Main activities and programmes of the Animal Husbandry department of Rajasthan :

Animal Husbandry is a major economic activity of the rural peoples, specially in the arid and semi-arid regions of the Rajasthan. Development of livestock sector has a significant beneficial impact in generating employment and reducing poverty in rural areas. Livestock contributes a large portion of draft power for agriculture, with approximately half the cattle population and 25 percent of the buffalo population being used for cultivation.  

Various livestock development programmes are aimed to increase the productivity of the animals on sound scientific methodology. The main activities and programmes of the department includes:-

• Breed improvement programme using superior germplasm
• Veterinary health care & Disease Control Programme
• Extension Activities

1) Breed Improvement Programme using Superior Germplasm :

Objectives :

• Progressive genetic improvement for milk production in important breed/type of cows and buffaloes by following scientific methods.
• Production and distribution of superior pedigreed bulls for use in Cattle and Buffalo Breeding Programme.
• Preservation of indigenous germplasm.
• Production of upgraded crossbred animals suitable for specified breeding tracts.

a) Indigenous Breed Improvement Programme : 

To preserve and develop the well recognized indigenous breeds of cattle of the state, the indigenous breed improvement programme is being operated in the native tract of cattle breeds viz. Gir (Ajmer), Tharparkar (Barmer), Rathi (Bikaner), Kankrej (Jalore) and Nagauri (Nagaur district).  The frozen semen of the selected bulls of these breeds is provided for artificial insemination in animals of the respective breeds and genetic improvement is achieved by selective breeding / upgradation of the animals in the respective breed tract. 

b) Pig Breeding Programme :   

The pig is one of the most efficient animal having a great food conversion efficiency among domesticated livestock, and can play an important role in improving the socio-economic status of the weaker sections of the society. The Department has established one Piggery Development Training Center at Alwar where 5 days training programme is being conducted free of cost.
With an idea to provide breedable exotic Pigs to local pig breeders and to encourage the Scientific pig breeding in the state a Pig Breeding Farm is functioning at Alwar.  Unit of pig (3 male + 1 female) is being supplied in the Alwar & Bharatpur districts specially to the Schedule Caste, Tribes and marginal farmers.

c) Goat Development Programme :

Rajasthan is having 3 well known breeds of goats viz.: Jakharana, Sirohi, and Marwari breeds. The goat population of Rajasthan is more than 169 millions, which is almost 18% of India's total goat population. 
The programme for goat development is mainly aimed to help in improving the weaker sections of society.  There are goat farms of the department working at Ramsar in Ajmer district, Cattle Breeding Farm, Nagaur and Kumher at Bharatpur District.  Goat development programme is aimed to develop Sirohi goats in ten districts of South-Western regions of the State viz.: Ajmer, Pali, Sirohi, Bhilwara, Rajasmand, Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Banswara, Nagaur and Udaipur. Sirohi breed kids of about 4-6 months age are selected from the home tract and are reared at Ramsar farm Ajmer and Cattle Breeding farm, Nagaur. The bucks of Jamunapari breed of goat are being reared at Cattle Breeding farm, Kumher, in Bharatpur District. These bucks are distributed in Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Alwar and Sawai Madhopur Districts. 

d) Sheep Breeding Programme :  To improve the sheep population of the state genetically by providing superior breeding males (rams) to the sheep breeders, Department is running a Sheep Breeding Farm at Fatehpur (Sikar). According to the departmental sheep breeding policy, the crossbred animals of the farm has been sold and replaced by indigenous breed i.e. Nali and Marwari. In the year 2010-11, the farm ha purchased 278 Nali Sheep (269 ewes and 9 rams) from the state budget and by the budget of central wool board, Jodhpur provided through Rajasthan Livestock Development Board, Jaipur, department has purchased 243 Marwari Sheep (215 ewes, 10 rams and 18 lambs). The indigenous rams will be distributed to the Sheep breeders at the subsidized rates. The farm also has 84 exotic sheep (49 ewes, 5 rams and 30 lambs) of Rambouillete breed.

2) Veterniary Health Care & Disease Control Programme :

The veterinary health coverage programme is the most vital input for the livestock production programme.  The genetic traits of the superior exotic and crossbred livestock cannot be exploited fully unless they are provided specialized health care and management as they are highly susceptible to the diseases.  There has been continuous increase in the number of Veterinary Institutions in the State. 

Veterinary Health Care Programme : The health of the animals of the state is being taken care of by 3698 veterinary institutions comprising of 14 Polyclinics (VPC), 249 1st grade Veterinary Hospitals (VHF), 1570 Veterinary Hospitals (VH), 7 Private Veterinary Hospitals, 285 Veterinary Dispensaries,  1580 Sub-Centers (SC). These institutions are situated in far flung areas of the state. The sub-centers and dispensaries are headed by technical subordinate staff i.e. Livestock Assistant (LSA) & Veterinary Assistant (VA), respectively. All these institutions are stationary with working jurisdiction of villages falling in their 8 Km. radius area.

Disease Control Programme : The animals are vaccinated regularly against many fatal diseases viz. Haemorrhagic Septicemia (HS), Black quarter (BQ), Enterotoxaemia (ET), Sheep Pox, Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) etc. The immunization programme run through the veterinary institutions whereas the input i.e. vaccines are provided mainly by Departmental Biological Product Laboratory, and shortcomings are met by procuring from IVRI, Izatnagar. The vaccination is done at a nominal cost i.e Rs. 1.00 per dose for HS/BQ, Rs. 0.50 per dose for ET/Sheep Pox and at a subsidized rate of Rs.2.00 per dose for FMD.

 Biological Production Unit (B.P.Lab) : State Biological Product Laboratory, situated at Agra Road, Jamdoli Jaipur-302007,  is producing various  types of vaccines viz. Haemorrhagic Septicemia (HS), Black quarter (BQ), Enterotoxaemia (ET) etc.  for effective control of diseases in the state. In addition to this Department of Animal Husbandry is procuring nearly ten million doses of different types of vaccines (FMD, Swine Fever, RP, Sheep pox) from other sources. However we are able to cover only about 30% of the livestock population. Therefore, there is a substantial scope for vaccine production & procurement to cover whole of the livestock population. 

Disease Diagnostic Centers : Department is providing animal disease diagnostic facilities through One State Disease Diagnostic Centre, 6 Regional Disease Diagnostic  Centres and 25 Disease Diagnostic  Laboratories  at District head quarters to the vast livestock population. For effective control of diseases in animals, the department is running a programme under Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD)
Assistance To States For Control Of Animal Diseases (ASCAD)
This is a scheme of Government of India. Under this component, assistance is provided to State Governments for control of economically important diseases of livestock and poultry by way of immunization, strengthening of existing State Veterinary Biological Production Units, strengthening of existing Disease Diagnostic Laboratories, holding workshops/seminars and in-service training to Veterinarians and Para-veterinarians to carry out Disease Investigation work in the state through a network of Laboratories located at Capital, various Divisional & District places. 
1.       State Disease Diagnostic Centre Jaipur
2.       Regional Disease Diagnostic Centres Kota, Ajmer, Udaipur,  Jodhpur, Bikaner & Bharatpur.
State Disease Diagnostic Centre, Jaipur- The lab is controlled by Deputy Director (Pathologist). All other disease diagnostic laboratories of the districts except Jaipur are under the administrative control of their respective district Dy. Directors, while technically these are controlled by Pathologist, SDDC  Jaipur. SDDC acts as a referral unit for diagnosis and extends expert opinion to various departmental institution like RDDCs, DDLs,Veterinary polyclinics, Veterinary Hospitals, Veterinary Dispensaries etc. Besides this it also conducts routine diagnostic work on the material received from the field Institutions.  SDDC is recently  upgraded to BSL –II, with this status center equipped and authorized to screen Avian Influenza in the State.

Regional Disease Diagnostic Centre Kota, Ajmer, Udaipur,  Jodhpur, Bikaner & Bharatpur -The lab is controlled by Assistant Director. All regional disease diagnostic centres are under the administrative control of their respective district Dy. Directors, while technically these are controlled by Pathologist, SDDC  Jaipur. RDDC acts as a referral unit for diagnosis and extends expert opinion to various departmental institution like, DDLs,Veterinary polyclinics, Veterinary Hospitals, Veterinary Dispensaries etc Besides this it also conducts routine diagnostic work on the material received from the field Institutions. 

District Disease Diagnostic Laboratory :The Laboratory functions as a Disease investigation unit for diagnosis and extending expert opinion to various departmental Institutions at district level. Besides this it also conducts routine diagnostic work on the material received from the field Institutions.

3) Extension Activities :

Poultry Development Programme : A major break through has been made in the field of development of high producing strains of layer stock in the State.  One state level poultry farms is situated  at Khatipura, Jaipur and a State disease diagnostic laboratory of poultry is also functioning at Gandhinagar,  Jaipur.

Livestock Marketing : Rajasthan is the home tract of various breeds of different livestock species.  With a view to encourage the livestock farming and to maintain these important famous breeds of the livestock, 10 state level cattle fairs are organized every year by the department in the different parts of the State.  The Animal Breeders earn about Rs. 25-30 Crore annually through the sale of the animals.  Besides these state level cattle fairs, nearly 240 cattle fairs are also organized by different agencies like Panchayat Samities, Nagar Palikas etc. in the State.

State level cattle fairs : The heritage of Rajasthan and its cultural diversities is well projected in the various state level fairs conducted by the state Animal Husbandry department. These fairs are conducted with an aim to draw their attention to the scientific and technical developments in the Animal Husbandry sector and to motivate them for developing and rearing elite animals. These fairs are an appropriate source for sale and purchase of livestock adding to the income of livestock owners / breeders.

Fodder Development : Balanced feeding is essential to fully exploit the genetic potential of livestock. In the State, fodder production is still deemed ancillary to agricultural production. Crop residues mainly sorghum, maize, Wheat and Bajra straws that are poor in nutritive value constitute the major fodder for livestock. If the animals are not properly fed the over all effects will be negative as far as breeding and management is concerned. Better feeding alone can bring about an increase of 30% in milk production

Gaushala Dvelopment Programme : Under the Rajasthan Goshala Act 1960 till now 1163 Goshalas has been registered. These Goshalas have been established by the public trusts for maintaining old, infirm, unproductive cows and its progeny. Goshalas may be used for preservation & conservation of indigenous breeds. The central government as well as state government is also assisting these Goshalas for cattle development. For detailed contact to Deputy Director, Goshala, Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Rajasthan, Jaipur.

About 8% of  G.D.P. of the State is contributed by Livestock sector alone. This sector has great potential for rural self-employment at the lowest possible investment per unit. Therefore, livestock development is a critical pathway to rural prosperity.
As per the livestock census  2007, there are 566.63  lacs livestock (which include Cattle, buffalo, Sheep, Goat, Pig, Camel, Horse and donkey) and  Poultry 49.94 lacs in the State.  Rajasthan has about 6.09% of country’s cattle population and contributes over 10% of total milk production, 30% of  mutton and 35 % wool produced in the country.