Report of the Working Group on Leather and Leather Goods Industry for the Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-2007) Volume II [Annexures]

Abstract

India has vast resources of livestock comprising of variety of meat animals such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goat, pigs and poultry. Effective utilisation of livestock resources is essential for sustainable animal production. Livestock products play a pivotal role in improving the livelihood of large number of people by providing food products and by products for human utility. Animal protein consumption per day in India is 9.5 gms as compared to the world average of 24.8 gms. Cattle, buffaloes, sheep, pigs are major meat animals in India apart from poultry. Slaughter of animals and their effective utilisation assist in sustaining healthy animal production. India has about 19% of the total cattle and buffalo population of the world, the latter being more than half of the world’s buffalo population but the contribution to the world’s meat production is only 0.7%. India contributes 6.2% to the world’s chevon and mutton production. Livestock population of different species is increasing at the current rate of slaughter and mortality.