Livestock Industry in Karnataka (An Old and Rare Book)

Foreword Livestock constitute one of the most important living resources of India It adds to nutrition, provides raw materials for several Industries and has now become significant renewable source of energy. Inspite of the importance of livestock in the economy of India from the time immemorial, Indian academic particularly Geographer's have not paled the attention it deserves As one looks through the Indian) journals of geography, one finds a signal lack of papers on the themes related to the animal wealth of India. The author of this book Prof K Ranganath deserves appreciation for the work he has done on the livestock of Karnataka state which has resulted in the present book. The book is useful for geographers, economists, planners and all others who are involved or interested in development, particularly rural development in Karnataka. The In dispensability of animal resources under Indian agricultural and Industrial systems has been analyzed in great depth and accuracy Among the important contributions of the book, I will like to highlight 1. Regionalization: The State has been divided into a set of livestock regions which helps one to understand not only the present livestock situation, but also what action is needed where to improve the situation. The evolution of various breeds of cattle (Amrithamahal, Hallikar Krishnavally Khillar and Deoni) and their suitability for various regions are well discussed and presented.

The book brings out clearly the relation between geography and the quantity and quality of livestock. The density of bovine population is analyzed in relation to climate, crop pattern, human population, land holdings, irrigation and availability of fodder, as farm residues, forest products and pastures. The quality of animals in relation to temperature and soil is very well presented. 2. Fodder and Feed Supply: Livestock productivity depends on the fodder and feed supply. The book provides data on the requirements of dry fodder, green fodder and concentrates (feed) on the availability of each of them and what needs to be done to meet the deficiencies. The suggestions made to improve the fodder and feed supply are worth considering particularly because the demand for milk and milk products is increasing fast. The author calls for a green revolution" in fodder. production to usher in White Revolution in Karnataka. In addition to the conventional feed resources, non conventional feeds have been the purview of study.

Preface Livestock have played a significant role in the social and recon life of the people of Indies from time immemorial India claiming 16% of world's cattle. 50% of buffalo 22% of goat and 4% of thee plays an important role in the world's livestock wealth, as well as in the livestock economy of the country Unfortunately, animal husbandry as a discipline has not received as much attention in India as it deserves Unlike the western countries, where a lot of research has been done on animal (Silence) resources, not much has been made in India inspire of the fact that cattle are indispensable and form the king pin of our agriculture.

As in the country as a whole, the state of Karnataka is endowed with a significant asset of livestock wealth, which in its number and variety could be favorably compared to any other state in the country linking crop production, with livestock raising enables fuller utilization of farm by-products, conservation of soil fertility, increase in income and fuller employment. Thus animal husbandry is best considered as part of agricultural system, using agricultural wastes to feed animals, and animal products in turn as a source of food, fuel and fertilizer. It is paradoxical to note that even though the state of Karnataka possesses rich animal resources the returns from these are very meager Both milk and milk products, meat and meat-products are not produced either in sufficient quantity or in required quality. The demand for these products is rising with rapid increase in population and urbanization. So the question of development of livestock industry therefore, needs to be examined in depth in the light of the requirements of the state.

The formulation of well defined action oriented development programmed needs extensive and intensive sect oral studies as well as intersects oral reactions of the area concerned. In such studies it will be necessary to take note of economic, social and physical differences in the different parts of the state and to structure sect oral programmers, area wise in an inter-related manner so that the cumulative results will lead to the minimization of disparities and at the same time lead to the maximization of benefits for the people and the state as a whole.

In the transmission of sophisticated technology to the farmers. extensive education and training of farmers play an important role.

Introduction Animals have doubtless been of great help so man in the pursuit of his economic activities, Input their use varies with the kind of civilization and culture he lives in Man employed oven to pull the plough and to work as beasts of burden; they became friendly with and familiar to him and served humanity as desired. As regional variations intensified in the mode of living of the people in different parts of the world, so did variations in the use of animals In the industrial accident, animal foods make up a major part of the national diet, forming between 30 to 40 per cent of the total calories consumed On the other hand, the oriental countries present an altogether different picture, for at least two-thirds of the people of the earth living in them abstain from meat and eat sparingly of other animal foods Whereas the Cattle in the west are reared for milk and meat, in Indies they are reared for milk and draft purposes.

There was a time when India was famous for her riches and no less for the abundance of milk and its products. The object poverty of the people, rapid increase in population and the two world wars put back the hands of the clock. Agriculture, including animal husbandry, is still the mainstay of millions and to study and discuss the problems related to the development is not only desirable but also necessary. Thus the economic importance of cattle is immense. There is so much to be done, and so little has been done, that aspirants for animal husbandry work should draw inspiration to take up this neglected work with determination. Few other industries in India can approach the combined out turn of animal-cum-plant husbandry. With further development of the excellent breeds of cattle still existing in India, the animal husbandry products may assume much greater importance in India than in other countries.

With a total area of 1, 92,204 sq. kames. and a population of more than 45 million (1991) Karnataka is the sixth largest State in India in terms of area and eighth in terms of population. It is the second largest State in South India next only to Andhra Pradesh.

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