Indian Society for Sheep and Goat

Production and Utilization

INDIAN SOCIETY FOR SHEEP AND GOAT PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION (ISSGPU)

Recommendations

Proceeding and Recommendations of National Seminar on Stress Management in Small Ruminant Production and Product Processing

National Seminar on Stress Management in Small Ruminant Production and Product Processing was organized by Indian Society for Sheep and Goat Production and Utilization (ISSGPU) in collaboration with Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, (CSWRI), Avikanagar and Central Institute for Research on Goats (CIRG), Makhdoom from 29- 31 January 2010 at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur. A total of 205 participants across the country representing ICAR Institutions, Agriculture and Veterinary Universities, NGOs, Sheep and Goat Farmers, Woolen Industries and financial Institutions attended the National Seminar. The deliberations, discussion and presentation were made on various issues viz., Natural calamities and animal management, Nutritional stress and small ruminant production, Environmental stress and small ruminant production and reproduction, Small ruminant breeds and stress tolerance, Biotic and abiotic stress and small ruminant diseases, Transportation and handling stress and meat quality, Stress management in fibre processing and Economics and marketing of small ruminants and products.

Technical Session I: Natural calamities and animal management

Chairman: Dr Khub Singh, Former Director, NIANP, Bangalore
Co- chairman: Dr K.B. Sharma, Professor of Physiology, HPKVV, Palampur
Repporteur: Dr Shreedhar, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Science, Tirupati

Altogether four presentations were made in this technical session. It was felt that technologies and strategies to handle natural calamities like draught, floods, earth quake, landslides, heavy snow fall, heat wave, cyclone etc. needs to be developed as their frequency is likely to increase in near future. Long term studies are required for mitigating enteric methane emission from livestock. Stress indices to assess the climatic effect need to be worked out for different climatic zones and livestock species.

Technical Session II: Stress tolerance and small ruminant breeds

Chairman: Dr N. Kandasamy, Former Dean, College of Veterinary Science, Namakkal
Co- chairman: Dr Kamal Kishore, Former Scientist, ICAR, Kullu
Rapporteur: Dr B.P. Kushwaha, Principal Scientist, IGFRI, Jhansi

In this session a total of 5 research papers were presented. The best way for conservation of important sheep breeds is in situ conservation at farmer’s level. During the discussion Dr. R M Acharya suggested that extensive survey needs to be carried out by NBAGR before suggesting measures to State government for conservation of particular breeds based on their distribution, population, priority and importance. In view of global action plan for conservation and improvement of animal genetic resources, it was suggested that livestock information system having suitable animal identification; performance evaluation and selection criteria should be developed. It was also suggested that there is need of a National Body for performance, evaluation and accreditation for animal genetic resources. Rabbit production for meat and fibre need to be explored in the country.

Technical session III: Stress tolerance and small ruminant breeds

Chairman: Dr B.C. Patnayak, Former Director, CSWRI, Avikanagar
Co-chairman: Dr Saleem Iqbal, Prof and Head, Vety College, Jammu.
Repporteur: Dr V.Sejian, Scientist, CSWRI, Avikanagar

Three lead papers were presented in the technical session and the following recommendations emerged from the presentation. Shelter module should be developed based on specific needs of different rearing system. Further research should be conducted for designing shelter for temperate and tropical environment. In addition, it was suggested to disseminate shelter designs to farmers to protect the small ruminants from vagaries of climate change and improve production. Multiple stress factors influencing sheep production under hot arid/semiarid environment should be studied for understanding the physiological mechanism involved and nutrients required for mitigating the effect of climate change.

Technical sessions IV Nutritional stress and small ruminant production and
                                V Biotic and abiotic stress and animal diseases

Chairman: Dr K.T. Sampath, Director, NIANP, Bangalore
Co-chairman: Dr D.N. Kamra, Principal Scientist, CAS, Animal Nutrition, IVRI, Izatnagar
Rapporteur: Dr Asim Mishra, Principal Scientist, IGFRI, Jhansi
Dr S.K. Dixit, Sr Scientist, CSWRI, Avikanagar

Four lead papers were presented in the technical session and the following recommendations emerged from presentation. Soil-plant-animal interaction needs to be investigated in relation to climate change. Forage production potential in terms of quantity and quality needs special attention for livestock production researchers in relation to changing climatic conditions. Awareness among livestock owners/veterinarians/farmers/entrepreneurs involved in leather/meat/wool industry is to be created about zoonotic diseases/animal borne diseases and research on theses lines need to be strengthened to control spread of diseases. Exploration of alternate methodology need be given due attention in control of helminthic infestation involving gene based technology etc.

Technical Session VI: Transportation and handling stress and meat quality

Chairman: Dr V. Kesava Rao, Prof and Head, RAGACOVAS, Pondichery
Co-chairman: Dr M.K. Agnihotri, Joint Commissioner, Dept of AH, New Delhi
Rapporteur: Dr V. Ezsakkimuttu, Manager, NABARD, Lucknow

Four papers were presented in the technical session covering well-being of animal during transportation, in the market place, before slaughter and also during slaughter which may be given due importance to ameliorate stress and improve meat yield and quality. Organic farming in sheep and goat should be propagated for producing safe and wholesome meat, milk and fibre for domestic consumption, export market and also for better return to farmers.

Technical sessions VII: Economics and marketing of small ruminants and products

Chairman: Professor Sunil Ray, IDS, Jaipur
Co-chairman: Dr M.A. Kirmani, Professor Animal Genetics and Breeding, SKUAST, Srinagar
Rapporteur: Dr A.K. Patel, Principal scientist, CAZRI, Jodhpur

One paper was presented in the technical session. Intervention in wool and live animal marketing in favour of sheep and goat farmers’ is the most important to fetch the remunerative price of the products. It was emphasized that the chain length of intermediaries involved in live animal and wool trading needs to be reduced to provide higher return to the farmers. Government should consider wool and meat as agricultural produce and provide support price structure to render the trade profitable to the poor farmers.

Technical session VIII: Stress management in fibre processing

Chairman: Dr Kushal Sen, Prof. and Head, Department of Textile Technology, IIT, Delhi
Co-chairman: Dr A.R. Trag, Director Research, SKUAST, Srinagar
Rapporteur: Er Ajay Kumar, Scientist (SS), CSWRI, Avikanagar

All together five presentations were made in this technical session. It was felt that government; various research organizations, NGO’s and woolen industries involved in designing and processing of wool should actively collaborate to increase the production of ethnic and conventional products using wool and other specialty fibre. Efforts should be made to promote technical intervention in processing of specialty fibre, engineering of fibre yarn and fabric processing.

Major recommendations emerging from the deliberation and discussions are as follow:
1. Preparedness plan and management practices for handling and protection of animals during and after from vagaries of natural calamities should be developed. Methane emission load to global warming from animal origin should be reduced by manipulating rumen environment, feeding and other approaches. Stress indices for assessing the effect of changing climatic stress need to be worked out for sheep and goats in different climatic zones.
2. In view of global action plan for conservation and improvement of animal genetic resources, small ruminant information system with suitable animal identification, performance evaluation and selection criteria should be developed.
3. Shelter module should be developed for sheep and goats in different climatic zones of the country for mitigating the adverse effect of climatic change.
4. Forage production potential in terms of quantity and quality needs special attention of small ruminant production researchers in relation to changing climatic conditions.
5. Awareness among livestock owners/veterinarians/entrepreneurs involved in leather/meat/ wool industry should be created about zoon tic diseases/animal borne diseases and research on theses lines need to be strengthened to control/spread of diseases to human beings.
6. The well-being practices of animal during transportation, in the market place, before slaughter and also during slaughter should be followed for ameliorating handling stress and improving meat yield and quality.
7. Organic farming in sheep and goat should be propagated for producing safe, quality and wholesome meat, milk and fibre for human consumption and also for better return to farmers.
8. Organized wool and live animal marketing module in favour of sheep and goat farmers’ for fetching the remunerative price of their products should be developed.
9. The efforts of government, NGO’s and various research organizations in processing of wool along with active participation of industries may be developed for production of convention and non-conventional products using wool and other specialty fibre.