Animal husbandry of Sikkim
- Livestock sector in Sikkim is highly livelihood intensive, agriculture along with livestock is the single largest employer in the state, over 80 per cent of the rural households in the state own livestock and earn supplementary incomes from them, distribution of livestock holdings is less iniquitous – over 85 per cent of all species of livestock are owned by the marginal and small holders.
- For this reason, income from livestock is more equitably distributed. Livestock sector contribution to Sikkim’s Gross Domestic Product in 2002 was over 6 per cent.
- In the Sikkim context, livestock has immense potential for diversification in agriculture, offering gainful employment and incremental incomes to tens of thousands of landless, marginal and small farmers.
Livestock wealth of Animal husbandry of Sikkim
- Livestock production in Sikkim is predominantly the endeavour of the small producers.
- Marginal and small farmers own nearly 85 per cent of all species of livestock and poultry, even though they own or operate less than 55 per cent of the farmland in Sikkim.
- Even the tiny organised poultry industry in Sikkim is made up of small broiler farms.
- Over 80 per cent of all rural households own livestock (often a mix of several species) as part of the traditional mixed crop-livestock farming system: earning substantial incomes and enriching family diets with nutrient rich animal products.
Contribution of livestock to Sikkim economy
- Contribution of LS to State economy- 8.16%GSDP
- Employment in LS 4.5% growth rate per annum
- Milk is the second largest agriculture produce next to maize
- 70 % main workforce
- The Sikkim LSRE Sector Analysis however shows that over 60 per cent of the rural household income in Sikkim comes from livestock farming.
NEW LIVESTOCK SECTOR POLICY (GOALS)
On the basis of the detailed Sector Analysis carried out by the State Livestock Review Exercise in 2003-04, and in the light of the facts placed above, it appears that the following will be the most appropriate policy considerations for the growth of livestock sector in Animal husbandry of Sikkim:
- Use the livestock sector as a growth engine for the social and economic development of the rural population, increasing rural selfemployment opportunities, enabling steady growth of rural household income and improved quality of life in the Sikkim villages.
- Enable the small producers to actively participate in the process of development by equipping them with appropriate skills and technologies to transform the growing challenges of the market place into opportunities to build comparative and competitive advantages through improved livestock quality and higher productivity.
- Ensure the ecological and environmental sustainability of the livestock sector growth and modernisation; constantly monitoring the environmental impact of the growth process and designing policies and programmes to effectively mitigate their adverse impact
Department of Animal Husbandry Livestock, Fisheries and Veterinary Services, Government of Sikkim
Main Objectives:
Major objectives and strategies followed for livestock development during the years are as under:
- Expand and strengthen infrastructure for artificial insemination, which improve its efficiency and effectiveness using frozen semen technology for crossbreeding purposes.
- Create a seed stock of qualitatively superior bulls, which would form the nucleus germ-plasm pool to build milch herd of high production cattle.
- Bring about genetic improvement of important livestock breeds through selective breeding and crossbreeding of low production non-descript stock, both for milk and for draught purposes. Steps are taken to conserve important indigenous breeds of the State.
- Establish linkage between rural milk producers and urban consumers by replicating the “Anand Pattern” dairy cooperatives in the State and lessen the adverse impact of seasonal imbalances in milk production and marketing.
- Improve the productivity of pasture lands by introducing improve fodder seeds and increased use of wasteland for fodder production.
- Optimise the use of crop residue through provision of appropriate supplements and conservation of green fodder.
- Promote stall-feeding in order to reduce overgrazing and degradation of village grazing lands.
- Develop adequate animal health services for protection of livestock, with special emphasis on eradication of most prevalent diseases in the State
- Explore the marketing avenues for sale of livestock products like wool, meat, eggs and day old chicks, cheese and utilize by-products of slaughter waste as well as to find export-oriented programmes of the State livestock products.
Goat Farming of Animal husbandry of Sikkim
- Goat is known as ‘Poor man’s cow’ in India and is a very important component in dry land farming system.
- Marginal or undulating lands unsuitable for other types of animals like cow or buffalo, goat is the best alternative.
- With very low investments goat rearing can be made in to a profitable venture for small and marginal farmers.
Sheep farming of Animal husbandry of Sikkim
- Few countries in the world have no sheep.
- They are found in tropical countries and in the arctic, in hot climates and in the cold, on the desert and in humid areas.
- There are over 800 breeds of sheep in the world, in a variety of sizes, shapes, types and colours.
- Sheep were domesticated long before the dawn of recorded history.
- Wool fibres have been found in remains of primitive villages of Switzerland that date back an estimated 20000 years.
- Egyptian sculpture dating 4000-5000 B.C. portrays the importance of this species to people.
- Much mention is made in the Bible of flocks, shepherds, sacrificial lambs, and garments made of wool.
- The Roman empire prized sheep, anointed them with special oils, and combed their fleece to produce fine quality fibres that were woven into fabric for the togas of the elite.
- Perhaps the first ruminants domesticated by man along with goats, sheep are a very valuable and important asset to mankind.
- Domesticated sheep : phylum Chordata (backbone), class Mammalia (suckle their young), order Artiodactyla (hooved, even-toed), family Bovidae(ruminants), genus Ovis (domestic and wild sheep), and species Ovisaries
Emu rearing
- Emus belong to ratite group and have high economic value for their meat, eggs, oil, skin and feathers.
- These birds are adaptable to varied climatic conditions.
- Although emu and ostrich were introduced in India, emu farming has gained much importance.
- Ratite birds have poorly developed wings and include emu, ostrich, rhea, cassowary and kiwi.
- Emu and ostrich are reared commercially in many parts of the world for their meat, oil, skin and feathers, which are of high economic value.
- The anatomical and physiological features of these birds appear to be suitable for temperate and tropical climatic conditions.
- These birds can be well maintained on extensive (ranches) and semi intensive rearing systems with reasonably high fibrous diets.
- United State, Australia and China are leading in emu farming. Emu birds are well adapted to Indian climatic conditions.
Features of Emu
- Emu has long neck, relatively small naked head, three toes and body covered with feathers Birds initially have longitudinal stripes on body (0-3 months age) then gradually turn to brown by 4-12 months age.
- Mature birds have bare blue neck and mottled body feathers. Adult bird height is about 6 feet with a weight of 45-60 kg. Legs are long covered with scaly skin adaptable to hardy and dry soil.
- Natural food of emu is insects, tender leaves of plant and forages. It also eats different kinds of vegetables and fruits like carrot, cucumber, papaya etc. Female is the larger of the two, especially during breeding season when the male may fast.
- The female is the dominant member of the pair.
- Emus live for about 30 years.
- It may produce eggs for more than 16 years.
- Birds can be maintained as flock or pair.
Rabbit Farming of Animal husbandry of Sikkim
Why Rabbit Farming?
- With available small investment and in a small place rabbit farming gives more income
- Rabbits eat ordinary feed and convert them into a protein rich high quality meat
- Apart from meat production they can also be reared for hide and fur.
Rabbit Farming is for whom?
- For landless farmers, uneducated youth and women, rabbit farming gives an additional income as a part time job
Advantages of Rabbit Farming of Animal husbandry of Sikkim
- By rabbit rearing one can produce a quality protein rich meat for his own family
- Rabbits can be fed with easily available leaves, waste vegetables, grains available in the home
- Growth rate in broiler rabbits is very high. They attain 2 kgs at the age of three months
- Litter size (Number of young ones born/ kindling) in rabbits is high (around 8-12)
- When compared to the other meats rabbit meat contain high protein (21%) and less fat (8%). So this meat is suitable for all age groups from adults to children
Quail Farming of Animal husbandry of Sikkim
Advantages of quail farming
- Requires minimum floor space
- Needs low investment
- Quails are comparatively sturdy birds
- Can be marketed at an early age ie. five weeks
- Early sexual maturity – starts laying eggs in about six to seven weeks of age
- High rate of egg laying -280 eggs per year
- Quail meat is tastier than chicken and has less fat content. It promotes body and brain development in children.
- Nutritionally, the quail eggs are on par with that of chicken eggs. Moreover, they contain less cholesterol.
- Quail meat and eggs are a nutritious diet for pregnant and nursing mothers.
Turkey farming of Animal husbandry of Sikkim
Breeds of turkeys in India
The varieties are as follows
- Board breasted bronze:The basic plumage color is black and not bronze. The females have black breast feathers with white tips, which help in sex determination as early as 12 weeks of age.
- Board breasted white:This is a cross between Board breasted bronze and White Holland with white feathers. White plumage turkeys seems to be suitable Indian-Agro climatic conditions as they have better heat tolerance and also good and clean in appearance after dressing.
- Beltsville small white: It closely resembles the Board breasted white in color and shape but smaller in size. Egg production, fertility and hatchability tend to be higher and broodiness tends to be lower than heavy varieties.
- Nandanam turkey 1: This variety is a cross between the black desi variety and exotic Beltsville small white variety. It is suited for Tamil Nadu climatic conditions
Marketing of turkeys
The body weight of adult male and adult female turkey at the 16th week is 7.26 kg and 5.53kg. This is optimum weight for marketing the turkeys.
Turkey egg:
- The turkey will start lay from the 30th week of age and its production period is 24 weeks from the point of lay.
- Under proper feeding and artificial lightening management turkey hens lay as much as 60-100 eggs annually.
- Nearly 70 percent of the eggs will be laid in the afternoon.
- The turkey eggs are tinted and weigh about 85 gms.
- Egg is noticeably pointed at one end with strong shell.
- The protein, lipid carbohydrate and mineral content of turkey egg are 13.1%, 11.8%, 1.7% and 0.8% respectively. The cholesterol is 15.67-23.97 mg/gm of yolk
Turkey meat:
- People prefer turkey meat because of its leanest nature.
- The protein, fat, energy value of turkey meat are 24%,6.6%, 162 Calories per 100 gm of meat.
- Mineral like potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium, zinc and sodium are present.
- It is also rich in essential amino acids and vitamins like niacin, vitamin B6 and B12.
- It is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and essential fatty acids and low in cholesterol.
- A market study shows that a male turkey sold at 24 weeks of age weighing 10 to 20 kg with expenditure of Rs.300 to 450 will give a profit of Rs. 500 to 600.
- Likewise a female will give a profit of Rs.300 to 400 in a span of 24 weeks time. Besides, the turkey can be reared in scavenging and semi-scavenging conditions also.
PIG FARMING of Animal husbandry of Sikkim
Advantages of pig rearing
- Pigs convert inedible feeds, forages, certain grain byproducts obtained from mills, meat by products, damaged feeds and garbage into valuable nutritious meat. Most of these feeds are either not edible or not very palatable to human beings
- Pig grows fast and is a prolific breeder, farrowing 10 to 12 piglets at a time. It is capable of producing two litters per year under optimal management conditions
- The carcass return is quite high ie. 60-80 percent of live body weight
- With a small investment on building and equipment, proper feeding and sound disease control programme the farmer can profitably utilize his time and labour in this subsidiary occupation
- The faeces of pigs is used as a manure to maintain soil fertility
Pig farming- for whom?
- Small and landless farmers
- Part time earning for educated youth having agriculture as occupation
- Uneducated / Unemployed youth
- Farm women
Breeds
The indigenous pig has been the basis used for pig production for a long period of time. It is small in size. Improved breeds are now being used for grading up the form the basis for pig production in the rural areas.
