Importance of livestock farming in Nepal

Livestock is an indispensable part of the subsistence farming system of the country. In Nepal, livestock occupies significance place in the national economy. The total agriculture GDP of the country from livestock contribution in 27%, which comes to 53% from the hills, 38% from Terai, and 9% from mountains. They provide almost all the power for crop cultivation and their dung in most parts of this country is the only fertilizer used for grain production. In addition, they provide milk and meat to the community, power for transportation and are themselves items of trade. Their specific importance can broadly be discussed as follows:

1. Milk Production

• Milk is the most important livestock commodity. Mostly cows and Buffaloes are kept for milk production. Total milk production of the nation was 1445419 (2008/09 ) and 1497875 m.ton (2009/2010) which increasing rate is 3.26%.
• Although milk is known to all that it is nearly complete food as it can supply all nutrients essential for life. Indigenous buffalo with 250-300kg body wt. produces 350-450 lit. Milk/lactation.
• Murrah buffalo and their crosses with local stock produce 1000-2000 liters of milk lactation. Milk production of Chauries varies from 350-600 liter/lactation with an average calving interval of 1.5 to 2 years.
• However, the milk output during the winter season is negligible and is about enough to suckle the calf. (Milk animal and milk production by statistical information on Nepalese Agriculture-2008/09 and 2009/2010.

2. Meat Production:

• Sheep, goat, buffaloes, swine and poultry birds including ducks, quail and fish are the source of meat for the Nepalese.
• Pork is the most nutrition’s in the since that its energy value is usually higher than that of buffalo meat or mutton. Pork is a good source of polyunsaturated fatty acid. The dressing percentage (percent of edible carcass) ranges from 65-80% for swine, 45-55% for sheep and goats 45-60% for buffaloes and 70-80% for poultry.

3. Protein supply

• The requirement of protein is 1.0gm/kg body wt/person/day. The average live wt. of Nepalese is 45kg. A man needs 45gm proteins per day. 50% protein should be supplied from vegetable origin and 50% from animal origin.
• Mostly sheep, goat, buffalo, poultry and fishes are the sources of meat, cow and buffaloes are the source of milk. Milk, meat and eggs are the main sources of animal protein supply in human diet. Per capita milk and meat consumption is very low. Per capita availability and milk utilization is 51 kg/year.

4. Wool production:

• Sheep is the primary source of wool. The sheep population of the country produces about 583776 kg wool annually (2008/09) and582447kg (2009/2010). Decreasing rate is 0.56%. The fiber goat produce about 200-300gm of long coarse hair (generally sheared in spring), which is used for making rope, and coarse blankets.
• The mountain goat (Chyangra) produce the inner fine wool, which is called Pashmina or cashmere found underneath the long hairs covering body.
• The annual production of Pashmina is estimated to be about 40 m/ton in Nepal. Export of Pashmina goods (e.g. shawl) is one of the main sources of foreign income in Nepal.

  5. Egg Production

Eggs are obtained from fowl, duck, and quail. The net egg production of the country is estimated at 629940 thousands (2008/09) and 648100(2009/2010).Increasing rate is 2.354%.

6. Efficient converter of feed and fodder/ Agri-biproducts into valuable products:

About two thirds of the feeds used by livestock is not suited for human consumption. These are hay, pasture, straw, cereal by products rice polish, wheat bran, damaged grain, oil cake, soybean cake etc are converted into meat, egg, milk for human consumption. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) in Pig, Poultry and in buffalo sheep and goat is 3.06-5.8, 2.0-3.0, and 5.0-7.0 respectively.

7. Organic manure supply:

The manure is the sole source to maintain soil fertility. All classes of livestock & poultry produce organic manure in the form of feces/dung & urine. About 70% of the total dung is used as FYM and rest as fuel.

One of the most important roles of livestock is to raise the fertility of soil by the addition of manure to the soil.   The dung is complete manure having all the major elements required by crop plants. One mature pig produces about 1.0 ton of manure in one year. Cattle and buffaloes produces 11.0 tons of fresh manure and about 0.89 m/ton of compost per year with 4.15% Nitrogen, 2.0% Phosphorus and 0.1% Potash. Animal bones are also used to manufacture the bone meal.

8. Draft power:

Bullocks and male buffaloes are principle drought animals employed in various agricultural operations like ploughing, threshing, pulling a cart etc. Sheep and goat are used as pack animal. They are used for carrying loads (household consumables) in western mountain region of Nepal. The income from load carrying is of great significance to the farmers to these regions.

9. Industrial values:

Most of the Agri-based industries like bone meal, cheese, leather, skim milk, source of bio gas/fuel, slaughter house bi-products etc are dependent on the livestock product.

10. Social values:

Basically rural people are farmer and they think agriculture and livestock rearing as one of the major occupation for rural farming community with a view to improving the potentialities in gainful employment and ensuring regular supplementary income to small and marginal farmers and landless in rural areas.

11. Religious values:

As Nepal is a Hindu country since prehistoric time, people are praying cow as Laxmi. Cow by-products are also used as worshiping e.g. urine, dung goat meat is accepted by all ethnic groups. Goat is also used for religious sacrifice.

12. Employment generation:

Significant employment and income opportunities have been provided to different classes of people as a result of animal raising.

a) Rearing of animals: Small and marginal farmers and landless laborers get opportunity to work in raising of animals as it involves intensive use of labor usually on the part of family members.

b) Health care: Animal husbandry department of central government provides jobs to a no. of Ag. & Vet graduates, technical and other supporting staffs.

c) Research activities: A no. of scientists and extension workers get employment to conduct research on different aspects for animal improvement.

d) Fodder production its supply, feeding of animal and manufacture of livestock &poultry feeds have generated employment.

e) Manufacture of medicine; their distribution and marketing have also generated employment.