Animal Husbandry

Indigenous cattle breeds: Gir (Gujarat — high milk fat), Sahiwal (Punjab/Haryana — best Indian dairy breed, 2,000–3,000 L/lactation), Tharparkar (Rajasthan — dual purpose), Red Sindhi (Sindh — 1,600–2,200 L/lactation), Kankrej (Gujarat — draught + dairy). Exotic breeds: Holstein Friesian (HF) — highest milk yield (6,000–8,000 L/lactation, 3.5% fat), Jersey — highest fat% (5.0–6.0%), smallest exotic dairy breed. Buffalo breeds: Murrah (Haryana/UP — best dairy buffalo, 1,800–2,500 L/lactation, 7–7.5% fat), Surti, Mehsana, Nili-Ravi, Jaffarabadi.

FSSAI milk fat standards: Buffalo milk ≥ 6% fat; Cow milk ≥ 3.5% fat; Toned milk ≥ 3% fat (SNF ≥ 8.5%); Double-toned milk ≥ 1.5% fat; Standardized milk ≥ 4.5% fat; Full cream milk ≥ 6% fat. Breed fat %: Jersey cow 5.0–6.0% (highest among cattle), HF cow 3.5%, Sahiwal cow 5.0%, Murrah buffalo 7.0–7.5% (highest practical fat%), Gir cow 4.5–5.0%. Buffalo milk has higher fat, SNF, and protein than cow milk — making it preferred for ghee and paneer.

Layers are reared for egg production: start laying at 18–20 weeks of age, peak production at 28–32 weeks, commercial life 72–80 weeks. Standard layer productivity: 280–320 eggs/bird/year. Feed consumption: ~120–125 g/bird/day. Popular layer breeds: Leghorn (White), BV-300, H&N Nick Chick. Broilers are reared for meat: reach market weight (2.0–2.5 kg) in 5–6 weeks on ~3.5–4.0 kg feed (FCR 1.8–2.0). Popular broiler breeds: Cobb 400, Ross 308. Broiler farming has faster capital turnover; layer farming has longer asset life.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) was launched in 2014 under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) to conserve and develop indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds. Key components: Gokul Gram (integrated cattle development centres), e-pashu haat (online cattle trading portal), national bovine genomic centre, and bull mother farms. Budget: ₹2,400 crore (2021–26). It aims to enhance milk production through genetic improvement while conserving endangered desi breeds.

Cattle viral diseases: Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) — most economically important, 7 serotypes (O, A, C, SAT 1, SAT 2, SAT 3, Asia 1); Rinderpest — declared eradicated globally in 2011; Brucellosis — zoonotic (transmitted to humans via raw milk). Bacterial: Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis), Blackquarter/Black leg (Clostridium chauvoei). Poultry: Ranikhet Disease (Newcastle Disease) — most important poultry disease in India; Avian Influenza (H5N1 — zoonotic); Marek's Disease (Herpesvirus). All these are direct exam topics for disease name, causative agent, and zoonotic status.

Operation Flood (1970–1996) was the world's largest dairy development programme, implemented by NDDB (National Dairy Development Board) under Dr. Verghese Kurien — the 'Father of the White Revolution' in India. It transformed India from a milk-deficient country into the world's largest milk producer. Three phases: Phase I (1970–81): linked rural milk producers to urban markets via cooperatives; Phase II (1981–85): expanded cooperative network; Phase III (1985–96): self-sustaining cooperative dairy system. Result: India's milk production rose from 20 MT (1970) to 55 MT (1996).