DOMESTIC ANIMAL DIVERSITY ( DAD) AND ANIMAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(A.R.D.)
By-Prof. Ramakumar, V
(Rtd.) First VCI, Secretary.
Domestic animals, free living animals and wild animals have, for each, a specific role to play in the ecosystem. Animals have become an important cultural element, essential in maintaining the traditional life style. Yak and camel has made it possible for humans to live in harsh areas where cropping is virtually impossible. Though every registered veterinary practitioner (RVP) on being admitted to the profession undertakes to abide by the Veterinarians’ Oath to conserve animal resources, they unknowingly are entrapped into a paradoxical situation of an unscientific breeding policy vision
VETERINARIANS’ OATH
“Being admitted to the profession of veterinary sciences, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills, for the benefit of the society, through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation and production of livestock resources, and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation, the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence. These pledges i make, before God and upon my honour”.
With the development of reproduction technologies like artificial insemination (AI) breeding material is being transferred from other geographical region into India for cross breeding. Farm animals developed (elsewhere) to improve one or two production traits are being brought in large scale without scientifically assessing whether they can perform optimally under the harsh weather, pests, disease and stress existing the various regions and localities of India. Though the level of production of exotic/ crossbred animals is relatively superior, their total intake level is high and survival low under the conditions prevailing in the localities where these animals are distributed. Animal husbandry in India is an endeavour of small holders who raise animals in the backyard essentially on crop residues (CR) and common property resources (CPR). “Under conditions of foraging, supplemented by kitchen waste the improved exotic breeds had genotypic value of zero for most production traits”. (P.N.Bhat, 1984).
BREEDING SYSTEM OF THE WEST VS INDIAN:
India is not alone in pursuing a blinkered (quick fix) idea of food production. 85% of the federal land in US is grazed by live-stock. Meat animals play an important role as meat is their staple food. It is feared that extensive grazing would result in desertification of the grassland which would be replaced by exotic plants
India never had a breeding policy which is scientifically tenable and consistent with the commitment of conservation committed in its solemn Oath. Imported animals and their progenies have not only not stood the challenges of the new grounds, but have also brought with them diseases hitherto unknown in the developing world: Most of these were viral diseases whose diagnosis and control required high security labs and hi-tech diagnostic tools.(C.M.Singh) During the last four (now six) decades a number of emerging diseases of livestock and poultry have been introduced, diagnosed and established in India e.g:- blue toungue, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, para influenza III , bovine leukosis infectious bronchits, infectious laryngo-tracheitis, avain encephalo- myelitis, marek’s disease, eggdrop syndrome, infectious bursal disease (gumboro disease), avain mycoplasmosis, equine influenza, equine infectious anaemia, suspected cases of equine cerebral exanthema etc. However, certain exotic diseases such as Rift Valley fever, bird flu or BSE (mad cow?) may pose even greater threat to livestock in developing countries including India, since these can be studies only in highly sophisticated laboratories of P3-P5 levels, High security animal disease laboratory etc. Umbilical hernia in Holstein Frisian cattle, laminitis, displacement of abomasum are some surgical conditions not commonly reported in Indian breeds.
Another unscientific aspect of cross breeding and AI is that in many cases these had been carried out without initial characterization or evaluation of indigenous breeds and with no effort to conserve their local strains. [For example of late it has been recognized that Gir breed of cattle has 5 or more strains within its breeding tract.] This resulted in the disappearance of a substantial number of local populations with inherent genetic adaptation to climatic, parasitic or other disease (and deficiency?). (Hodges,1985; Office of Technology Assessment, 1987; Weiner, 1989) There is a growing concern about the speed, at which uncharacterized breeds are disappearing in some rapidly developing regions where cross breeding was introduced by force of law (or govt.order)
Apart from introducing cross breeding in humped cattle similar unscientific commitments in buffaloes, sheep, goats and poultry are on record. Examples are introduction of Merino prone to urinary calculi, Murrah Buffaloes being brought in to cross breed with Meghsana of central Gujarat or worse still the swamp buffalo of Assam being mated with riverine Buffaloes. These are examples of policy handicaps caused by the absence of relevant and responsible linkage of R& D to service department in states and centre. In sharp contrast to this one can see that Humped Indian cattle (Bhrahman) taken to Brazil and Bulgaria and reared under their conditions fared exemplarily well and attracted global demand for their products and progeny. It is worth mentioning that before launching these animals some of these countries established exclusive research (institutes) for the study of the Anatomy, Physiology, pathology, feeding, breeding, drug response (pharmacology), health and disease status and the medical and surgical attendance of the breeds to be brought from India and bred (as pure breed).
During the British rule when some civil officers suggested that performance of Indian cattle can be improved in if some good British breeds like Guernsey or Ayrshire are crossbred with them. But the then animal husbandry commissioner (AHC) Sir Arthur Oliver advised against any such move. He considered it unwise to bring exotic breeds to India because they may not stand the climate variation and seasonal scarcity of biomaterials in India they may be more a liability than asset. His successor the first Indian born AHC Sir Kothewala also held the same view against introducing exotic blood in to India.
GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR MANAGEMENT OF ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES:
Increasing international awareness of the need to conserve and develop genetic resources for food and agriculture in a sustainable manner, and the roles and values of farm animal genetic resources must now be translated into effective action within countries at regional and local levels.
Recognizing the importance of animal genetic resources, the need to use, develop and conserve these essential resources in a sustainable manner, and the poor state of current management, FAO is developing the Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources. It has developed a databank that incorporates some basic information on 5,300 breeds representing 35 species. It is estimated from these preliminary data that some 30 percent of the breeds in existence today are at the risk of extinction. Farm animal genetic resources are truly global assets of value in every region of the world.
NATIONAL ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES OF INDIA
India is perhaps the richest animal resource in the world. We have almost as many animals & birds as our human population. We have approx. 846 million domesticated stock and a good number of non-domesticated animals (free living, wild animals, laboratory animals). If we exclude poultry we have more than 500 million (50 crores) livestock alone. India’s livestock breeding tracts are mainly in the rain fed areas.
ANIMAL DISEASE CONTROL STRATEGY
Commercialization and export of animal products call for better animal product handling, preservation, transport and strict standards of bio safety. Frequent trans- global transportation of animals & biological (semen, embryo, vaccines etc.) necessitate stringent technical regulations to ward off exotic disease from entering the country.
IMPORTANT: In developed countries the major thrust of live-stock production has taken place when most of the contagious and infectious disease had been eradicated by rigorous laws and regulations and adopting mass slaughter and burial policy. But, import of animals and transport of biomaterials from across the world has introduced newer disease.
PLANNING FOR FUTURE
A dependable epidemiological data, early, quick & dependable diagnosis, effective and cheap and risk free vaccines, establishment of high security animal disease laboratories (P3/P5 level) etc. are priority areas so far as India is concerned The aspects of regulatory medicine is yet to take off in a manner that is envisaged and needs an urgent attention.
NEWER TECHNOLOGIES have made a dent in the field of conservation of germplasm, DNA finger printing, early, quick & dependable diagnosis, vaccines, E T T (Embryo Transfer Technology), ONBS (Open Nucleus Breeding System), Retrievable (& predictable) data base, value addition to products and by products, efficient quality control, high security animal disease laboratories (P3/P5) etc. Uses of many of these are restricted to some research laboratories in India. There is a dire need to explore their use for “insitu” conservation of animal resource. Especially mentionable are ETT and ONBS that has already been tried in a limited way and is waiting for man power development and infrastructure for its wider use. These were developed primarily under mode mission project of Dept. Biotechnology during the past 30 years. The user ministry is to step in, to try and apply it as part of service delivery. Frozen Semen technology and Artificial Insemination covers less that 12% of our breedable cattle. Most of the frozen semen being prepared are of exotic animals or their crossbred progeny. The country has some frozen semen facility most of them limit the use of these. There is a felt need for developing reproduction technology incorporating all the newer technologies for conservation of indigenous breeds, also.
