ANIMAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM

APS
Year II
Semester: I
 Unit 1: Role of livestock in Nepalese
agricultural systems
1.1 Importance of livestock in agriculture,
national economy and nutritional security
1.2 Livestock and its socio-economic role
1.3 Livestock and livelihoods
1.4 Livestock and the environment
1.5 Livestock as emitters of GHGs
1.6 Livestock as nutrient recyclers
 Importance of livestock in agriculture, national economy and nutritional security

• Nepal is an agricultural land-locked country situated in South Asia

between India and China, where the agricultural sector is the prime
source of national income
• It contributes about 27% (CBS, 2019) to national gross domestic
production (GDP), involving ~65% of the economically active
population.
• Livestock is an important sub-sector within the Nepalese agricultural
sector and accounts for ~28% of the national agricultural GDP.
• Dairy is the most important sub-sector in livestock sector contributing
nearly 2/3rd (63%) of livestock gross domestic product (LGDP) and 9 %
in AGDP (MoALD, 2019).
• The domestic livestock production in Nepal is
based on 17 different species which encompasses
buffalo, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and poultry as
the main farm animals.
• Total annual milk and meat production of
1,911,239 and 332,544 tons, respectively.
• One of the critical features of Nepalese livestock is
the subsistence nature of farming, where typically,
a single household manages only a small number
of animals.
• Accordingly, the Nepalese agriculture census defines the economic unit of an
agricultural holding in terms of livestock production as at least one big head
(cow, buffalo, etc.) or at least five small heads (goat, sheep, etc.) or poultry
consisting of at least 20 birds (chicken, duck, etc.) managed under a single
management system.
• Nutritional security is defined as "Access to enough nutrition for an active
healthy life“. livestock can make a major contribution.
• Animal products have high nutritional value than the plant products.
• Animal Source Food can fulfill multiple micronutrient gaps at a lower volume of
intake than can plant source foods. 100 g of milk can provide substantial
amounts of calcium, vitamin B-12, vitamin A and riboflavin
• Meat is highly rich in minerals and vitamins but lacks vitamin C, Vitamin E and
fibres.
• Animal proteins are more digestible and metabolized more efficiently than
plant proteins
 Figure 1. Population trend of major livestock species in Nepal from 2002 to
2019 (MOALD, 2017; MOALD, 2019) [15,16]. (A): Population trend of cattle
(solid line, ●: total number of cattle; solid line ○: number of milking cows),
(B): Population trend of buffalo (solid line, ■: total number of buffalo; solid
line, □: number of milking buffalo), (C): Population trend of goats, (D):
Population trend of sheep, (E): Population trend of pigs, and (F): Population
 Livestock and its socio-economic role

• Livestock plays a significant socio-economic role in many parts of the

world, particularly in rural areas. Livestock are often seen as important
assets that can provide a range of benefits and opportunities for income
generation and food security.
• In developing countries, livestock can be a critical source of income and
employment, particularly for small-scale farmers who may not have
access to other forms of income. Livestock can provide a steady source of
income through the sale of animal products, such as meat, milk, and eggs,
as well as providing other benefits such as manure for fertilizer, traction
power for plowing, and transportation.
• Livestock also plays an important role in the social and cultural life of
many communities. In some cultures, livestock ownership is a sign of
wealth and status, and livestock can be used for ceremonial purposes, such
as weddings and funerals.
 Livestock and livelihoods
• Livestock can play a significant role in people's livelihoods,
particularly in rural areas where agriculture is the primary source
of income.
• Livestock can provide a range of benefits, including food, income,
and social status. For many small-scale farmers, livestock can be
a crucial part of their livelihood, providing a source of income
through the sale of animal products such as milk, meat, and eggs.
• Livestock can also provide other benefits to farmers, such as
manure for fertilizer, traction power for plowing, and
transportation.
• Moreover, livestock can contribute to the overall health and well-
being of households by providing nutrition and food security.
• In addition, livestock can be an important asset for people in
times of crisis, such as during droughts or other natural disasters,
when crops may fail and food insecurity is a concern.
 Livestock and the environment
• Livestock production can have both positive and negative impacts on the
environment.
• On the positive side, livestock can serve as nutrient recyclers and helps to maintain
soil health through grazing.
• However, livestock production also has a number of negative environmental
impacts. One major issue is the contribution of greenhouse gas emissions,
particularly methane, from enteric fermentation (the process of digesting food in
the stomach) and manure management.
• The conversion of forests into agricultural land and livestock ranches is one of the
major causes of deforestation.
• Many species of animals and plants are becoming extinct, or on the brink of
extinction because of deforestation.
• Raising livestock generates 14.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions that
are very bad for the environment.
• About 92 per cent of the fresh water is used for farming purposes, and 1/3rd of it is
used for rearing livestock and manufacturing animal products.
 Livestock as emitters of GHGs
• Livestock contributes both directly and
indirectly to climate change through the
emissions of GHGs such as CO2, CH4, and N2O.
• There are two sources of GHG emissions from
livestock: (a) enteric fermentation where
specific microbes residing in the rumen
produce CH4 as a by-product during digestion
and (b) anaerobic fermentation of livestock
manure producing CH4 and denitrification of
manure producing N2O.
Livestock as nutrient recyclers
 Livestock as nutrient recyclers…
• Livestock consumes roughages and concentrate
ration which are less nutritive to the human.
• After consumption they provide nutritive milk
meat and eggs to human and manure for plants
for growth and development.
• Decomposition of dead body of animal is source
of humus (nutrient).
• Ultimate product of plant is again the source of
food for animal.
Thank you
 Unit 2: Factors influencing the livestock
production
• 2.1 Bio-physical, socio-cultural and economic
factors
• 2.2 Seasons, vegetation, land quality and
tenure policies
• 2.3 Disease and parasites
• 2.4 Market
• 2.5 Government policies
 Bio-physical, socio-cultural and economic factors

• Most of the land of Nepal is occupied by high hills and mountains. Land
of these area are deficient in nutrient and less access to modern
agricultural technology like tractors, Pumpsets etc for production of
forage which is essential for production of livestocks. Most of the feeds
for animal of these area are agricultural biproducts which have low
nutritive value. These reasons leads to lower production of livestock in
those areas.
• Raring & consumption of animal is also infuenced by the culture.
Example: There is culture that Brahmin shouldn’t rare pig and don’t
consume meat. So, pig production in this community is low or zero.
• Economically weak family couldn’t afford highly productive breed.
Couldn’t afford for quality feeds to their animal. So, production of
livestock in those owner is less than the economically sound family.
 Seasons, vegetation, land quality and
tenure policies
• In comparision to the summer season, the availability of
feeds for animals in winter is low. Due to unavailabilty of
sufficient and quality of feed the production of livestock
declines in winter.
• Livestock and plants interact constantly within rangeland
ecosystems. The presence of toxin & low palatable grass
in pasture decreases the livestock production.
• Nutrient of the soil affects the quality and quantity of
feeds produced from the plants. Higher the fertility of soil
greater the quality and quantity of feed produed and
hence higher the production of livestock.
 policies
• Government policies such as incentives (eg.
Government provide extra 1 rupee per milk to
milk producer), compensation during loss,
insurance, zero tax & vat in livestock and
agricultural tools, easy and low interest on
loan from bank, etc promotes the livestock
production.
 Disease and parasites
• Livestock production is directly related with
the health of animal. Disease & parasites
causes economic loss for the prevention,
control and treatment.
• Disease and parasite also affects the
consumption and production.
• Hence, decreases the production of livestock.
 Market
• A market is a place where parties can gather to
facilitate the exchange of goods and services.
• Farmer could turn their products into cash when
they get chance to sell.
• When there is lack of proper market facility the
farmer couldn’t get real price of their products. This
demotivates the famer to produce livestock
products.
• Hence, decreases the livestock production with the
lack of market facility.