AVENUES OF LIVESTOCK ENTREPRENEURSHIP

• Livestock Farms
  • The veterinarians can start their own livestock farms with their vast technical knowledge; they can infuse scientific management techniques in their own farms. In the WTO (World Trade Organisation) era, GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and SPS (Sanitory and Phytosanitory) measures are of great importance for export of livestock commodities, as the emphasis in international trade is on quality and food safety. If veterinarians start their own scientifically managed livestock enterprise, they can exploit this opportunity. Further, practicing proven scientific management techniques will improve productivity of animals that would lead to overall quantitative and qualitative improvement of livestock sector.
• Feed Manufacturer (View animation)
  • The veterinary graduates can start their own feed mill units for various livestock and poultry species. Commercial feed availability for various unconventional poultry species such as Quail, Emu, Ostrich, etc. are far less than the demand. Manufacturing feed for these species is a niche business as their energy requirement is different from the existing commercially available broiler or layer feed.
• Fodder Supplier
  • The main constraint which hampers the growth of livestock production is the inadequacy of nutritious fodder. As there is more than 60% fodder deficit in India, veterinarians can combine together, purchase fertile land and produce quality fodder and supply them to the nearby livestock farmers. They can also start seed / fodder banks in the potential areas.

• Farm Equipments manufacturer / Dealer (View animation)
  • Number of farm equipments are needed for livestock farms. For example, in case of dairy farms, chaff cutter, milking machine, feeding manager, etc. are needed. Poultry farmers need debeaker, vaccinator, automatic feeder, waterer, etc. Demand for farm equipments increases with the wide adoptation of intensive livestock and poultry farming system. The veterinarians can either start on their own or they can act as dealer for these equipments.
• Dog breeder
  • Dog breeding is an ever green field with potential opportunities in urban areas. Dogs with good pedigree record fetches good price and the veterinarians can readily exploit this opportunity. Combining dog breeding with veterinary consultancy services offer excellent earning opportunity.
• Hatchery
  • Though starting a hatchery requires higher investment, it offers good return.
• Pet Animal / Large Animal/ Mobile Clinic:
  • It is the widely practiced by the veterinarians which offer them good earnings in both rural as well as urban areas.
• Livestock products processor (View animation)
  • Value addition to the livestock products such as milk, egg, meat, and fish have huge profit potential. Value of the products get increased many folds during processing, and thereby provide excellent returns. Veterinarians can start milk parlour, where they can sell processed milk and milk products like flavoured milk, goa, ice cream, etc. or meat centre where fried chicken, chicken 65, mutton khima, etc. could be sold. Marketing of these value added products could be done in their own brand name and they can start chain of parlours / hotels later.
• Farm consultant
  • Livestock farm consultant is a lucrative avenue. Veterinarians with skill and knowledge can earn well in specialized dairy farms, stud farms, breeder farms, hatchery, sheep / goat farms. After some years of experience in managing the farms, they can start their own farms independently or with partnerships.
• Contract Farming
  • Contract farming is a emerging system where the livestock farmers are given all the inputs such as chicks/animals, feed, medicines, technical inputs, etc. Farmers have to rear the chicks/animals and the integrator will take care of the marketing activities. Veterinarians can join together and venture into contract farming. Being technical savvy would help them in getting loans, maintaining farm business and marketing the products.
• Leather Industry (View animation)
  • Leather industry is so far unexplored by the Veterinarians. It offers great profit potential. The skin and hide from animals are usually purchased by the intermediaries in the villages at a throw away prices and are sold to the processors at a huge margin. The processors add value to the raw skin and make products and export / sell them at a very high price. The veterinarians can perform the role of this intermediaries.
• Agents for by products utilization (View animation)
  • The livestock feed manufacturers and pharmaceuticals require several ingredients such as bone meal, fish meal, blood meal etc. which they are getting from the agents at contract basis. Here, veterinarians can make interventions. They can make a tie-up and could meet the requirements of feed manufacturers at a reasonable price and also can earn money.
• Veterinary Pharmaceutical Industry (View animation)
  • It is also a lucrative opportunity but needs huge investment. After working some years in the pharmaceutical industry and learning experience, veterinarians can initially start a small one with fewer drugs which can be expanded later to the needs of local farmers. From thereon, they can grow slowly.