Contributions of Livestock to Peoples

Livestock provide following food and non-food contributions to peoples:

1. Food
2. Fibre and Skins
3. Drafts
4. Dung and Animal Waste Materials
5. Storage
6. Weed Control
7. Cultural Role
8. Sports and Recreation
9. Companion Animals

Food

The livestock provides food items such as Milk, Meat and Eggs for human consumption. The value of milk group and meat group at current prices was Rs 4,06,035 crores in 2013-14.

Fibre and Skins

The livestock also contribute to the production of wool, hair, hides, and pelts. Leather is the most important product which has a very high export potential.

Drafts

Bullocks are the back bone of agriculture. Despite lot of advancements in the use of mechanical power in agricultural operations, the farmer especially in rural areas still depend upon bullocks for various agricultural operations.

The bullocks are saving a lot on fuel which is a necessary input for using mechanical power like tractors, combine harvesters etc.

Pack animals like camels, horses, donkeys, ponies, mules etc are being extensively used to transport goods in different parts of the country in addition to bullocks.

In situations like hilly terrains mules and ponies serve as the only alternative to transport goods. Similarly, the army has to depend upon these animals to transport various items in high areas of high altitude.

Dung and Animal Waste Materials

Dung and other animal wastes serve as very good farm yard manure and the value of it is worth several crores. In addition, it is also used as fuel (bio gas, dung cakes), and for construction as poor man’s cement (dung).

Storage

Livestock are considered as “moving banks” because of their potentiality to dispose off during emergencies. They serve as capital and in cases of landless agricultural labourers many times it is the only capital resource they possess.

Livestock serve as an asset and in case of emergencies they serve as guarantee for availing loans from the local sources such as money lenders in the villages.

Weed Control

Livestock are also used as biological control of brush, plants and weeds.

Cultural Role

Livestock offer security to the owners and also add to their self esteem especially when they are owning prized animals such as pedigreed bulls, dogs and high yielding cows or buffaloes etc.

Sports and Recreation

People also use the animals like cocks, rams, bulls etc for competition and sports. Despite ban on these animal competitions the cock fights, ram fights and bull fights (jalli kattu) are quite common during festive seasons.

As Companion Animals

Dogs are known for their faithfulness and are being used as companions since time immemorial.

When the nuclear families are increasing in number and the old parents are forced to lead solitary life the dogs, cats are providing the needed company to the latter thus making them lead a comfortable life.