Different Livestock Production Systems in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

The livestock production systems in four agro-climatic zones of the Chamba district were studied. To meet the day-to-day expenses and living, among cows and buffaloes, migratory sheep and goat-rearing were also ubiquitous among of Gaddis the district. The average livestock population was found more in Zone-IV (15.10 SAUs,) followed by Zone-III (9.05 SAUs), Zone-II (1.23 SAUs) and Zone-I (1.12 SAUs). In the rearing of indigenous cows, the average total cost (C*) ranged between ?68413 and 82069 per animal across the different zones. In the case of improved cows, the maximum average total cost was found to be ?94081 per animal. Further, in the case of buffalo, the average total cost (C*) ranged between ?105232 and 110839 per animal. In rearing goats, the Cost C* ranged from ?34070 to 40557, and in the case of sheep, it varied from ?27183 to 39075 per five animals. Livestock business income (LBI) from the indigenous and improved cows was found maximum in Zone-I (?4593 and 37625 per animal, respectively) and from buffalo also maximum in Zone-I (?34489 per animal). In the case of goat and sheep enterprises, LBI ranged from ?2726 (Zone-III) to 9725 (Zone-IV) and ?1161 (Zone-II) to 6299 (Zone-IV) per five animals, respectively. In the case of rearing dairy and sheep per goat animals, the maximum output-input ratio over cost A was in Zone-III and IV, respectively.