CATTLE FARMING:

Cattle farming involves the rearing and management of two types of animals- one
group for food requirements like milk and another for labour purposes like
ploughing, irrigation, etc.   Animals which provide milk are called milch/dairy
animals. For example, goats, buffalo, cows, etc. Cattle farming is not all about milk
or meat production. It also comes with some responsibilities. To meet human
requirements, we need to take good care and need proper management of
livestock.

Pastoralist groups in India, including the Raika of Rajasthan, Pullikulum cattle

breeders in Tamil Nadu, and groups such as the Dhangar, Kuruba and Kuruma of
the Deccan Plateau realize a major proportion of their income from penning their
herds and flocks on farmers' fields.

The total cost per indigenous cow per day was Rs. 33.03, total fixed cost and total
variable cost accounting for 3.81 and 96.18% of total cost respectively. A category-
wise analysis of farmers revealed that the total cost decreased with increase in
farm size. The total cost per buffalo per day was Rs. 53.72 and total fixed cost and
total variable cost accounted for 4.67 and 95.33% respectively, the total cost per
crossbred cow per day was Rs.72.86,total fixed cost and total variable cost
accounted for 7.69 and 92.31% of total cost respectively. No specific trend was
observed as far as the relationship between the total cost and category of farmers
was concerned for both buffaloes and crossbred cows. The cost of milk production
was lower in crossbred cows followed by buffaloes and indigenous cows.

INTRODUCTION :

Animal husbandry contributes significantly in supplementing the income of small,

marginal farmers and landless labourers and in generating gainful employment
opportunities especially self-employment to a substantial number of rural and urban
population many of whom are women who play a major role in the care and
management of livestock. It serves as a vital source for providing nutritious protein
rich balanced food in the form of milk, egg, meat and value added products.
Moreover, they are also intricately associated with the social, cultural and traditional
values of the region.

Tamil Nadu is one of the foremost States in India showing steady increase in fish
production and optimum utilization of resources. The Government is committed to
protecting the traditional fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen, diversifying them to
deep sea fishing, providing infrastructure facilities such as construction of fishing
harbours fish landing centres, marketing infrastructure, implementing innovative
schemes such as conversion purchase of new mechanized fishing vessels for Tuna
fishing, establishing Fish Processing Parks in the coastal districts, deployment of
artificial reefs, providing Seamless communication facilities to marine fishermen etc
It also largely contributes in dairy farming asTamil Nadu ranks eighth in milk
production and is well on the way towards achieving the Second White Revolution
as envisioned by the Honble ChiefMinister of Tamil Nadu. Milk production in the
State during 2012-13 was around 1.82 Crore litres per day.

As of in Chennai animal farming in rural areas is set to get a fillip, with the Union
government approved Special Livestock Sector Package, consisting of several
programmes. A total sum of Rs 9,800 crore is earmarked for the next five years. As
per the livestock census 2019, over 48 lakh people are engaged in animal farming
activities in the State. MG Rajendran, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Milk
Producers' Welfare Association said, “The move, if implemented, certainly will
benefit poor and landless farmers.”

Animal husbandry provides livelihood opportunities to million of small, marginal

farmers and landless poor. Employment generation schemes when implemented
properly can ensure higher levels of economic activity leading to sustainable
growth in rural areas. Keeping this in mind, the Department is implementing various
beneficiary oriented schemes for the economic up liftment and welfare of the poor.
Some such schemes are: Free Distribution of Milch Cows, Free Distribution of Goat
& Sheep, Foot & Mouth Control Programme (FMD-CP) ,Cattle Insurance Scheme
(CIS),Kalnadai Padhukappu Thittam (KPT),
Assistance the States for Control of Animal Disease (ASCAD),National Animal
Disease Reporting System (NADRS) ,Scheme for Poultry Development, Broiler
Poultry Development Scheme, Rural Backyard Poultry Scheme (RBPS),Mission on
Sustainable Dry land Agriculture (MSDA), State Fodder Development Scheme
(SFDS) and so on.

The Government of Tamil Nadu announced on 09.07.2011 that in order to usher in

another ‘White Revolution’ in Tamil Nadu, the Government would distribute one
Milch Vow to each beneficiary free of cost. The Government of Tamil Nadu also
announced the implementation of ‘Scheme for Free Distribution of Goats/Sheep’ to
the poorest of the State in order to improve their living standards. Each beneficiary
is provided with 1 male and 3 female goat / sheep which are around 6-8 months of
age.
Animal Husbandry Department plays a major role in providing veterinary health
care and improving the genetic production potentialities of livestock and poultry
reared in the State. Apart from this, various beneficiary oriented schemes are also
being implemented for the economic upliftment and welfare of the poor,
downtrodden and weaker sections of the society. Various veterinary institutions
spread throughout the State provide the above services. With the dedicated and
sustained efforts of the department in implementation of various beneficiary
oriented programmes and judicious utilization of animals and the natural resources
in an eco-balanced way, the livestock sector of the State has been elevated to a
prominent position.
  DAIRY FARMING
Dairy sector is important not only as the producer of highly nutritious food
products, but also for the sustenance of poor farmers and over all
prosperity of the farming community.
It is a matter of great pride that a nation which was deficit in milk has now
become the leading milk producer in the world. Tamil Nadu ranks eighth
in milk production and is well on the way towards achieving the Second
White Revolution as envisioned by the Honble ChiefMinister of Tamil
Nadu. Milk production in the State during 2012-13 was around 1.82 Crore
litres per day. While cattle were domesticated as early as 12,000 years
ago as a food source and as beasts of burden, the earliest evidence of
using domesticated cows for dairy production is the seventh millennium
BC – the early Neolithic era – in northwestern Anatolia.Dairy farming
developed elsewhere in the world in subsequent centuries: the sixth
millennium BC in eastern Europe, the fifth millennium BC in Africa, and
the fourth millennium BC in Britain and Northern Europe.
In the last century or so larger farms specialising in dairy alone have
emerged. Large scale dairy farming is only viable where either a large
amount of milk is required for production of more durable dairy products
such as cheese, butter, etc. or there is a substantial market of people with
money to buy milk, but no cows of their own. In the 1800s von
Thünen argued that there was about a 100-mile radius surrounding a city
where such fresh milk supply was economically viable.
Although any mammal can produce milk, commercial dairy farms are
typically one-species enterprises. In developed countries, dairy farms
typically consist of high producing dairy cows. Other species used in
commercial dairy farming include goats, sheep, water buffaloes,
and camels. In Italy, donkey dairies are growing in popularity to produce an
alternative milk source for human infants.

 FISH FARMING
Fisheries have emerged as an important food production sector of the
State contributing to the livelihood as well as food security of a large
section of the people. Fishing activity, starting as a traditional livelihood
activity in early fifties has now transformed into commercial enterprise
contributing to the State and National economy, livelihood and nutritional
security, rural employment generation and foreign exc hange earnings
significantly.
Tamil Nadu is one of the foremost States in India showing steady
increase in fish production and optimum utilization of resources. Tamil
Nadu is pioneering many innovative developmental and welfare
schemes.
 The Government is committed to protecting the traditional fishing rights of
Tamil Nadu fishermen, diversifying them to deep sea fishing, providing
infrastructure facilities such as construction of fishing harbours fish
landing centres, marketing infrastructure, implementing innovative
schemes such as conversion purchase of new mechanized fishing
vessels for Tuna fishing, establishing Fish Processing Parks in the
coastal districts, deployment of artificial reefs, providing Seamless
communication facilities to marine fishermen etc.,

 POULTRY FARMING

Poultry sector plays a pivotal role among the sub-sectors in potentiating the role
of animal husbandry Tamil Nadu is leading the states in broiler production with a
record production of 397 thousand tonnes in 2009-10. Tamil Nadu ranks second
in the country’s egg production with a production of 10.8 billion eggs. Tamil Nadu
accounts for 17.71 per cent of the poultry population of the country. More than
90 per cent of poultry or poultry products exported from India originates from
Tamil Nadu. At present poultry concentration is restricted to certain poultry belts
such as Namakkal , Erode and Coimbatore. The poultry keeping has evinced great
interest among poultry farmers. There is a good potential for export of eggs, egg
products and frozen chicken meat from our State to Gulf countries, Russia etc.
Further, due to the changes in consumption behavior of the people in the state
towards desi chicken and desi eggs, there is great scope for the development of
backyard poultry in the process of rural economic development of the state.

 APICULTURE IN TAMIL NADU

Bee-Keeping Industry is one of the important activities of Khadi Board.

Honey manufactured by the Board has good patronage from the public.
The Board’s Honey processing unit at Amsi in Kanyakumari District is
producing "A" Grade Honey. The raw honey is procured mostly from
Jamunamaruthur in Thiruvannamalai District and Marthandam in
Kanyakumari District. This raw honey is 100% tested before packing for
sales. The Government provides financial support to this Industry by way
of providing grant for supply of bee-hives to the Tribal on hill areas,
Scheduled Castes /Scheduled Tribes under Western Ghats Development
Programmes, Hill Area Development Programme and Integrated Tribal
Development Programme. The income earned by the farmers through bee-
keeping activities is an additional income to their agriculture income.
Honey industry in the country can well become a major foreign exchange
earner if international standards are met. Beekeeping is an age-old tradition
in India but it is considered a no-investment profit giving venture in most
areas. Of late it has been recognised that it has the potential to develop as
a prime agri-horticultural and forest-based industry. Honey production is a
lucrative business and it generates employment. Kanyakumari district in
Tamil Nadu is a pioneer in honey production and the beekeepers depend
solely on the flow season for improving their economic condition.
 SERICULTURE IN TN

For development of Sericulture and Silk industry, Central Silk Board

supports different activities of the State under Catalytic Development
Programme. Financial assistance is provided for planting high yield
mulberry varieties, installation of drip irrigation system, construction of
separate rearing houses, procurement of improved rearing equipments,
establishing chawkie rearing centres, supply of quality disinfectants etc
Coimbatore and Dindigul districts of Tamil Nadu are a part of sericulture.

 AQUACULTURE IN TAMIL NADU

Coastal Aquaculture has been recognized as an important tool for

employment generation and a vital source of food supply for
meeting the food security and nutritional requirements of our
growing population. In the context of increasing food security
in the modern world, fish and fishery products are considered
to be among the safest foods of animal origin. Tamil Nadu is
having the second longest coastline in the country with rich
natural resources in coastal areas for coastal aqua farming. An
area of 6115.68 ha is under coastal aquaculture production,
mainly shrimp aquaculture. In Tamil Nadu, shrimp farming has
grown considerably and has emerged as a major commercial
activity owing to the introduction of Specific Pathogen Free
(SPF)Shrimp- Litopenaeusvannamei. So far, 1,859 shrimp
farms (3,712.02 ha.) and 63 shrimp hatcheries have been
registered under the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA).
Shrimp Farming, Sea Weed Farming,
 Mussel, Clam and Oyster Farming, Pearl Oyster Farming, Marine
Fin Fish Culture, Crabs and Lobsters Farming are a part of
Aquaculture.