3.5   Livestock

Livestock is an integral component of the farming system in India. The livestock sector is socially and economically very significant due to its multifunctional outputs and contribution to sociocultural security. It also helps to improve food and nutritional security by providing nutrient-rich food products, generates income and employment and acts as a cushion against crop failure, provides draught power and manure inputs to the crop subsector. Cattle Cattle constitute .

percent of livestock population in India. India has the second largest cattle population after Brazil at World level. Cattle population in India belongs to different breeds. These include: ) Milch Breed.

) Draught breed. ) Mixed or General breed. Goats The goat is the poor man’s cow providing milk, meat, skin and hair. It is the main source of meat for the country.

Buffaloes Buffaloes are an important source of milk supply for India. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of buffaloes ( . %) followed