Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University

Dr. V.P. Singh

India has largest livestock resources in the world and contributed 16% to the income of small farm households as against an average of 14% for all rural households and provides livelihood to two-third of rural community. It also provides employment to about 8.8 % of the population in India. Livestock income has become an important secondary source of income for rural families and has assumed an important role in achieving the goal of “doubling farmers income”. Bundelkhand region faces enormous problems due to parched landscape and uncertain environment. Districts belonging to Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh had more livestock (nearly 56%) as compared to its Madhya Pradesh districts (44%). Dairying in Bundelkhand region continues to play a central role in providing livelihood security and coping mechanism to mitigate risks of the resource poor farmers. However, the development of this key sector has not progressed to the desired extent in comparison to other regions. In Bundelkhand region, nondescript indigenous cattle of very low productivity accounts for major cattle population followed by buffalo population in the region. Crossbred cattle accounts for a negligible population as against the national average of about 15%. Bundelkhand’s cattle population seems to be a liability rather than an asset due to presence of low yielding animals.
To meet the national as well as ever growing population of Bundelkhand region for animal products, concerted efforts in terms of better health, feed and fodder availability and proper breeding management are required to exploit this sector maximally. Efforts are to be made to conserve and perpetuate our valuable indigenous germplasm, which are adaptable to adverse climatic conditions and resistant to various endemic diseases. With this background, the college of veterinary & animal sciences has been established in Datia in Madhya Pradesh and is situated at Noner about 15 km from Datia along the Shivpuri highway in 200 acres of land under Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi to meet the needs of quality education, research, extension and training in the field of veterinary and animal sciences.