Livestock Research and Development Priorities for Bihar and Odisha

Abstract

Bihar and Odisha livestock sector is constrained due to unavailability of adequate and quality feed, required health services and breeding facility. Farmers are unaware of improved management practices of livestock production. Number of crossbred cows increased but sterility increased in these cows due to poor nutrition and unhygienic breeding. There is need to improve veterinary health facility infrastructure and breeding facility at the door step of farmers. Buffalo is becoming more important dairy animals in several part of Bihar and Odisha but breeding facility is yet to improve for buffaloes.This report provides regional and species priorities for livestock research and development in Bihar and Odisha taking into consideration the developmental goals of increasing efficiency, improving equity and enhancing sustainability of the production systems. We have considered ‘value of production of a species’ as proxy for efficiency; ‘number of poor’ as indicator of equity; and ‘land available for livestock production’ as proxy for sustainability. Assigning equal weights to the developmental goals/objectives, and therefore to these extensity parameters and to their associated intensity parameters we have developed regional and species priorities. Further, by identifying important constraints to livestock production, the report also develops agenda for evolving species-specific strategies and programs as to maintain the livestock sector on the growth trajectory which it witnessed in the recent past. Livestock production in Bihar is constrained by a number of factors related to breeding, health, nutrition and management of the animals. Altogether the sector suffers a loss of Rs 46300 million which is almost equivalent to one-third of the total value of its output. Of these, problems related to animal health account for over one-third, followed by those related to breeding and reproduction (31%) and feed and nutrition (28%). Amongst various identified constraints, lack of availability of progeny-tested bulls, mineral deficiency, lack of availability of green fodder, foot and mouth disease and infertility rank higher in order of their economic severity, though their severity may vary across species, livestock productivity in Odisha is low. A number factors related to breeding, health, nutrition and management of the animals cause a loss in output worth Rs 71670 million which is higher than the total value of output of livestock sector in the state. Feed and fodder scarcity is identified as the most important constraint, contributing 46% of the total losses. Breeding and management related constraints account for 23% each in the total losses. Amongst various identified constraints, scarcity of feed and fodder, lack of clean water, mineral deficiency, lack of availability of progeny-tested bulls and infertility rank higher in order of their economic importance though their relative importance varies across species.