Eco-energetic analysis of animal husbandry in traditional societies of India

Abstract

The energy and economic efficiencies of different animal-husbandry systems, such as poultry, swine, goat, cattle, and mithun of the Nishis, Karbis, Kacharis, and Chakmas of Arunachal Pradesh in north-eastern India have been compared. Swine husbandry is practiced by all except the Karbis. Cattle reared by the Karbis and Chakmas is for milk production, whereas the others raise them for meat. The energy and economic efficiencies of the mithun† and the cattle raised for meat are reasonably high. Poultry and swine husbandry are largely detritus-based and are relatively less dependent upon forest, unlike cattle and mithun that are sustainable only when the forest-resource base is high. The differences in animal husbandry are partly due to cultural differences of the communities. The Nishis have better developed animal husbandry and consume more food energy than others through this sub-system although, on a per capita basis, the export earning of the Chakmas were higher. There is room for tighter recycling of resources within this subsystem, e.g. through utilization of dung that is otherwise wasted. The implications of results for development of the village ecosystem are discussed.