Vol. 11, Special Issue 6 (2022)

Author(s):
Indrajit Kumar, Ravindra Kumar, Sushil Prasad, Mukesh Kumar, AK Pandey, Gloria Tigga and Sunil Oraon

Abstract:
Animal husbandry, agriculture and allied activities have been the core livelihood for majority of the rural people since time immemorial. It provides productive employment, especially self-employment and the most valuable supplementary income to a vast majority of rural households, majority of who are small and marginal farmers and landless labourers. Livestock provide increased economic stability to the poor masses. They act as cash buffer in case of small stock and as captive reserve in case of larger stock. Livestock provide quality animal protein to human population in the form of milk, eggs, meat and value-added products. They provide draught power for agricultural operations, organic manure for agriculture and raw materials like skin, hides, blood, bone, hoof, horn, etc. for various industries. The present study was carried out on local non-descript cattle native to Ranchi district of Jharkhand. Three villages from each block were randomly selected. All the animals under study were Desi cattle reared by the local population in the study areas. A total 90 Household rearing Desi cattle of different age group were selected and interviewed. Data related to physical production, management practices like housing, feeding, economics and major constraints of Desi cattle rearing will be collected. To describe the Physical Characteristics (such as – Coat colour, Skin Colour, Muzzle Colour, Eyelid Colour, Hoof Colour, Switch Colour) including body conformation (such as - Hump size, Ear size, Face length) of the Desi cattle of Ranchi district of Jharkhand. To evaluate the body measurements like chest Girth, Body length and height at wither of the Desi cattle of Jharkhand.