Livestock growth and major production systems in different agro-climatic zones of Rajasthan

Abstract

Population size ofbuffalo and goat registered positive growth rate whereas that ofcattle and sheep recorded negative growth rate during the period of 1983 to 2003. The population growth rate of crossbred cattle is very high. The rainfall had positive influence on the density of buffalo and cattle and negative influence on the sheep. The small ruminant densities positively depend on the percentage ofarea under permanent pastures and other grazing land. The composition of livestock reared by farmers depend on the agroclimatic conditions especially aridity with bovines representation high in less arid zones and small ruminant representation high in more arid zones. The small ruminants occupy predominant position with landless farmers, shrink its position for other farming categories, but again come to dominant position with large farmers. The combination of large and small ruminants is the dominant livestock rearing systenl. The livestock density is higher in lower landholders.