Prof.

Mana Raj Kolakshyapati

Day 3

Animal Genetic Resources of Nepal

Importance of Livestock:

Nepalese agriculture is characterized by mixed farming system in which crops and livestock are
interdependent. Depending upon the agro-ecology and their household needs and priorities,
farmers grow different crops and raise different livestock complimentary to each other. In
general, crop production dominates farming systems.
Livestock sector plays an important role both in employment and economic development of the
country. Most of the agricultural households keep some animals as a part of their farming
system and thus provides some farm employment. Nepal is rich in animal genetic resources
both in terms of diversity and numbers. Similarly the percentage of introduced AnGR in other
species of livestock (sheep, goats, pigs and poultry) is grossly estimated to range from 5 to 50
percent (5 to 10% in sheep and goats, 25% in pigs and 50% in poultry). Livestock can utilize the
vast natural resources like natural pastures (12 percent); forest (40 percent) and agriculture
land (28 percent) and convert these to high value nutritive food like milk, meat, eggs, draught
power and fertilizer to support agriculture production system. Thus, AnGR can play an
important role in meeting the future demands of food and agriculture.

In the Mountain region, livestock based farming system is practiced. Most of the animals in the
region are used as a pack and meat animals. Livestock play an important role in the farming
system by providing meat, manure and draught power.
Forest is also an integral part of the farming system by supplying fodder for livestock,
maintaining the soil fertility and protecting the environment. Feed and fodder for livestock are
derived from crop production in the form of crop residues and by-products. Most of the
farmers grow some fruits and vegetables and keep animals as well as birds for the purpose of
self-dependent and sustainable farming. Cattle and buffaloes are main source of milk.
Buffaloes, goats, pigs and poultry are sources for meat. Poultry are also kept for egg
production. Sheep are mainly kept for wool production. The most common animal products are
Ghee (boiled butter), chhurpi, curd etc.

The animal keeping system in Nepal has been influenced by most diversified climate and
vegetation ranging from sub tropical to alpine type, from semi arid tropics to semi arid
temperate and from dry to very wet monsoon areas. The wide variation in ecology, climate and
environment within a short distance as a result of differences in mountain topography at
different elevation influences the animal production system resulting to tremendous
biodiversity in both plants and animal genetic resources. Broadly, the animal production
system can be grouped into three major types namely:

(a) Transhumant migratory system

(b) Semi-migratory or semi-stationary with semi-intensive and,

(c) Stationary stall feeding or closed system intensive farming

The use of AnGR appears to be specific in accordance with the ecology in the country. Cattle

and buffaloes are used for milk, meat (only buffaloes), manure and draught purposes in Terai
and hills while the similar outputs are being drawn from Yak and their crosses with Hill cattle

(including Chauries) in the mountains region. The major sources of meat in the Terai are Terai

goats and their crosses with introduced breeds while Khari/Hill goats in the hills provide the

same. Chyangra and Sinhal goats provide not only meat but also the draught power as pack

animals for the hill mountain economy. Buffaloes are mainly kept for milk and manure. They
are used for meat purpose to a lesser extent particularly in the terai. Cattle are mainly used for
milk and draught power. They are also used for manure. Goats and pigs are mainly used for
meat production. Poultry are used for meat and egg production.
 National Animal Science Research

Institute
• Animal Breeding Division
• Animal Nutrition Division
• Animal Health Res. Division
• Pasture & Forage Res. Division
• Fisheries Res. Division
Commodity Programs
• National Cattle Research Program
• National Buffalo Research Program
• Goat Research Station, Bandipur
• Sheep & Goat Research Program
• Swine and Poultry Research Program
• Pasture & Fodder Research Station, Rasuwa
• Mountain Agriculture Research Institute
RARS, Tarahara
• Swine Unit
• Poultry Unit
• Pasture Unit
RARS, Parwanipur

• Poultry Unit

RARS, Lumle
. .
• Sheep Unit, Goat Unit, Rabbit Unit

RARS, Nepalgunj

• Goat Unit, Sheep Unit, Pasture Unit

RARS, Doti
• Cattle Unit
ARS, Pakhribas, Dhankuta .
• Goat Unit, Swine Unit, Poultry Unit, Rabbit Unit
 History of Genetics and Animal Breeding in Nepal
• 1960/61 - introduction of Artificial Insemination (Al) program to upgrade the indigenous cattle
by using the fresh semen of the exotic breeds through Livestock Improvement Section
• 1968/69 - Artificial Insemination Project was established in Tripureswore Livestock Complex
where the first liquid nitrogen plant was established thus produce frozen semen of cattle
• 1985/86 - upgraded as Animal Breeding Section under Central Livestock Development Centre
(CLDC) at Khumaltar

- Al activities in other districts to conduct the genetic improvement program

1991" with the prospect of having an efficient, effective and dynamic agricultural research
system in the country