Animal Husbandry in State - At a Glance :

 In Rajasthan Animal Husbandry is not merely a subsidiary to Agriculture but it is a major economic activity specially in arid and semi-arid areas, thus providing the much needed insurance against prominently occurring scarcity conditions. Parallel to crop production Animal Husbandry is the most important activity in Rajasthan. Income from live stock accounts for 30 to 50% of the rural household’s income, with wide variation in region to region. Rajasthan is the largest Indian State having a geographical area of 34.2 million hector, having 10% of the total area of the country.  According to Livestock Census 2012 it supports about 11% of the country’s livestock population.

Agriculture and allied activities, however, remain the primary and major economic activity in the state; this sector provide livelihood to 66% of the State's population. Because of the limited water resources, most of the agriculture production is rain-fed & as such, the livestock sector assumes more importance. Livestock rearing is the major component of arid agriculture. Animal husbandry enhances the economic viability & sustainability of farming systems particularly in rain fed areas. In arid western region, livestock farming essentially works as an insulating factor against vagaries of drought and famines, & provides a kind of stability and sustenance livelihood to the rural poor. In Rajasthan, income from livestock averages 22.5 per cent of the total household income, whereas in arid region the contribution of livestock sector is even more than 50 per cent of the total household income. Livestock sector has also the highest potential for rural self-employment generation at the lowest possible investment per unit. Development of Livestock Sector therefore, is critical path way to rural prosperity. 

 Livestock Wealth of the State :

 The state is endowed with finest drought hardy milch breeds (Rathi, Gir, Sahiwal and Tharparkar), dual purpose breeds (Kankrej and Haryana) and the famous drafts breeds of Nagori and Malvi. Livestock production in general and cattle and buffalo in particular is highly women oriented as it is labour intensive. Over 85% of household's chores related to the care and management of milch animals in livestock owing households are dealt by female. 60% of all labour engaged in rural livestock production is women. Live stock sector in Rajasthan is thus extremely livelihood intensive, closely interwoven into the social economical fabric of the rural society, making investments in development of this Sector the critical pathway for rural prosperity. The state of Rajasthan is rich in livestock wealth. State is blessed with the best breeds of cattle, sheep & camels of the country. As per livestock census 2012, State has about 10.76% of the livestock of the country. State contributes 11% of milk, 35% of goat meat & 30% of wool of the nation’s production. As against 25 well-defined breeds of cattle & 7 breeds of buffalo in the country, the state is endowed with eight well-defined & best breeds of cattle and two breeds of buffalo. Small Ruminants, sheep & goats, constitute 57.6 % of the total livestock of Rajasthan.

There are eight well-defined breeds of Sheep, which produce quality carpet wool, and four breeds of goats. The home tract of camel, the ship of desert, is in Rajasthan. Efforts of the Animal Husbandry department’ are focused on increasing the out stretch through creation of institutions and infrastructure to provide an integrated package of 23 services for efficient health care and genetic improvement of livestock along with awareness building programmes to ensure better participation of the livestock owners.

Goals and Objectives:                                           

The major objectives of the government are:-

1. Livestock Health and Management

2. Conservation and Improvement of Indigenous livestock

3. Productivity enhancement and value addition in livestock products

4. Capacity Building of staff and livestock breeder & Employment Generation

5. Fodder development

Major Achievements :

•   A separate Veterinary University has been established at Bikaner in 2009-10. 
• The breeding policy of sheep and goat is implemented in the state.
•   State livestock policy for Rajasthan has been prepared and released.
•   For quality Artificial Insemination programme, timely distribution and storage of Liquid Nitrogen gas / frozen semen has been strengthened.
•  For the conservation and improvement of Indigenous cattle four Indigenous Cattle· Breeding Farms of Rathi, Kankrej, Gir and Tharparkar have been established by 25 Veterinary University. For Sahiwal breed of indigenous cattle a new breeding farm will be established in this year.  
• Embryo transfer and DNA finger printing lab at veterinary college Bikaner have been established for identification of true breed.  
• Extension and strengthening of Veterinary Education through private sector has been developed.  
• For the conservation and propagation of Jamunapari goat a scheme has been started at Kumher (Bhartpur Farm) and elite bucks are being distributed for breed improvement in Bhartpur, Dholpur, Karoli, Swaimadhopur and Alwar districts.  
• State level Livestock Breeders Training Institute at Jodhpur has been established.
•   Free distribution of medicines for the treatment of livestock has been started from 15.8.2012.  Rural Veterinary Polyclinic at Go rehabilitation centre Hingonia, Jaipur has been established.
•  All district first grade veterinary Hospitals have been upgraded in to Veterinary Polyclinic. Reorganisation of departmental higher posts has been done through rationalisation.
• Veterinary Mobile Units has been sanctioned and started at 288 tehsils of the state.
•  For conservation of cattle and fooder development in the state, a separate directorate of Gau seva has been established.  A subsidy of Rs.145.00 crore has been sanctioned for conservation of cattle in Goshalas for the period 2013-14.
•  To expand the veterinary services in the rural areas of the state, Up-gradation of 620· Veterinary Hospitals to First Grade Veterinary hospitals, 600 Veterinary sub centres to Veterinary hospitals and 285 sub centres as well as 1100 new Veterinary sub centres has been established .

Development Constraints :

•  Low productivity and very large numbers of unproductive animal holding are major developments constraints facing the sector across all species. Almost 60% of all cattle and about 80% buffaloes are nondescript and have very low milk and work output.
•  Compounding low productivity further is the tiny stock holding and also shrinking· of common grazing lands over a period of time. This has widened the gap between demand and supply of fodder.

Recent Government initiatives :

• Rajasthan government established cow sanctuary in Bikaner. The allotted land can accommodate around 10,000 cattle. Even stray animals, including abandoned ones, will be allowed in the proposed facility. It will be made on the lines of Wildlife sanctuary.
• Genetic improvement of Sirohi goat so that large number of farmers would be benefitted.
• Infertility and treatment camp has been started at an early stage otherwise farmers abandon their livestock due to infertility.
• Breed improvement through artificial insemination.

The Animal husbandry sector is harbouring a fabulous livestock wealth having very significant role in providing subsidiary to major sources of income to the large numbers of cultivators, small farmers, marginal farmers and agricultural labourers. Milk enterprise generates income on regular basis as against the crop enterprise, which is mostly seasonal and is more prone to droughts. The provision of assured market for the milk leads to their increased participation and the availability of cash income encourages them to take up to social development programmes. In Rajasthan animal husbandry is major economic activity contributing about 11 percent of the State's net Gross Domestic Product.