INDIGENOUS HERDING SYSTEM IN NEPAL
IN
DIGENOUS HERDING SYSTEM IN NEPAL
Background
Herding system is governed by factors such as cropping intensity , availability and proximity of forest resources animal species and productive stage, labor availability and animal population per household. Livestock rearing in the area depends upon the overall farming system of the area. The farming systems at different altitude are dependent upon temperature, irrigation, and other interrelated factor and will vary. In general three systems are predominant.
a) Transhumance System: This system is adapted in the high Himalayan area where the herds of animals migrate from one place to another throughout the year. This system utilizes the forage resources from the alpine pastures during monsoon and crop stubble of the fallow land during the winter. During the upward and downward migration, the undergrowth in the forest region is the major forage source. The ruminant animals involved in the systems are the Yak, Sheep, goat, buffaloes and cattle but in some area buffaloes are also included.
b) Sedentary System: Ruminant livestock make daily grazing and return every evening in cattle shed. The main grazing area during the summer is the scrubland and community grazing area around the village and in the winter is fallow farmland . The sedentary population consists of working oxen, dry buffaloes and small number of cattle.
c) Stall Feeding: This type of rearing is found mostly in the area with intensive cultivation and availability of crop residue are abundantly in addition to tree leaves and other grass and weeds are available. Mostly the high value animals like milking buffaloes and exotic or cross breed animals are kept under this system.
DIGENOUS HERDING SYSTEM IN NEPALBackground
Herding system is governed by factors such as cropping intensity , availability and proximity of forest resources animal species and productive stage, labor availability and animal population per household. Livestock rearing in the area depends upon the overall farming system of the area. The farming systems at different altitude are dependent upon temperature, irrigation, and other interrelated factor and will vary. In general three systems are predominant.
a) Transhumance System: This system is adapted in the high Himalayan area where the herds of animals migrate from one place to another throughout the year. This system utilizes the forage resources from the alpine pastures during monsoon and crop stubble of the fallow land during the winter. During the upward and downward migration, the undergrowth in the forest region is the major forage source. The ruminant animals involved in the systems are the Yak, Sheep, goat, buffaloes and cattle but in some area buffaloes are also included.
b) Sedentary System: Ruminant livestock make daily grazing and return every evening in cattle shed. The main grazing area during the summer is the scrubland and community grazing area around the village and in the winter is fallow farmland . The sedentary population consists of working oxen, dry buffaloes and small number of cattle.
c) Stall Feeding: This type of rearing is found mostly in the area with intensive cultivation and availability of crop residue are abundantly in addition to tree leaves and other grass and weeds are available. Mostly the high value animals like milking buffaloes and exotic or cross breed animals are kept under this system.
Constraints of this system
a) Excessive population depending on limited Natural resources: Although livestock raising is an integral part of farming system in Nepal, it requires considerable labor but the return from enterprises is minimal. It can be considered that livestock raising in the hills sustained the crop productivity and livelihood of the farmer, but at the expense of the environment, and unless other alternatives are identified it will continued to do so in the future.
b)Severe Forage deficit: The availability of feed and fodder for livestock, especially during the winter and early summer is the major constraint on livestock productivity in all the existing systems.
c) Diseases and their effects: A high incidence of disease and parasitism is also an important factor reducing the productivity of the existing management systems and is further aggravated by poor nutrition. Many major diseases and parasites of livestock are endemic to Nepal, there are many more yet to be diagnosed.
d) Poor productivity Potential of Indigenous Animals: Milk production potential of the native cattle and buffaloes are very low. The long calving interval and the late sexual maturity makes these animals more uneconomical. However native breeds of goats have better production performance than exotic breed. But the sheep produces very poor quality wool unsuitable for export quality carpets.
e) Poor Marketing Structure: There is no organized marketing system for livestock, or livestock by-product in Nepal, so they do not realize a remunerative price. Although there are few weekly 'hat bazaar' in some parts of Terai but in most of the case the farmers are compelled to sell the animals without competition and the market situations are controlled by middleman.
a) Excessive population depending on limited Natural resources: Although livestock raising is an integral part of farming system in Nepal, it requires considerable labor but the return from enterprises is minimal. It can be considered that livestock raising in the hills sustained the crop productivity and livelihood of the farmer, but at the expense of the environment, and unless other alternatives are identified it will continued to do so in the future.
b)Severe Forage deficit: The availability of feed and fodder for livestock, especially during the winter and early summer is the major constraint on livestock productivity in all the existing systems.
c) Diseases and their effects: A high incidence of disease and parasitism is also an important factor reducing the productivity of the existing management systems and is further aggravated by poor nutrition. Many major diseases and parasites of livestock are endemic to Nepal, there are many more yet to be diagnosed.
d) Poor productivity Potential of Indigenous Animals: Milk production potential of the native cattle and buffaloes are very low. The long calving interval and the late sexual maturity makes these animals more uneconomical. However native breeds of goats have better production performance than exotic breed. But the sheep produces very poor quality wool unsuitable for export quality carpets.
e) Poor Marketing Structure: There is no organized marketing system for livestock, or livestock by-product in Nepal, so they do not realize a remunerative price. Although there are few weekly 'hat bazaar' in some parts of Terai but in most of the case the farmers are compelled to sell the animals without competition and the market situations are controlled by middleman.
nice one. it is informative.thanks