Sheep husbandry under changing climate scenario in India: An overview

Abstract

In agriculture and animal production, controlling and decreasing emission of harmful gases has become important for environmental protection. India possesses the largest livestock population in the world and although emission rate per animal is much lower than the developed countries, due to huge livestock population, the total annual methane emission is about 9–10 Tg from enteric fermentation and animal wastes. Sheep husbandry is a source of livelihood and economic sustenance among poor farmers of dry plain, mountain, and hilly regions of the country. India has 42 established sheep breeds with more in process of evaluation and characterization. In the present scenario of climate change, sheep husbandry in the country is expected to undergo dramatic changes. The frequent drought and famine situations and continuous declining of grazing resources both in terms of quality and quantity could be the reasons for decline of sheep in certain states as compared to others. Impact of climate change on sheep husbandry is visualized as changes in breed composition, population and distribution, feed and fodder scarcity, shrinkage of grazing land, spread of diseases, market trend for wool and meat, reproductive and productive disorders, poor performances, consumer demand etc. Hence while aiming at sustainable sheep production, it is imperative to concentrate on reducing the effects of climate change. The mitigation strategies can be grouped under 3 genetic, managemental and nutritional strategies. Given that sheep production system is sensitive to climate change and at the same time itself a contributor to the phenomenon, climate change has the potential to be an increasingly formidable challenge to the development of sheep sector in India.