Livestock farming

Livestock sector provides animal protein sources like milk, meat, egg and its products.Of the total income from agriculture more than 40 percent income are contributed by livestock sector. This sector has tranformed from subsidiary level occupation to a level of self employment.But this sector need scientific breeding,feeding, management,disease control and marketing practices.

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

 Changing trends towards livestock production in the state...


Recent statistics from Department of Animal husbandry, Govt of Kerala reveals that number of cases in Veterinary hospitals show quantum jump in 2020-21 compared to 2019-20. It clearly indicates that during Covid 19 period substantial increase in livestock rearing occurred  in the State. Of the total cases reported in the Veterinary hospitals in the state, there was an annual increase of 17 percent in number of the cases compared to 2019-20. With regard to cattle the increase was 7 percent where as in small ruminants like goats it was 21 percent. Pet animal cases especially dogs and cats shows an annual increase of 46 and 103 percent respectively during this period. This figure may increase further a fter considering the cases treated at Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University hospitals, private veterinary clinics and data from private practice done by Veterinarians in the State. In tune with the changes, substantial increase in diagnostic facilities also exist in the state. Rural veterinary dispensaries and semi-urban centres show market increase in number of cattle cases. Livestock and poultry entrepreneurship are emerging as some of the potential employment sectors in the state. While more than 75 percent of women are involved in livestock rearing in Kerala, whereas more than 50 percent men are involved in marketing of livestock products like milk, meat, egg,etc. There exists scalable dairy production models for dairying in the state. Lot of farmer producer organisations are involved in commercial dairying and fodder production in the state along with integrated livestock farming practices. Department of Dairy development, KVASU, Kerala agriculture University and Kerala livestock board are promoting fodder production in the state so as to reduce the cost of production of milk. In dairying, feed cost accounts for more than 75 percent of cost of production. Continuous rains and fodder production programmes facilitates the farmers to reduce cost of production in dairying through the use of green fodders. Cost of dairying can be reduced to 40 percent with the strategic use of green fodders. The cattle feed price shows steady increase in the state. The state shows quantum jump in milk production during post Covid period and marching towards self sufficiency.  Broiler poultry sector is facing lot of issues with regard to increase in price of raw materials required for feed production. Since commercial egg production is not viable in the state, backyard egg production continues to achieve sustainability in Kerala.
But the lack of appropriate value addition and cold chain facilities affect marketability of products. Unfortunately takers for some of the projects like cold chain projects and animal husbandry infrastructure development fund offered by Govt of India are comparatively less the state. But as part MSME, agriculture and allied sectors are acquiring momentum in the state. Scarcity of Veterinarians to treat the ever increasing number of livestock cases exist in the state. State Animal husbandry department launched night veterinary services at block level in the state. Lot of startups with scalable delivery models are emerging in the state. Opportunities for ready to eat and ready to cook food products are acquiring momentum in the state in tune with the requirement of animal protein sources in tbe state and changing trends towards food retail.
Dr.T. P.Sethumadhavan
Former Director, KVASU
Consultant, World Bank
Professor, Transdisciplinary University of health sciences and technology, Bengaluru

1 Comments:

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