Livestock in Sri Lanka: Difference between revisions

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In Sri Lanka many farmers depend on animal husbandry for their livelihood, but not a large proportion. Therefore, many livestock products have to be imported. The main livestock products in Sri Lanka are milk, meat and eggs. Hides, wools and other products are still not produce within the country. Animal power is discarded from the cultivation of rice and vegetables due to introducation of modern technology to farm lands. However animal husbandry plays an important role in the rural economy for improve the living conditions of farmers in the country.

The land area of Sri Lanka is 65,610 km². and of this, 30% belongs to agricultural activities. From that 30%, 70% are solely devoted to crop production. The remaining consists of a mixture of crops and livestock. Hence, a very small proportion of the farm land is solely devoted to livestock production. In Sri Lanka, livestock sector contributes around 1.2% of national GDP. Livestock are spread throughout all regions of Sri Lanka with concentrations of certain farming systems in particular areas due to cultural, market and agro climatic reasons. According to statistics from the Department of Animal Production and Health, there are about 1.3 million cattle, 0.3 million buffalo, 0.4 million goats, 13 million poultry and 0.08 million pigs in the country with negligible number of sheep, ducks and other animal breeds.^[1]

Consumption of meat and dairy products

The per capita consumption of milk and dairy products in Sri Lanka (about 36 kg) is less, compare to other countries in South Asian region. Since 1980's Sri Lanka import dry milk powder as their main dairy commodity from Australia and New Zealand up to now.

Main dairy/meat products

A very few types of dairy products are locally processed by a few companies as well as house hold producers in the country. The most leading product among them is yoghurt and hundreds of trade names are available to buy it. Other main dairy products are ice cream, curd, ghee, liquid milk (pasteurized and flavoured), cheese and some sweets.

Meat (except chicken) is not much popular among the nation due to Buddhist culture and its influences. There is much demand for raw meat (mainly chicken) though, processed meat products (sausages, baken, ham, etc.) are also available in the market.

Livestock Breeds

Domestic breeds are rarely used as a livestock breed in Sri Lanka. Large portion of livestock breeds are cross or introduced breeds. Because local breeds have poor productive ability and improper quality of milk and meet.

Cattle

There are few breeds of dairy cattle used for milk production. The selection of a cattle breed largely depends on the bio-climatic condition in the region. European breeds are recommended for upcountry wet and intermediate zones, while Indian breeds are recommended for low country dry and intermediate zones. There are also cross breeds for the low country wet zone.

Cattle breeds for up country

Cattle breeds for low country

Sindhi
Sahiwal
Tharparkar (cattle)
AMZ ( Australian Milking Zebu )
AFS ( Australian Frisian x Sahiwal )
Domestic breeds (Kindly note that domestic is not a breed or breeds but the opposite of "wild", "untamed". If it refers to other breeds found locally then the term most be "Indigenous" or "native" "local".)

With the exception of a few breeds, most of the dairy breeds can be utilized in most bio-climatic areas providing that the level of management is high and the availability of quality fodder is well planned. The Australian Frisian x Sahiwal has not met the expectations of a tropical dairy breed.

Cattle breeds for Mid country

Cattle Breeding

The main cattle breeding method is using Artificial Insemination (AI), It covers approximately 60% and Natural Breeding using improved breeds of stud bulls are practiced in remeote areas and it covers approximately 25%. Aritificial Insemination (AI) is being practiced using Locally produced Semen and limited number of Imported Semen.

There are two AI Stations available in Sri Lanka, namely Central Artificial Insemination Station (CAIS) situated in Kundasale, in Kandy district and Artificial Insemination Station situated at Kaduruwela, Polonnaruwa.

Buffalo Breeds

Water buffaloes are reared for draught and milk production. Local buffaloes produce low milk yield and in the rural sector they mainly kept for power in rice cultivation to plough and harrow the fields. Introduced Indian breeds are mainly kept for milk production and for cross breeding with local buffaloes for upgrading. Large portion of water buffalo milk is used for curd and ghee production. Water buffalo meat is not very popular within Sri Lanka and is legally banned for slaughter.

Niliravi
Murrah
Surti
Domestic buffalo

Goat Breeds available in Sri Lanka

Saanen- for milk production
Jamnapari - for meat and milk
Crosses of Jamnapari & Saanen - for meat and milk
Boer (imported from Malaysia) - for meat
Nondiscript local crossbreds (local breed) - meat
Crosses of Jamnapari,Saanen x Local breed - meat

Goat Breeding Farms

Thelahera Goat Breeding Farm in Kurunegala District, Imbulandanda Goat Breeding Farm in Matale district of Department of Animal Production & Health (DAP&H).

Breed - Jamnapari, (Original herd imported from India in year 1997 by ministry of Livestock and Rural Industrial Development.)

Bopatahlawa Farm in Nuwara Eliya district and Mahaberiyatenna Farm in Kandy district of The National Livestock Development Board (NLDB).

Breed - Saanen (Original herd Imported from The Netherlands)

Other Goat breeds previously available in Sri Lanka

Kottukachchi - for meat
Beetal - for milk and meat
German Boer - meat
Sri Lanka Boer (German Boer X Kottukachchiya / Jamnapari) - meat
German fawn - milk and meat

Sheep breeds

Jaffna Local
Bikenary
Bannur
Red Madras
Dorset

All above breeds are kept for meat. Present the few insignificant number found are all crossbreds.

Previously Operated Goat & Sheep Breeding Farms

Kottukachchiya Farm - DAP&H, SRL / GTZ Goat Development Project. - Goat Breeding

Boralanda Farm - DAP&H - Sheep Breeding

Pig breeds

local landrace / "mini pigs" - extensively managed / Scavenging

Exotic Breeds raised about 40 years ago

Berkshire
Yorkshire
Large Black
Blue Pigs

Present day Exotic breeds

References

^ "Livestock Statistics (Sri Lanka)". http://www.daph.gov.lk. Retrieved 2009-07-11. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help) ^{[dead link]}

[1] "Livestock Statistics (Sri Lanka)". http://www.daph.gov.lk. Retrieved 2009-07-11. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help) ^{[dead link]}

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@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 ===Main dairy/meat products===
-A very few types of dairy products are domestically processed by a few companies as well as house hold manner in the country. The most leading product within that is yoghurt and hundreds of trade names are available to buy it.  Other main dairy products are ice cream, curd, ghee, liquid milk (pasteurized and flavoured), cheese and some sweets.
+A very few types of dairy products are locally processed by a few companies as well as house hold producers in the country. The most leading product among them is yoghurt and hundreds of trade names are available to buy it.  Other main dairy products are ice cream, curd, ghee, liquid milk (pasteurized and flavoured), cheese and some sweets.
-Meat is not much popular among the nation due to Buddhist culture and its influences. There is much demand for raw meat (mainly chicken) though, processed meat products (sausages, baken, ham, etc.) are also available in the market.
+Meat (except chicken) is not much popular among the nation due to Buddhist culture and its influences. There is much demand for raw meat (mainly chicken) though, processed meat products (sausages, baken, ham, etc.) are also available in the market.
 ==Livestock Breeds==