Tackling the future challenges of Organic Animal Husbandry - vTI

RAHMANN G & GODINHO D (Ed.) (2012): Tackling the Future Challenges of Organic Animal Husbandry.
Proceedings of the 2 nd OAHC, Hamburg/Trenthorst, Germany, Sep 12-14, 2012
market, milk is turned into ghee (clarified butter) and sold. Entire operations in the whole process
are organic by default.
E. Manipuri and Mizoram Buffaloes
The buffaloes in these adjoining states are reared for draught and meat purpose. During the cropping
season, buffaloes are kept in and around villages. During the agriculturally lean season,
buffaloes are taken to the nearby jungle where they stay on grazing in the open for 3-6 months. There
is no use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides in agricultural or animal-husbandry operations and
the entire production system is organic.
Comparative scenario for Breeds vs. Defined-populations of livestock
Comparative study can be made for any of the species of livestock. For instance, cattle in India has
34 defined breeds and another 31 defined populations (not defined as breeds). The breed animals (e.
g. Sahiwal, Gir, Ongole) produce higher amount of milk and have been subject to intensive management.
Intensive or industrial management makes higher demands on production levels which is
achievable only by providing higher input levels. This leads to higher requirement of feed/fodder
which in turn attracts chemical fertilizers to meet the demand. Management levels are raised to
maintain the high producing animals with the inevitable help of veterinary medicines for animals
and the pesticides for fodder crops. Unless efforts are sustained in favour of ‘following-theorganic’,
it is difficult to maintain husbandry practices in organic manner.
In comparison to the high producing breeds, the ‘defined populations’ generally tend to follow the
organic system as there is no relevance to using chemicals to boost production. In many a case, the
use of veterinary medicines is denied in place of herbal and ethno-veterinary practices and the organic
system gets maintained.
Discussion
Many countries (especially the developing, and the ones in transition) are attempting to define the
hitherto undefined livestock populations by increasing documentation and infusing some conservation
schemes in order to save the breeds from loss or extinction. This is a positive step so far as
saving the dwindling breeds is concerned and systematically supported by FAO as well. Care is
however needed, in altering the very utilization of such breeds. Increased exposition and increased
pressure on utilization is likely to vitiate their organic being. Additional attention is needed to save
the organic nature of defined populations which are a better bet to continue as organic. There is a
need to pay higher attention to maintaining the organic nature of the strains of livestock.
Suggestions to tackle the future challenges of organic animal husbandry
In the developing countries, the strains of livestock are the promising sites where organic animal
husbandry is practiced in a natural way. Increased attention and planned efforts are warranted for
such population groups for retaining and sustaining their organic nature.
References
BPUMS (2010). “The Biocultural Community Protocol of the Maldharis of Banni”. Banni Pashu Uchherak
Maldhari Sanghathan (Banni Breeders’ Association) in collaboration with Natural Justice, South Africa.
Sahjeevan, Bhuj, Kachchh. [http:// www.sahjeevan.org/]
Mishra, B. P., Prakash, B., Kataria, R. S., Sadana, D. K., Kathiravan, P., Das, G. C. Goswami, R. N., Joshi,
B. K., Bhasin, V., Rasool, T. J. and Bujarbaruah, K. M. (2010)
Genetic diversity analysis and cytogenetic profiling of Assamese buffaloes from North-East India. Indian
Journal of Animal Science 80 (2): 142-147
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