Beyond economic motives: Value of indigenous dairy cattle breed for the livestock keepers in India

Gunjan Bhandari; B S  CHANDEL; R  MALHOTRA

doi:10.56093/ijans.v92i5.113190

Authors

Gunjan Bhandari ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001, Haryana, India
B S CHANDEL ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132 001 India
R MALHOTRA ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132 001 India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v92i5.113190

Keywords:

Choice Experiment, Conservation, Cultural Value, Indigenous Cattle, Sahiwal, Total Economic Value

Abstract

Indigenous cattle not only provide milk, dung and draught power but are also a crucial part of India’s ecological
and cultural heritage. Despite this, they are facing threat of extinction. Absence of information regarding their
multiple roles and monetary estimates of the benefits, obstructs the investment for their conservation. Current
study attempts to assess the economic value of different benefits of one of the best indigenous cattle breeds of
India, Sahiwal. Choice experiment was used for collecting primary data from 168 dairy farmers which was then
analyzed using random parameter logit model. ʽCultural valueʼ of Sahiwal occupied the major share (29.93%) of
total economic value followed by ʽindirect use value (21.25%)ʼ and ʽexistence value (18.40%)ʼ. Interestingly, share
of ʽdirect consumptive use valueʼ was comparatively lower. This indicates that any decision on conservation taken
solely on the basis of direct consumptive use value is unlikely to maximize the societal welfare. Development of
specific market for milk and milk products of Sahiwal, promotion of the breed as symbol of peace and unity through
various cultural and heritage parks, and revival of organic farming can incentivize the Sahiwal rearing farmers which
can then supplement the conservation efforts of the government

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