Role of Veterinarians & Livestock Sector for “Viksit Bharat@2047”
Dr Ranjan Kumar Mohanta
Senior Scientist and Head
Krishi Vigyan Kendra Cuttack, Santhapur
ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack
E-mail: Mohanta.ranjan@gmail.com
The livestock sector plays an important role in the rural economy and livelihood for millions of farmers and farm families across India contributing about 5.7% of Indian GDP at current prices. It not only provides the basic income for the farm families, but it helps to ensure food and nutritional security for the 140 crores Indian population through meat, milk, and eggs and poverty alleviation. The demand for these products is continuously increasing as purchase per parity is improving generating a huge demand for livestock and poultry products along with the value-added products. The ruminants consume different crops, crop residues, and by-products that are not used for human consumption and produce milk, meat, wool, eggs, hide, manure as fertilizer, and many other products. Small and marginal farmers own more than seventy percent of the livestock and backyard poultry birds. About three-fourths of milk is produced by weaker sections of society.
Livestock and poultry provide highly sustainable returns in small & medium holdings and act as a living bank or ATM providing necessary cash in times of need or emergency or any family issue/ function. This necessitates the role of veterinarians who play a significant role in the growth and maintenance of these sectors through services like breeding, feeding, treatment, control, and prevention of diseases to improve the livestock resources, policy formulation, and ensure the supply of the quality products to the common public and for export to other states of India and abroad. Veterinary professionals disseminate their knowledge to the community to improve the quality of life not only for animals, but for humans also, as a majority of our population depends on animals for income, food, security, companionship, social status, or cultural identification.
Livestock and Poultry Scenario
According to the latest Indian Livestock Census (Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics, 2023) and Food and Agricultural Organization (2023), India has the highest buffalo population (111.86 million), second highest cattle population (193.61 million), the highest goat population (149.99 million), second highest sheep population (75.35 million) along with about 3% chicken (885.75 million) and duck (33.42 million) population.
Table 1. Global Share of Livestock and Poultry Population
| Indian Population (m) | Global Population (m) | Percentage Share | |
| Buffalo | 111.86 | 205.14 | 54.53 (1st) |
| Cattle | 193.61 | 1551.51 | 12.48 (2nd) |
| Goat | 149.99 | 1145.38 | 13.10 (1st) |
| Sheep | 75.35 | 1321.53 | 5.70 (2nd) |
| Pig | 8.53 | 978.97 | 0.87 |
| Poultry | 885.75 | 28310.16 | 3.13 |
| Duck | 33.42 | 1126.27 | 2.97 |
| Human | 1417.2 | 7950.9 | 17.82 |
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2023) and Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (2023)
In terms of production, Indian contributes largest milk (236.4 million tonnes in 2023-24) and the share of meat, hide, wool, and other products in increasing in a positive and significant rate (>4.0% per annum) emphasizing the contribution of livestock to Indian economy.
Table 2. Global Ranking and Production of Livestock Products in India
| Indian Production | Global Production | Percentage Share | Per Capita Availability | |
| Milk | 213,779,230 t | 930,295,040 t | 22.98 | 459 |
| Meat | 10,644,195 t | 360,617,700 t | 2.95 | 7.10 kg/yr |
| Egg | 6,571,248 t | 93,171,450 t | 7.05 | 4.11 kg/yr |
| Egg | 138376 million | 1182 billions | 101/ yr | |
| Poultry Meat | 4,950,665 t | 139,219,230 t | 3.56 | 2.63 kg /yr |
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2023) and Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (2023)
Animal Health Care
Veterinarians are involved in the prevention, treatment and control of diseases of livestock and poultry thereby ensuring their health and well-being. Veterinarians ensure optimal health and productivity of livestock by providing advice on scientific housing, management, breeding, and feeding practices along with providing healthcare services like diagnosis, prevention, control, and treatment of the livestock. This ensures saving thousands of crores in terms of treatment cost and loss of production and productivity sometimes animal lives. Diseases like mastitis, foot and mouth disease, bird flu, peste-des-petits ruminants, enterotoxaemia and parasitic diseases take a heavy toll to livestock owners. Proper know-how, prevention through vaccination, and appropriate care and management practices help in saving the treatment cost and animal lives. Veterinarians are instrumental in implementing disease prevention and control measures. This includes vaccination programs, disease surveillance, and rapid response to emerging health threats. By mitigating the impact of diseases, veterinarians contribute directly to the resilience of rural communities. The manpower in animal husbandry sector needs to be filled up, so that the dream of Viksit Bharat@2047 can be reached.
Empowering Livestock Farmers
Veterinarians organize different awareness programs and skill training programs on scientific care and management practices on breeding, feeding, housing, healthcare, day-to-day care and management practices, reproduction along with parasitic, metabolic and contagious diseases, their treatment, prevention and control aspects help in empowering the livestock owners. The veterinarians educate the livestock keepers through awareness programs, regular field visit, on-site consultations, training programs, animal health camps, fertility camps, demonstrations, and workshops on local need-based topics. The updating of knowledge and skill helps in ensuring optimal health, production and productivity of the animals thereby increasing their farm income. As the livestock numbers are remaining nearly at a plateau and cultivated area under fodder is also near stagnant, there is a need to improve the productivity of the livestock and birds to ensure improvement in production of different commodities. It is found that there exists still a high gap in knowledge base among the livestock keepers. There is urgent need to bridge the gap to get a sustainable economic benefit and achieve the target for Viksit Bharat@2047.
Implementation of Schemes and Rural Development Programs
Veterinarians implement different government schemes and projects for improvement of livestock and poultry sector across the country and improve the food and nutritional status of farm families. They implement the schemes by providing subsidies for different livestock related schemes, creation of awareness about schemes, government policies and important diseases thereby improving the quality and quantity of livestock produce, thereby enhancing production and productivity. Implementation of different schemes helps in improvement of food and nutritional security particularly for the weaker sections of the society, anaemic mothers and children, and people with social and cultural disadvantages. Vets also collaborate with different government agencies and non-governmental organizations like NGOs, self-help groups (SHGs), farmer producer organisations (FPOs) etc. for implementing many rural development programs and ensure the sustainable growth of livestock sector. These collaborative efforts must be strengthened for achieving a developed India.
Research and Education
Veterinarians are employed in various educational, diagnostic, research, and pharmaceuticals working on development of drugs, vaccines, pharmaceutical products, diagnostic tests, and biotechnological tools. This has led to the development of many effective diagnostic tools, tests, methods, antibiotics, vaccines, therapies and medicines. They have helped to diagnose many important diseases like bird flu, foot and mouth disease, rabies, anthrax, Ranikhet disease, fowl pox, enterotoxaemia, haemorrhagic septicaemia, brucellosis, rinderpest etc., limit them to the specific areas and prevent their spread to control the impact of diseases. They have developed many improved breeds of livestock, and poultry to enhance production and productivity. Vets establish the genetic potential of different local livestock varieties, impart breed status if meets the criteria’s and also ensure the conservation of our livestock resources. They are instrumental in creation of skilled manpower in animal husbandry, dairying, value addition in the form of vets, para-vets, grassroot level extension functionaries, livestock owners, SHG members, entrepreneurs etc. Enriching their knowledge, skill and attitude helps in their empowerment thereby helping in the development of the sector who in turn become a major force in contribution of livestock sector to Indian economy. In depth study of animal diseases helps in gaining insights into human diseases and contribute to the development of medical interventions.
Veterinarians employed in research sector help to find new diagnostic tools and methods, treatment regimen, and preventive strategies for different health disorders of both human and animals. Vets are also involved in the production of drugs and biological products.
Zoonoses, Public Health, and One Health
Soil-plant-animal-human health all are interrelated and one affects the other resulting in the ONE HEALTH concept. Therefore, one health encompasses all the sectors and without a perfect collaboration no health will be perfect. About seventy-five percent of human diseases are either directly or indirectly originate from animals. As livestock are very closely associated with human being, the zoonotic diseases spread easily. Globalization has made the world a very small place as movement from one place to another takes place in a very short span of time. Hence, diseases also move to areas where they were non-existent from endemic areas and also gives rise to new epidemics, emerging and re-emerging of dreadful diseases. An estimate from OIE states that out of five new emerging infectious human diseases appear each year, three are zoonotic. The corona pandemic, bird flu, rabies, swine flu, and Ebola epidemics tells us to manage efficiently the strong link between the health of people, animals and environment. Veterinarians are both directly and indirectly involved in preventing both zoonotic diseases and other non-zoonotic ones in animals through disease surveillance, stringent inspection and quarantine measures and promoting sustainable practices that benefit the soil, plant, animal, environment and human populations.
They play a major role in prevention and control of zoonotic diseases, emerging and re-emerging diseases, contagious and communicable diseases by ensuring their role in optimal healthcare of animals. Many vets are posted in public health, diagnostic, quarantine and food safety departments who directly and indirectly safeguard human health. The One Health approach can only be effective, if veterinarians will work with medical doctors, agriculture professionals, druggists, pesticide manufacturers and ecologists through the prevention of risks and the mitigation of effects of crisis that originate at the interaction between soil, humans, plants, animals and their environment. As vets are also experts in toxicology, epidemiology, and ecology, they understand environmental relationship of diseases well and help in one health approach.
In the face of emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19, combined with climate change, the One Health approach has become increasingly important. Therefore, monitoring and controlling zoonotic diseases is crucial to preventing devastating impacts on both human and animal health. The One Health approach has also highlighted the vital role played by veterinarians in safeguarding public health and promoting animal health and welfare. So, it is aptly said ‘No profession is better qualified, through history and training, than the veterinary profession to promote the interdisciplinary approach of One Health and to be a leader in implementing it precepts.
Food Security and Quality Control Measures
Veterinarians work in food production facilities, farms, and processing plants to monitor and enforce food safety regulations, conduct inspections, and ensure that animals are healthy and disease-free. They also oversee the inspection of animal products, such as meat, milk, and eggs, to minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses. The vets also promote food security by ensuring animal well-being and creating awareness about clean production practices. The hygiene and clean production mechanisms are routinely inspected to ensure clean milk and quality meat production. The hygienic measures are also inspected at food production and distribution centers to ensure food safety and security. Imparting stringent quarantine protocols also helps in maintaining food quality. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has implemented more rigorous inspections and quality control measures to ensure that food products meet the necessary safety standards of global level.
Sustainable Agricultural Productivity
Livestock wastes like manure if properly used can form biofuel through biogas, and quality manure through vermicompost. Livestock dung and urine are ingredients of many preparations of natural/organic farming that are used to improve soil health, pest and disease management, and plant health. Integration of livestock into crop farming systems helps in a holistic approach to the judicious use of farm produce, optimizes the use of resources, improves soil fertility, and diversifies income streams, thereby enhancing overall agricultural productivity.
Homeland Security
Veterinarians provide their services to Indian army through the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC), by providing logistic needs of the Armed Forces in the equine and canine fields. They breed, rear and train the horses for the President Bodyguard as well as other Cavalry Units, mules to the animal transport units and sniffer dogs to the police and army for detecting terrorists, spies, bombs and drugs etc. They are also part of the five paramilitary forces—the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Border Security Force (BSF), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) where the veterinary services wing manages dog and equine breeding centres and provide animal health cover and surveillance.
Service to Companion animals
Companion animals like dogs, cats, and birds play an important role in mentally and physically assisting people as pets or companions. They also help in detecting different drugs and chemicals, assisting police and military personnel in performing various tasks, search and rescue management in disasters, managing herds of cows, sheep, and goats, and hunting wild animals. Veterinarians play a significant role in the breeding, feeding, training, and disease management of companion animals in addition to treatment and vaccination to ensure their sound health and well-being. Thus, vets and companion animals aid in providing socio-economic, protection, and life-saving values in addition to the provision of research into various aspects of behavior, diseases, and improvement in their performance.
Climate Smart Animal Husbandry
As climate change is affecting both livestock production and health in a major way, veterinarians are working to develop strategies to help animals adapt to the changing climate. They are now advocating towards including the germplasm of native dairy breeds to improve the local germplasm, not crossbreeding with exotic germplasm. The animal husbandry practices like housing, feeding and managemental practices are also tailor made to suit the local agroclimatic conditions so that the animal will have optimal performance under the prevailing conditions.
Breed Development
Veterinarians assist farmers in implementing selective breeding programs to improve the genetic potential of dairy animals, resulting in higher milk yields. They train the local AI performers/ paravets for breeding and also decide the selection of breed for doing AI for upgrading or crossbreeding programs.
Animal Welfare
Animal welfare issues are growing in India. Veterinarians are often called upon to deal with cases of animal abuse and neglect. Vets advocate for animal rights and ensure the welfare of animals by implementing Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 in addition to providing education on responsible pet ownership.
Ecology, Wildlife, and Disaster Management
Veterinarians collaborate with personnel from different departments and conservationists to create awareness of the conservation of nature and natural resources in general, and, animals, and their habitats, in particular. In case of natural and man-made disasters like earthquakes, cyclones, floods, drought, forest fires, and other natural calamities, they provide emergency services like rescuing the affected animals, providing relief materials, and emergency veterinary care, shelter, and food to animals in need for lifesaving of the animals in collaboration with local authorities and animal welfare organizations. As livestock owners do not prefer to abandon their animals, particularly pregnant and newborn animals thereby putting their own lives at risk, veterinarians play a critical role in advising the disaster management operations. Vets are also trained to manage and treat wildlife in zoos, sanctuaries and National Parks through feeding, breeding, and treatment. As many wild animals harbor the causative agent for many emerging infectious diseases, research on wildlife diseases help in contributing towards both wildlife health and conservation and zoonotic diseases.
Biosecurity
Healthy and productive livestock produce a wide variety of food products for direct and indirect human consumption and processing. Vets enforce biosecurity measures for animals and/or animal products to ensure quality produce for human consumption or marketing purpose. They also take part in ante- and post-mortem inspections of slaughterhouses and meat processing plants and further food safety interventions to ensure a safe and wholesome food supply to consumers. Also, veterinarians make sure that healthy animals are exported, imported, and distributed, thus preventing the risk of introducing detrimental, high-impact diseases into distant regions or neighboring countries. They are involved in quarantine facilities for the detection of exotic diseases, agro-terrorism and bioterrorism playing as key players on biodefense, and thus for national security, food chain safety, and animal and human welfare.
Pet Industry
As families tending towards nuclear family, adoption of pet for companion is increasing day-by-day. This has resulted in rapid growth of the pet industry estimated to be worth over Rs. 20,000 crores in India. Pet industry rise of about 15% per annum has resulting in increasing demand of veterinary services like routine care and also multi-speciality hospitals for treating the sick and injured pets.
Marketing and Exports
Livestock and livestock products when kept disease free and maintain high quality fetch higher value both in India and abroad. Veterinarians help to ensure that these products meet international quality and safety standards.
Other Professional Activities
Veterinarians also serve many important positions in animal experimental laboratories, pharmaceutical institutions, research institutions, agricultural chemical industry, animal welfare bodies, aquatic animal science and microbial facilities, food companies, feed industries, wildlife bodies, livestock, and poultry industries. They are also involved in framing policies at local, state, and national levels in drafting and framing different policies towards animal welfare issues. Vets also work in agribusinesses, food and feed industries, technical sales and services, regulatory affairs, and management companies. They also take care of antibiotic resistance to prevent untoward incidents in the near future.
Viksit Bharat@2047
‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ is roadmap of Government of India to make India a completely developed nation by 2047, i.e., 100 years after independence. It needs inclusive economic participation from all the Indians to make India world’s third-largest economy within the next five years. The document envisions economic growth, sustainable development goals, improvements in the ease of living and doing business, enhanced infrastructure, and bolstered social welfare initiatives. It will also encompass the emergence of a rapidly advancing digital technology reshaping the physical world, groundbreaking innovations reshaping lifestyles, global competition for shared resources like space, oceans, and data, and the uncertainties posed by the unknown etc.
Way Forward for Viksit Bharat@2047
NITI Aayog projections reveal that India’s demand for animal-sourced food is anticipated to rise significantly by 2050 as income levels will rise along with the urban population. The calorie intake from animal-sourced foods will be doubled, and demand for meat, fish, and eggs will surge by 205%. About 70% of rural communities in India and about 18.8% of India’s population depend on livestock for their livelihood, more particularly women. In India, the livestock sector has a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 12.99% annually between 2014-15 and 2022-23. It presently contributes more than 30.23% of agricultural Gross Value Added.
The livestock and veterinarian as projected by their roles discussed before can play pivotal role in ensuring a Viksit Bharat, through ensuring a sustainable economic growth, food and nutritional security, protecting from zoonoses and contributing for one health, biosecurity and many more. Therefore, the livestock sector and veterinarian workforce can significantly contribute to Indian economy and fulfil the dream of a developed India at 2047, if properly invested.
Conclusion
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations found that every $1 invested in veterinary services generates an average return of $3.20 in increased livestock production suggesting the investment in this sector can bring large dividends. Veterinarians and livestock can play a pivotal role in the sustainable development of the Indian economy through the empowerment of rural India and ensuring food and nutritional security. Besides increasing in production and productivity along with profitability they will ensure food safety and improve the food quality. They will also ensure a healthy livestock population thereby decreasing the occurrence of zoonotic diseases. The Veterinarians and livestock will also build resilient, empowered, and sustainable rural communities in India bringing positive socio-economic transformations that reverberate throughout the fabric of rural life.
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