ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ANIMAL HUSBANDRY POLICY NOTE 2004 - 2005 DEMAND No. 6 P.V. DAMODHIRAN Minister for Animal Husbandry Government of Tamilnadu 2004 POLICY NOTE 2004-2005 ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DEPARTMENT DEMAND NO.6 INTRODUCTION: Our country is predominantly an agrarian economy with more than 75% of the population in villages depending on agriculture, animal husbandry and allied activities for their livelihood. In fact Indian agriculture is an economic symbiosis of crop and livestock production and cattle is the foundation of Indian agriculture. It provides livelihood to 65% of the State's population and contributes 62% of employment generated in the State. Bullocks provide draught power and organic manure, which augments the crop production. Animal husbandry contributes significantly in supplementing the income of small, marginal farmers and landless labourers and in generating gainful employment opportunities especially self-employment to a substantial number of rural and urban population many of whom are women who play a major role in the care and management of livestock. It serves as a vital source for providing nutritious protein rich balanced food in the form of milk, egg, meat and value added products. Moreover, they are also intricately associated with the social, cultural and traditional values of the region. Livestock sector contributes value-added products significantly to the Gross Domestic Product at 5.51% of the total Gross Domestic Product and 22.17% of the total Gross Domestic Product from agriculture sector. The percentage share of livestock to Gross Domestic Product has increased from 4.82% in 1980-81 to 5.51% in 1999-2000, which reflects the importance of livestock sector's contribution to the national economy and augmenting the household food security. Milk is now the largest agricultural commodity contributing to the Gross Domestic Product. Animal Husbandry Department plays a major role in providing veterinary health care and improving the genetic production potentialities of livestock and poultry reared in the State. Apart from this, various beneficiary oriented schemes are also being implemented for the economic upliftment and welfare of the poor, downtrodden and weaker sections of the society. Various veterinary institutions spread throughout the State provide the above services. With the dedicated and sustained efforts of the department in implementation of various beneficiary oriented programmes and judicious utilization of animals and the natural resources in an eco- balanced way, the livestock sector of the State has been elevated to a prominent position. ESTIMATED MILK PRODUCTION (Lakh MetricTonnes) 47.53 42.73 46.22 35.24 25.62 1983-84 1993-94 1998-99 2002-03 2003-04 The estimated milk production, which was 25.62 lakh metric tonnes during 1983-84, has increased to 42.73 lakh metric tonnes during 1998-99 and further to 47.53 lakh metric tonnes during 2003-04. The per capita availability of milk per day has increased from 145 grams during 1983-84 to 191 grams during 1998-99 and further to 209 grams during 2003-04. ESTIMATED EGG PRODUCTION (In Million Nos.) 3588 3622 3784 2919 996 1983-84 1993-94 1998-99 2002-03 2003-04 During the same period the estimated egg production, which was 996 million numbers in 1983-84 has increased to 3,588 million numbers during 1998-99 and further to 3,784 million numbers during 2003-04. Likewise the per capita availability of eggs per annum has gone up from 21 numbers to 59 numbers and further to 61 numbers during the above period. With the implementation of cross breeding programme and disease control, the Indian Council for Medical Research recommended level of 220 grams of milk per day and 183 numbers of eggs per annum per person will be reached. During 2003-04, the total number of animals slaughtered and meat produced in the registered slaughterhouses are 24.05 lakh and 46.67 million Kgs respectively. The value of leather and leather products exported from the ports of Tamilnadu has increased from Rs. 22,115.54 millions during 1997-98 to Rs.37,183.80 millions during 2002-03 showing an appreciable increase of 59.48%. Phenomenal growth in human population, urbanization, shrinking arable land, increase in waste lands, poor returns, rapid fragmentation of land and adverse economic pressure on seasonal crop production, rise in income and change in lifestyles all demands a nutritious and protein rich diet (milk, egg and meat) from the animal origin in terms of volume, kind and quality. With the participation of private, cooperative sector and continued patronage of the Government for various beneficiary oriented programmes for the poor and downtrodden, the unexplored potentials of this sector can be effectively tapped. Animal Husbandry thus will not only be capable of meeting basic demands of the rapidly growing population, but it can also act as a powerful instrument for a comprehensive socio-economic transformation of the rural people by eliminating poverty and unemployment. Animal Husbandry thus can act as an engine for growth and trigger the economy besides improving the quality of life of every individual. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION: The Animal Husbandry Department is under the overall control of the Director of Veterinary Services and Director of Animal Husbandry with allocation of different subjects. The State is divided into 25 regions and each is under the control of one Regional Joint Director of Animal Husbandry, who is responsible for all the activities of the department in that region. The 25 regions are divided into 65 administrative divisions each headed by one Assistant Director of Animal Husbandry who is responsible for all the activities of the department in that division. One Director in the cadre of Additional Director is in-charge of the Institute of Veterinary Preventive Medicine located at Ranipet, which is engaged in the production of various kinds of livestock and poultry vaccines and other biologicals. One Central Referral Laboratory for disease diagnosis, confirmation and monitoring is functioning at Chennai. Moreover the Referral Lab coordinates the work of the Animal Disease Intelligence Units headed by Assistant Directors functioning in various parts of the State engaged in disease surveillance and monitoring. In the Department, 8 Livestock Farms, 3 Sheep Farms, 20 Cattle Breeding and Fodder Development units and 2 Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratories are managed each by one Deputy Director. The budget estimate for 2003-04 was Rs. 176.99 crores, which includes a plan of Rs. 27.72 crores and non-plan outlay of Rs. 149.27 crores while the revised estimate was Rs. 155.11 crores, which includes a plan expenditure of Rs. 26.20 crores and non-plan expenditure of Rs. 128.91 crores. BUDGET ESTIMATE 2003-2004 Veterinary Services & Tribal Hill Area Animal Health Development Development Piggery 53.54% 0.00% 0.63% Development Secretariat 0.16% Extension & 1.03% Training Sheep 0.04% Public Works Development 0.61% 1.30% Other Poultry 4.48% Development Special Central 0.85% Assistance Schemes Danida Cattle Agricultural 0.33% Development Research 1.89% 10.13% Fodder Direction & Education Development Supervision Training 0.83% 9.42% 19.24% LIVESTOCK POPULATION: The total livestock population of the State is 259.39 lakhs accounting to 5.40% of the country and 0.60% of the world livestock population. Of the total country's population, the State accounts for 4.58% of cattle, 3.08 % of buffaloes, 9.27% of sheep and 5.32% of goats. According to the 16th Livestock and Poultry (1997) census, the species wise distribution of livestock and poultry, their percentage to the total livestock and poultry population and density in the State are as follows: SPECIESWISE - LIVESTOCK Goats 24.74% Dogs Rabbits Sheep 6.92% 0.07% 20.27% Equines Other 0.20% 2.62% Buffalo 10.57% Cattle Pigs 34.88% 2.35% Species Population Density Cattle 90,46,542 70 Buffalo 27,41,263 21 Sheep 52,58,884 40 Goats 64,16,204 49 Dogs 17,96,216 14 Pigs 6,09,176 5 Donkeys 43,197 Horses and Ponies 11,003 1 Rabbits 16,909 Total Livestock 2,59,39,394 200 CATEGORYWISE - POULTRY Fowls Ducks (Commercial) 1.96% 49.20% Other 1.97% Fowls Turkey, (Backyard) Gine, Etc., 48.83% 0.01% Species Population Density Fowls 3,57,92,376 276 Ducks 7,15,153 5 Others (Turkey, Gine etc.,) 3,546 - Total Poultry 3,65,11,075 281 Considering the shorter lifespan of livestock, the livestock census is taken once in five years. The department has now been entrusted to carryout the 17th Quinquennial Livestock Census as per the guidelines of Government of India. FEED AND FODDER: Galloping human population and awareness on better standards of living and also due to the expanding industry, commerce and transport have created an increased demand for land, thereby affecting the feed, fodder production and grazing facility for livestock. In our country fodder production is still deemed ancillary to agricultural production. The green fodder resources for livestock are mainly derived from grazing in grasslands and pastures, fodder crops from cropped lands, weeds, bund grasses tree leaves and mixed forages. Crop residues mainly sorghum and paddy straws which are poor in nutritive value constitute the major fodder for livestock. Green fodder is normally fed only for animals yielding milk. The availability of green fodder is extremely restricted to selected area and seasons. Green fodder should be fed throughout the year not only to maintain milk production but also for improving the conception rate. Feed and fodder are the major limiting factors in enhancing farm animal productivity. The economic viability of livestock husbandry depends on sources of feed and fodder as feeding cost constitutes 65-70% of the total cost of livestock farming.