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India Fact File

Animal Husbandry is a vocation of millions of small holders who raise animals on crop residues and common property resources. As the system is not grain based it does not put animals to compete with man for food. Behind this system are a time tested conventional rearing and a large array of indigenous breeds of domestic and semi domestic animals living in an absolute harmony with man and nature.
When in some developed countries, less than 3% of the adult population is engaged in Agriculture and animal production, 70% of Indian population is dependent on crop agriculture and animal husbandry ( 30% of these people are land less ).
As high as 70% of livestock in India is owned by 67% of small and marginal farmers and by the land less. 60% of livestock farming labor is provided by women and more than 90% of work related to care of animals is rendered by womenfolk of the family.
One fourth of energy input needed for crop production comes from animals. Use of draught animal power provides income-earning opportunity to around 45 million people.
Manure is a major source of energy for cooking. In rural India, 90% household uses crop residues and cow dung cakes for cooking.
Livestock of India are reared in close human proximity where they form component of the life system of the people. Cows, buffaloes, bullocks, mule and donkeys are not just utility animals, but also companions at work for the toiling poor who rear them along side their own dwelling. Nomadic tribes like "Gujjar"s, "Bakharwal"s of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh and "Gaddis"of Uttar Pradesh migrate with their animals (Sheep, Goats, Ponies, and Dogs) that form part of their life. For the "Raikas"of Rajasthan and Gujarat, camels are components of their life style and livelihood.

Gross value of output from Animal Husbandry sector (1997-98) is Rs.1, 11,400 crore against a total of Rs.4, 49,500 crore from Agriculture. (This excludes contribution by animal draught power).
India has 53% of world Buffalo population and 15% of world Cattle population. In terms of sheep population, India ranks fifth after Australia, China, Iran and New Zealand.
According to '92 census, there are 20.5 crore Cattle and 8.4 crore Buffalos in India.
There are 27 recognized breeds of Cattle and 7 breeds of Buffalo in India.
India’s Egg Production (1997-98) is 28.5 billion
India’s Wool production (1998-99) is 454.5-lakh kg.
There are an estimated 3,600 abattoirs in the country, most of them are controlled by local authorities like the municipal corporation. It is also estimated that there are 128 meat product processing plants in the country that includes seven bacon plants.
Export of meat and meat preparations (1997-98) was 808.35 crores against total export of 2190 crores from livestock products.
There are 128 lakh Pigs in India but only 14.5% are graded exotic variety.
Employment in the livestock sector is approximately 9.8 million in Principal status, and another 8.6 million approximately in the subsidiary status. (National Sample Survey '93-'94)
India ranks seventh in Fish production in the world and it is the second largest producer of inland fish. The per capita availability is 8.11 kg against the recommended requirement of 11 kg and global average of 19 kg.

Dairy Profile in India

(Source: Year '99 study report titled THE WHITE CHALLENGE by INITIATIVES – an independent survey group)

Industry structure: Predominantly Unorganized
Number of cows and buffaloes: 150-200 million
Number of Milk farmers: 75 million
Milk production (million tonnes): 74.3
Per capita milk availability (per day / grams): 206
Productivity of average animals (kg per year milk yield): less than 1000
Export per year (million $): less than 5
Pasteurized milk: less than 10%
Use of milking machine: less than 2%

Export of India’s Milk and milk products during 1997-98 is to the tune of 13.38 crores (3.19 Million USD @ Rs.42 / $) (Source: APEDA)
According to estimates, more than 50% of milk produced in the country is utilized for conversion into dairy products.
P roduction statistics of Milk products (in Tonnes, 1997):
Milk Powder including infant milk food - 215,000
Malted food - 55,000
Cheese - 7,000
Condensed Milk - 7,800
(Source: Ministry of Food Processing Industries)

Domestic Market of Milk Products

(Source: Assorted from government publications)

A significant portion of milk produced in the country is converted by households into “ghee” (clarified butter) and curds. Skim milk powder and baby foods account for about 70 percent of the powder market. Whole milk powder constitutes about 9% of market share. The Indian Army buys a majority of this in bulk packs.
The total market for ghee has been estimated at 900,000 metric tonnes, of which only about ten percent is produced by the organized sector.
Production of butter, including makhan (white butter), is estimated at 260,000 metric tonnes, of which an estimated 13-15 percent is marketed as table butter by organized sector.