Animal husbandry.

Animal Husbandry in India

Animal husbandry is an art of breeding and rearing animals for the benefit of human society. The livestock sector has been renowned as a backbone of Indian agriculture. However animals in India have been suffering due to devastaton of natural pastures, inferior quality fodders, deforestation, ever increasing competition with human for food, changing environment, changing customs, industrialization and several others.

1) Mixed livestock forming.

2) Migratory livestock farming.

3) Organised livestock farming.

1) Mixed livestock farming :

                                                   Widely spread and highly popularized among Indian Farmers, this method actually involves agriculture and animals together as the principle of coexistence where animals are used for tillage, providing manure to agriculture and in return animals can get crop residues as feed, shelter etc.

2) Migratory livestock farming:

                                                   In this system, animals need to move in search of fodder and water. But due to devastation of natural grasslands and limited monsoon, this method of animal rearing is declining day by day.

3) Organised livestock farming:

                                                   This is a modern method in which animals are reared and managed through scientific practice. Animals are managed in intensive or semi intensive housing and provided with balanced ration to encourage the maximum production.

Challenges:

·         Land is only common source acting as the platform for the development of human and animals. Ever increasing competition between human and animal for food is a critical challenge in animal rearing.

·         The improper and unscientific management of resource like water in animal husbandry makes the increased usage of virtual water in the export market.

·         The percolation of extension services regarding animal husbandry is less and negligent.

·         The low production potential of the indigenous varieties of animals is also an added issue.

·         Devasting pastures, increased climatic changes, decrease in monsson rains also makes the animal husbandry vulnerable.

·         Improper awareness about the vaccination and lack of research in the diseases occurring to animals is also an another factor.

·         Lack of infrastructure facilities facilities at rural areas like veterinary clinics, breeding centres.

·         The absence of credit facilities and insurance coverage schemes makes the farmers to show less interest towards animal rearing.

·         The proper quality checking and standardization of animal products is absent.

Way forward :

• ·         Culling of burdening animals
• ·         Licensing for animal rearing
• ·         Rejuvenation of natural pastures and grasslands
• ·         Credit facilities
• ·         Ceiling of crops breeding
• ·         Supply of feed
• ·         Animal health cards
• ·         Rigorous veterinary extension services
• ·         Research in organic livestock farming
• ·         Special economic zones