Dynamics of Livestock Sector in Bihar : A Temporal Analysis

Bihar state spread over 9.36 million hectares land. It covers 2.8 percent landmass, supports about 8 percent of human population and 5.4 percent of livestock of India. The importance of livestock sector in state’s economy can be understood by the fact that it contributed more than 45 percent to state agricultural GDP which is much higher than the contribution of this sector at national level (Gross National Agriculture Production) which stands at 27 percent. In Bihar, breed replacement rate has been slow mainly due to collapse of Public Artificial Insemination Centres. A private organization namely Patna Animal Development Limited came into existence in mid-eighties but operating mainly around Patna in the field of A.I and animal health. COMPFED is also providing AI and animal health services to members of Dairy Co-operative societies. BAIF and J.K. Trust are also operating in Bihar but in limited area. Despite Public and private efforts in A.I. and animal health, about 50 percent of breedable bovine could come under AI system and remaining 50 percent bovine is still served by natural breeding. Hence, there is a need to revive public AI centres and promote private organization to establish A.I. and animal health centres in Bihar. Quacks still dominate in field of animal health in Bihar and some of them are providing emergency services to dairy farmers