in sheep, fourth in ducks, fifth in chickens, and sixth in camels globally.
• Analysis of animal census data reveals a declining cattle population (1.18% decline), mainly indigenous cattle due to government breeding policies. This is part of replacing low-productivity indigenous animals with higher-productivity crossbred animals.
• Other animal populations that are declining include horses, donkeys, and camels.
• Poultry, dogs, buffalo, sheep, goats, and pigs have positive growth rates, ranging from 0.22% to 5.85%.
• India has diverse domestic animal breeds: cattle (28), goats (23), sheep (44), and buffalo (7).
• Agriculture is the predominant occupation (58%) in India, contributing 17% of the GDP. Animal husbandry (livestock and fisheries) is a subset, contributing 5% of GDP (or about 1/4 of agriculture's contribution).
• Livestock productivity (4-6% annual growth rate), particularly poultry (up to 12% annual growth), is significantly higher than the general agriculture sector.

Animal Husbandry Practices

• Castration: This practice, common in India, makes animals unable to reproduce. It's used to make bullocks docile, improve meat quality, control indiscriminate breeding, prevent certain genital diseases, and produce a leaner neck for work animals. Castration is ideally performed during the cold season, avoiding the rainy season.
• Ideal Age for Castration: Young animals (under 3 months old) use surgical or elastrator methods; adult animals (within a year old) use the closed Burdizzo method.

Cattle Transport

• Wagon Space Requirements: Wagons must provide at least 2 square meters of space per cattle.
• Loading Procedures: Cattle must be properly fed and watered and loaded; pregnant cattle mustn't be mixed with young cattle to prevent stampedes. Rations (straw, etc.) must be adequate and strategically placed in the wagons.
• Ventilation: Wagons must ensure adequate ventilation.
• Wagon Capacity: Ordinary wagons have specific load limits (different for broad, meter, and narrow gauges) based on the size of the animal load.
• Attendants: An attendant is mandatory in each cattle-carrying wagon.

Livestock Feed and Management

• Organic Livestock Feed: Feed must be organically produced (including animal byproducts).
• Organic Farmland Requirements: Farmland must be managed organically for at least 36 months.
• Living Conditions: Organic livestock producers must provide adequate living space, access to outdoors, shade, shelter, fresh air, sunlight, and pasture (for ruminants).
• Waste Management: Manure must be managed to prevent contamination of crops, soil, or water and to maximize nutrient recycling.
• Preventive Healthcare: Health practices need to prevent animal stress, parasites, diseases, and ensure appropriate species and breeds choice, and adequate nutrition.

Types of Roofs

• Lean-to: A single-slope roof for sheds, with limitations on ventilation.
• Gable: A coupled roof with two slopes and an option for ridge ventilation.
• Monitor: Two-sloped roof, one overlapping with ridge ventilation. Best for tropical conditions.
• Semi-Monitor: Two-sloped roof, one overlapping with ridge ventilation; similar use cases to monitor.
• Gothic Arch: An arched roof providing extra space and suitable for stores and pig sheds.

Animal Housing Design

• Flexibility: Animal housing should be designed to allow for future enterprise changes.
• Roof Shape: Gable with ventilators in hot climates, and monitor for smaller buildings.
• Building Width Standards: Specifies standard widths for different animal housed.

Summary of Animal Population Trends

• Declining indigenous cattle populations (1.18% decline)
• Declining male cattle populations.
• Positive population growth in poultry (5.85%), dogs (2.2%), buffalo (1.4%), sheep (1.12%), goats (0.22%), and pigs (0.28%).

Agriculture and Livestock Sectors

• Agriculture employs 58% of the population, contributes 17% of India's GDP.
• Animal husbandry (livestock+fisheries) is a sub-sector, contributing 5% of GDP.
• Livestock sector growth (4-6% annually) exceeds that of the broader agricultural sector, which is often stagnant. Poultry sector presents the most significant growth (sometimes exceeding 12%).
• Livestock provides crucial services to farmers, including draught power, manure, cooking fuel, household consumption, and contribution to both the domestic and foreign market. Manure production ranges around 800 million tons annually (300 million tons for fuel, rest for crop benefit).

Test your knowledge about the livestock population and its significance in India! This quiz covers various aspects such as buffaloes, cattle, poultry growth rates, and the economic contributions of livestock. Dive into the statistics and insights to enhance your understanding of this vital sector.