Livestock Resource

LIVESTOCK RESOURCE

  • India has the largest livestock population in the world.
  • There are 226.1 million cattle, 96.9 buffaloes, 59.0 million sheep, 124.50 million goats and 18.5 million pigs and 842 million chickens in the Country (FAO, 2004) BAHS to be used instead of FAO .
  • Our country shares about 50% of the buffaloes and nearly 15% each of cattle and goat population of the world.
  • India ranks the first in the world in buffalo population, second in cattle and goat, third in sheep and fifth in chicken.
  • This is in contrast to the concept of large sized livestock farms in the developed countries.
  • It is also noteworthy that 75% of our livestock population does not conform to the specific breed characteristics and has significantly low in production potential.
  • Animals that are generally used for production of meat are cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry.
  • Mithun is also slaughtered for meat in North East and Sikkim.
  • Rabbit, quail, duck and turkey meat are also used as a specialty in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and some other states.
  • Recently emu and ostrich have also been introduced in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.
  • For long time meat industry has remained confined to a very small section of people in our country.
  • These people had little knowledge of wholesome meat production and effective utilisation of valued slaughterhouse by-products.
  • The scene is now changing.
  • However, industry is still largely based on spent animals except for pigs and farm poultry.
  •  Most animals are utilised for meat production after loosing their economic viability in the primary field.
  • Cow slaughter is banned in our country except in West Bengal and Kerala states.
  • The concept of meat type animals is yet to take roots in our country, although an awakening in this regard is discernible.
  • Of late, particularly due to export potential, buffalo is emerging as a prospective meat animal at the end of its productive or working life.
  • This is a factor favouring meat export as the buffalo carcass compares favourably in terms of conformation, fat content and weight, with international term.
  • Besides, buffalo meat has the advantage of low primary cost. Mutton occupies a distant second position in terms of value of exports.
Last modified: Monday, 17 October 2011, 10:39 AM