Animal Husbandry in Bihar | BPSC Preparation: All subjects - BPSC (Bihar) PDF Download

Animal Husbandry in Bihar

Animal husbandry involves the management and breeding of animals for various purposes, including milk, meat, and other products. Bihar has a significant population of livestock, which is crucial for the state's economy and rural livelihoods. According to the Livestock Census 2012, Bihar has a total livestock population of 329.39 lakh. This includes various animals such as cows, buffaloes, horses, ponies, sheep, bulls, fish, donkeys, and poultry.

Livestock in Bihar is used for different purposes, including:

• Milk and meat production
• Agricultural practices
• Draught animals for transport, tillage, and irrigation

Economic Contribution

• Approximately 35% of rural families in Bihar own livestock.
• The livestock sector contributed 5.3% to the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in 2017-18.

Dairy Farming

Major Dairy Centres

• Patna, Begusarai, and Muzaffarpur are important dairy centres in Bihar.

Milk Production Sources

• Cows : 58.9% of total milk production
• Buffaloes : 38.7%
• Goats : 2.4%

Districts with High Milk Production

• Cow Milk Production : Samastipur, Patna, and Begusarai
• Goat Milk Production : Araria, East Champaran, and Muzaffarpur

Government Initiatives

• The Livestock Development Agency has been established by the state government to promote animal husbandry.

Poultry Farming in Bihar

Overview

• Poultry farming in Bihar focuses on the production of meat and eggs.
• The industry is primarily located in districts such as Kishanganj, Katihar, Muzaffarpur, and Araria.

Current State

• Bihar has over 2000 poultry farming centres.
• However, the industry faces challenges such as high costs of medicines, financial constraints, lack of training, and inadequate power supply.

Breeding Facilities

• There are four poultry breeding farms in the state, located in Patna, Muzaffarpur, Purnea, and Kishanganj.

Fisheries in Bihar

Leading Producers

• Madhubani, East Champaran, and Darbhanga are the top fish-producing districts in Bihar.

Common Fish Varieties

• Rohu, Katla, Bhakhur, and Magur are the important fish varieties produced in the state.

Economic Contribution

• According to the Economic Survey 2018-19, fisheries contribute 1.53% to the state’s GSDP.

Government Initiatives

• Since 1975, the Bihar Government has been promoting fisheries development through fish farming techniques and fish egg production.
• There are 121 government fish seed farms and 10 private hatcheries in operation to meet the demand for fish seeds.

Government Efforts in Animal Husbandry

Health and Breeding Programs

• The state government implements various schemes for the medical treatment, vaccination, sterilisation, and artificial insemination of animals.
• The Bihar Animal Breeding Policy 2011 guides the artificial insemination protocols.

Livestock Improvement Initiatives

• The Sonepur Animal Fair, the largest animal fair in the world, is held annually to promote livestock growth.
• The Animal Breed Improvement scheme under the Dairy Development Programme aims to enhance the breed of milch animals.

Dairy Development

• Dairies at an industrial level have been established in districts such as Patna, Muzaffarpur, Barauni, Bhagalpur, Munger, and Darbhanga.
• The Bihar State Milk Cooperative Federation (COMFED) plays a crucial role in the dairy industry’s growth.

Fisheries Development Support

• The government provides subsidies for establishing fish feed mills, constructing fish seed hatcheries, renovating ponds, and distributing vehicles for fish marketing.