Transforming Indian cattle industry for building sustainable future
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59317/hdx1x429Keywords:
Challenges, dairying, genomics, productivity, programmes, sustainabilityAbstract
India is one of the 17 global mega-biodiversity hotspots and harbours a rich diversity of flora and fauna with more than 212 breeds of various livestock species registered at the national level. Livestock sector contributes immensely to the national GDP of India with appreciable annual growth in dairying sector. The cattle population in India is mainly concentrated in its northern and western regions. Raising cattle is deeply ingrained into the social, cultural, and traditional fabric of many communities in India. It forms an important source of livelihood for rural masses. India faces a twin challenge of sustainable management of its huge cattle inventory while improving the productivity of animals and profitability of farmers within the minimum possible time. It is coupled with other challenges in terms of the limited resource base and changing agro-climatic trends along with the ever-looming threat of climate change. The profitability of rearing cattle has increased gradually since independence mainly due to staunch efforts made during the White Revolution and subsequently its carry-over effect. The adult female cattle population of India has increased 1.67 times from 54.4 million in 1951 to 145.12 million in 2019. There is an utmost need for improvement of productivity of cows using modern genetic approaches coupled with improvement in different facets of breeding, feeding and healthcare management. Streamlining the marketing channels, expanding the market network, and establishing a suitable farmers’ co-operative system across the country for dairy products offer opportunities for improved income of the dairy farmers besides providing nutritional security to rural masses. The present policy paper attempts to traverse through the important milestones and programmes in the cattle sector that led India to the stage of self-sustenance, besides analyzing the current threats and challenges faced by the industry along with possible solutions
Downloads
References
20th Livestock Census, 2019. Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.
Agarwala, O.P. 1966. Crossbreeding project at Allahabad Agricultural Institute. In Seminar on Animal Breeding, Haringhata/Calcutta, December 7-9, 1966.
Ahmad, S.F., Panigrahi, M., Chhotaray, S., Pal, D., Parida, S., Bhushan, B., Gaur, G.K., Mishra, B.P. and Singh, R.K. 2020. Revelation of genomic breed composition in crossbred cattle of India with the help of Bovine50K BeadChip. Genomics 112(2): 1531-1535.
Assan, N. 2012. Genetic improvement and utilization of indigenous cattle breeds for beef production in Zimbabwe: Past, present and future prospects. Scientific Journal of Agricultural 1(1): 1-13.
BAHS. 2023. Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.
Chacko, C.T. 1994. Development of the Sunandini cattle breed in India. World Animal Review 80-81(3-4): 71-79.
Chauhan, H.K. and Singh, K. 2015. Potency of Vermiwash with Neem plant parts on the Infestation of Earias vittella (Fabricius) and Productivity of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) (L.) Moench. Asian Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Science 5(1): 36-40.
Cooke, R.F., Cardoso, R.C., Cerri, R.L., Lamb, G.C., Pohler, K.G., Riley, D.G. and Vasconcelos, J.L. 2020. Cattle adapted to tropical and subtropical environments: genetic and reproductive considerations. Journal of animal science 98(2): 015.
Dagar, J.C., Ghosh, P.K., Mohanta, S.K., Singh, J.B., Vijay, D. and Kumar, R.V. 2017. Potentials for fodder production in degraded lands. Approaches towards fodder security in India. Studera Press, New Delhi 333-364.
DAHDF, 2022-23. Annual report of Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.
Dash, S., Singh, A., Dixit, S.P. and Gandhi, R.S. 2016. Genome-wide diversity: A tool for conservation of indigenous cattle genetic resources. Indian Dairyman 68(1): 64-69.
Doiphode, A., Ravi, P. and Das, D. 2008. Crossbreeding Of Cows in India: Past, Present and Future Strategies. The Indian Cow. The Scientific and Economic Journal 5(16): 39-43.
Doornbos, M., Dorsten, F.V., Mitra, M. and Terhal, P. 1990. Dairy aid development-India’s Operation Flood. Dairy aid development-India’s Operation Flood. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:109803287
Egger-Danner, C., Cole, J.B., Pryce, J.E., Gengler, N., Heringstad, B., Bradley, A. and Stock, K.F. 2015. Invited review: overview of new traits and phenotyping strategies in dairy cattle with a focus on functional traits. Animal 9(2): 191-207.
Gaur, G.K. 2019. Sustainable model for utilization of stray cattle. In National workshop on stray cattle economy. Organized at Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly (UP) on 28 December 2019.
Hansen, P.J. 2004. Physiological and cellular adaptations of zebu cattle to thermal stress. Animal reproduction science 82: 349-360.
James, J.W. 1977. Open nucleus breeding systems. Animal Science 24(3): 287-305.
Kapoor, R., Singh, T.P. and Khosla, G. 2018. Biotechnological interventions in forage crops—a review. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 7(7): 1229-1240.
Kappes, A., Toozoneyi, T., Shakil, G., Railey, A.F., McIntyre, K.M., Mayberry, D., Rushton, J., Pendell, D.L. and Marsh, T.L. 2023. Livestock health and disease economics: a scoping review of selected literature. Frontiers in veterinary science 10: 1168649.
Kaushal, B.S. 1963. Scheme for Intensive Cattle Development. Report prepared for the Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi.
Krishnan, G., Bagath, M., Pragna, P., Vidya, M.K., Aleena, J., Archana, P.R., Sejian, V. and Bhatta, R. 2017. Mitigation of the heat stress impact in livestock reproduction. Theriogenology 8: 8-9.
Kumar, A., Parappurathu, S. and Joshi, P.K. 2013. Structural Transformation in Dairy Sector of India §. Agricultural Economics Research Review 26(2): 209-220.
Kumar, S., Singh, P., Devi, U., Yathish, K.R., Saujanya, P.L., Kumar, R. and Mahanta, S.K. 2023. An overview of the current fodder scenario and the potential for improving fodder productivity through genetic interventions in India. Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology 23(3): 631-644.
König, S. and May, K. 2019. Invited review: Phenotyping strategies and quantitative-genetic background of resistance, tolerance and resilience associated traits in dairy cattle. Animal 13(5): 897-908.
Larcombe, S.D., Kolte, S.W., Ponnudurai, G., Kurkure, N., Magar, S., Velusamy, R., Rani, N., Rubinibala, B., Rekha, B., Alagesan, A. and Weir, W. 2019. The impact of tick-borne pathogen infection in Indian bovines is determined by host type but not the genotype of Theileria annulata. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 75: 103972.
Li, Q., Han, J., Du, F., Ju, Z., Huang, J., Wang, J., Li, R., Wang, C. and Zhong, J. 2011. Novel SNPs in HSP70A1 gene and the association of polymorphisms with thermo tolerance traits and tissue-specific expression in Chinese Holstein cattle. Molecular Biology Reports 38: 2657–2663.
Lodrick, D.O. 1981. Sacred cows, sacred places: Origins and survivals of animal homes in India. University of California Press. ISBN-13: 978-0520041097
Mandi, K., Subash, S. and Devi, M. 2018. Strategies for conservation and improvement of indigenous cattle breeds in Gaushalas. Research Journal of Animal Husbandry & Dairy Science 9: 20-25.
McGuirk, B. 1989. The relevance of MOET programs to developing countries. Theriogenology 31(1): 29-40.
Menchaca, A. 2023. Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) and genome editing to support a sustainable livestock. Animal Reproduction 20: 20230074.
Mishra, A.K., Rama Rao, C.A. and Ravishankar, K. 2010. Analysis of potentials and problems of dairy production in rainfed agro-ecosystem of India. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 80(11): 1126.
Mrode, R., Ojango, J.M.K., Okeyo, A.M. and Mwacharo, J.M. 2019. Genomic selection and use of molecular tools in breeding programs for indigenous and crossbred cattle in developing countries: Current status and future prospects. Frontiers in genetics 9: 694.
Rao, P.P. and Hall, A.J. 2003. Importance of crop residues in crop–livestock systems in India and farmers’ perceptions of fodder quality in coarse cereals. Field Crops Research 84(1-2): 189-198.
Saravanan, K.A., Panigrahi, M., Kumar, H., Nayak, S.S., Rajawat, D., Bhushan, B. and Dutt, T. 2023. Progress and future perspectives of livestock genomics in India: a mini review. Animal Biotechnology 34(6): 1979-1987.
Shaheen, M., Tantary, H.A. and Nabi, S.U. 2016. A treatise on bovine mastitis: disease and disease economics, etiological basis, risk factors, impact on human health, therapeutic management, prevention and control strategy. Journal of Advances in Dairy Research 4(1): 1-10.
Shailaja, B., Mishra, I., Gampala, S., Singh, V.J. and Swathi, K. 2014. Panchagavya–an ecofriendly insecticide and organic growth promoter of plants. International Journal of Advanced Research 2(11): 22-26.
Simoons, F.J., Simoons, F.I. and Lodrick, D.O. 1981. Background to understanding the cattle situation of India: The sacred cow concept in Hindu religion and folk culture. Zeitschrift Für Ethnologie 2: 121-137.
Singh, A., Mehrotra, A., Gondro, C., da Silva Romero, A.R., Pandey, A.K., Karthikeyan, A., Bashir, A., Mishra, B.P., Dutt, T. and Kumar, A. 2020. Signatures of Selection in Composite Vrindavani Cattle of India. Frontiers in Genetics 11: 589496.
Sinha, K., Valani, D., Soni, B. and Chandran, V. 2011. Earthworm vermicompost: a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers for organic farming. Agriculture Issues and Policies. Science Publishers Inc; UK ed. edition (16 February 2011) 71. ISBN-13 : 978-1611225808
Sodhi, M., Mukesh, M., Kataria, R.S., Mishra, B.P. and Joshii, B.K. 2012. Milk proteins and human health: A1/A2 milk hypothesis. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 16(5): 856.
Sodhi, M., Mukesh, M., Kishore, A., Mishra, B.P., Kataria, R.S. and Joshi, B.K. 2013. Novel polymorphisms in UTR and coding region of inducible heat shock protein 70.1 gene in tropically adapted Indian zebu cattle (Bos indicus) and riverine buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Gene 527: 606–615.
Srivastava, A.K., Patel, J.B., Ankuya, K.J., Chauhan, H.D., Pawar, M.M. and Gupta, J.P. 2019. Conservation of indigenous cattle breeds. Journal of Animal Research 9(1): 1-12.
Teletchea, F. 2019. Animal domestication: A brief overview. IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.86783
Tomar, S.S. 2004. In: Textbook of Animal Breeding. Kalyani Publisher, New Delhi, India (1 January 2010) 59-75. ISBN-13 : 978-8127212902
Trivedi K.R. 1992. Progeny testing of bulls in tropics. Proceedings of the National Seminar held at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala from 20 to 22 Feb 59-65.
