Rajasthan Geography

Livestock of Rajasthan

The Greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated – Mahatma Gandhi

Livestock is commonly defined as domesticated animals Raised in an agricultural setting to produce labor and commodities such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather and wool.

Government Initiatives

National Livestock Mission (NLM)

The National Livestock Mission (NLM) has commenced from 2014-15. The Mission is designed to cover all the activities required to ensure quantitative and qualitative improvement in livestock production systems and capacity building of all stakeholders. The Mission will cover everything germane to improvement of livestock productivity and support projects and initiatives required for that purpose subject. This Mission is formulated with the objective of sustainable development of livestock sector, focusing on improving availability of quality feed and fodder. NLM is implemented in all States including Sikkim.

NLM has four submissions as follows:

The Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed Development will address the problems of scarcity of animal feed resources in order to give a push to the livestock sector making it a competitive enterprise for India and also to harness its export potential. The major objective is to reduce the deficit to nil.

Under Sub-Mission on Livestock Development, there are provisions for productivity enhancement, entrepreneurship development and employment generation (bankable projects) strengthening of infrastructure of state farms with respect to modernization, automation and biosecurity, conservation of threatened breeds, minor livestock development, rural slaughter houses, fallen animals and livestock insurance.

Sub-Mission on Pig Development in North-Eastern Region:

There has been persistent demand from the North Eastern states seeking support for all round development of piggery in the region. For the first time, under NLM a sub-mission on Pig development in north-eastern region is provided wherein government of india would support the state Piggery Farms and importation of germplasm so that eventually the masses get the benefit as it is linked to livelihood and contributes in providing protein-rich food in 8 States of the NER.

Sub-Mission on Skill Development, Technology Transfer and Extension:

The extension machinery at field level for livestock activities is very weak. As a result farmers are not able to adopt the technologies developed by research institutions. The emergence of new technologies and practices require linkages between stakeholders and this sub-mission will enable a wider outreach to the farmers. All the States, including NER States may avail the benefits of the multiple components and the flexibility of choosing them under NLM for a sustainable livestock development.

Livestock of Rajasthan: An Introduction

Rajasthan is rich in livestock wealth with 0.1 million crossbreed cattle, 2.1 million non-descript cattle and 3.2 million buffaloes in milk producing around 8.7 million tonnes of milk annually and buffaloes are contributing the major share (5.2 million tonnes). Sheep and camels are the major livestock resources of the state with a population of 10 million and 0.5 million respectively. The state has a potential to further enhance productivity of cattle, buffalo, sheep and camel with the following technologies:

1. Improved germplasm of sheep (Bharat Merino, Marwari, Avikalin) for enhanced mutton and wool yield, cattle (Frieswal) and Murrah buffalo for 5 % increase in milk production and camel (Bikaneri, Kachchhi) for improved draught ability and milk yield.

2. Area specific mineral (Ca, Cu, Zn) supplementation, complete feed blocks and bypass protein technology for 10-15% improvement in productivity

3. Field based diagnostic kits and vaccines for major diseases for production and income enhancement

4. Value addition of milk (low cholesterol ghee, herbal ghee, mango lassi, mozaralla cheese, whey-based sports beverage and Kesar kulfi, flavored milk, lotion/cream from camel milk) and wool (carpet, namadas, blankets and apparels).

What is Livestock?

Livestock are animals that are domesticated and raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. They include cattle, goats etc.

The Breeding Maintenance and Slaughter of these animals known as Animal Husbandry

What are Mixed Farming and the advantages of it?

Mixed farming is a farming system, which involves the growing of crops as well as the Raising of Livestock.

• Mixed Farming offers highest return on farm business, as the by-products of both farm and livestock are properly utilized.
• Farmers can keep their fields under continuous production.
• It provides work throughout year.
• There is reduction in the need of artificial fertilizers which can otherwise be expensive.
• Provides efficient utilization of land, labor, equipment and other resources
• Crop by-products such as bus, straw, fodder are used for feeding of livestock and in return they provide milk.
• There are many cost related advantages in intercropping. Financial risks are distributed over diverse production of crops and livestock.
• There are more land to be farmed with the same amount of labor and machinery.
• Manures available from livestock are useful in maintenance of soil fertility.
• It helps in supplying all the food needs (food security) of the family members.
• Intensive cultivation is possible.
• This system is a powerful tool to improve agricultural systems.
• Provides livelihood security in case of drought, floods
• Milk cattle’s provide draft animals for crop production and rural transport.
• Mixed farming increases social status of the farmer.

Role of Livestock in Economy of Rajasthan

• The State has about 11.27 per cent of the livestock of the country.
• The State accounts for about 6.98 per cent of cattle, 11.94 per cent of buffaloes, 16.03 per cent of goats, 13.95 per cent of sheep and 81.50 per cent of camels of the country.
• The State contributed 12 per cent of milk and 32 per cent of wool to the nation’s production in the year 2016-17.
• Livestock provide 35% of draft power in the state.

More than 80% rural families keep livestock in their households. Contribution of animal husbandry sector to the GDP of the State has been estimated to be approximately 8 %.

1. Rajasthan Ranks 2^nd  in Milk production in India
2. Rajasthan ranks 2^nd in per capita milk availability
3. Rajasthan Ranks 1^st in wool production in India
4. Rajasthan produces 10% of meat in India.
5. Rajasthan Ranks 14^th in egg production in India
6. Livestock is an unorganized sector and holdings are very small, further much of the livestock belongs to economically weaker section which restricts it to being just source of livelihood.
7. Markets for livestock are also unorganized and suffers from inadequate investment by Public (State) & Private sector.
8. Inadequate availability of quality breeds
9. Lack of health &nutrition support, along with frequent occurrence of natural calamities that result in high occurrence of diseases and mortality
10. Rajasthan is majorly an arid region and there is inadequate availability of fodder & feed resources
11. Inadequate infrastructure in terms of cooperatives, veterinary and knowledge support. (Source: Animal Husbandry, Dept.)