Man animal associations have continued since ages before the advent of technological revolution in the west which culminated in the development of motorized transport vehicles of various kinds, it was animals such as horses, donkeys, mules, camels, bulls and yaks etc, who provided mobility to man. In the hilly state of Jammu and Kashmir animals still continue to be an important means of various t
ransports in the treacherous terrains. Besides transportation the clothing, food shelter and even for tolls. The livestock continues to be useful to the people in the state even now. This animal are still the cheapest source of protein and provide may by products like leather, wool, manure and tool, scientific. There are no authentic records available which could throw light on evolution of various breeds of domesticated animals in Jammu and Kashmir State. However some earlier historical account and also the phenotypic characteristic of present generation of State’s livestock suggest that the early settlers of Kashmir Valley had domesticated wild cattle which possessed a small body frame with an overwhelmingly black body coat, dwarf size and small horns and wee primarily used for draught purpose. The Aryans are presumed to have brought with them the animals with white body coat. The other immigrants also brought several breeds of livestock which resulted in the development of non-descript type of cattle. Pathans are considered to have introduced Sindhi Cattle. The ponies and donkeys, Yaks, (in Ladakh) were put to load carrying and as a means of transport. Likewise bulls were put to use in agriculture fields and for pulling the carts. The livestock products like wool skins, hides, milk and manure were found to be useful and hence added to the value of livestock. History of organized dairy farming in Kashmir is relatively not an old one. In the pre-partition era a cattle farm was established at Shalteng near Srinagar which maintained Sindhi and some local cows and bulls. It was setup following the recommendation made by the Royal Commission for Agriculture (1927) appointed under the Chairmanship of Lords Linlithgow, who later became viceroy. The Maharaja of Kashmir also established a Civil Veterinary Department in 1987 with two livestock inspectors one posted in Kashmir and the other in Jammu. The Veterinary Department primarily established to provide Veterinary care for mules and Horses of the Maharaja Cavalry was also charged with the responsibility of enforcing prevention of Cruelty to Animals. And the main objective of the Department was to treat ailing animal particularly those used for transportation purposes. A private farm with some imported cows and bulls of Ayershire breed was established at Cheshmashahi for Maharaja’s personal use. The Male calves born at the farm were auctioned and city gawalas (milk men) purchased the same for breeding purposes. Lady Linda popularly called Meera Behan, a close associate of Gandhiji established a dairy farm at Gowbal, a place near Kangan, with the objective of educated the people about various managemental aspects of dairy farming. It is thus evident that Veterinary services were introduced in the state as early a Ist quarter of 19th century. With the Advancement of British influence in the State Royal society prevention of injuries and cruelties to the animals was established which induced the state administration to established treatment centers. As a result of this some Veterinary Dispensaries came into existence in the last decade of the century and the Veterinary Department started functioning as a component of Agriculture Department under two inspectors one at Srinagar and the other for Jammu province separately with Director, Agriculture as head of the Department. During 1920-1930 there were 12 dispensaries in all and out these 6 were named as ‘road dispensaries” and were located in Jehlum valley road and Banihal cart road for treatment of transport animals and for detection of glanders as a precautionary measure to prevent entry of the disease into the state from Punjab. During this period Mr. Taylor, Principal Lahore Veterinary College was invited to advice the state Government in the matter of establishing the Veterinary Department on a permanent basis to cater to needs of the farmers whose livestock needed protection and treatment against number of disease. Under his expert advice the Veterinary Department was established and given under the control of a Veterinarian Designated as Superintendent. The first officer was from Lahore and was appointed as superintendent after his retirement from services at Lahore. The dispensaries increased in number every year and few bulls (Sindha), horses and donkeys stallion were stationed at some important towns for improvement of local breed of these species. All these institution were manned by qualified personnel from outside the state numbering about a dozen. During the second decade of the 20th century some local youth were deputed to Lahore Veterinary Collage to qualify as trained Vets. These people on their retuned were absorbed in the Department. Subsequently more candidates were deputed for training to different collages, most of them going to Lahore, Bombay and Madras Veterinary Collage. Simultaneously the activities in different spheres of animal health breeding and veterinary education were expanded. A foreign qualified Veterinarian (MRCVS) took over the control of the Department during 1933-34 as Superintendent Veterinary Department brought subordinate to the state Development Minister directly. During thirties of the last century the Department expanded progressively and the need to protect the livestock wealth of the state increased substantially as the scourge of contagious disease was causing concern. The State secured membership in the then Imperial Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) as a result of which two Clinical Laboratories came into existence. Vaccines for control of various disease started pouring into the state for immunization of the livestock against most of the contagious disease inducing Rinderpest, Hemorrhagic-Septicemia, Anthrax Black quarter and Rabies. In 1940 a centre for the manufacture of goat Tissue Vaccine ( Rinderpest Control Vaccine ) was also established under the disease Investigation centre Besides a number of Dispensaries having been were established nearly in almost all major towns for rendering adequate treatment to livestock and various controlling contagious disease. During the colonial rule, as was with the rest of the Sub continent, the state of Jammu and Kashmir too witnessed regression in Animal Husbandry, Agriculture and allied sectors. Majority of the livestock were of non-descript and inferior quality. The production of animal was significantly less. Livestock products like Milk, Eggs, Meat and By-Products were available only to very rich people. The infrastructure with the Department was quite archaic and in a sense the Animal Husbandry sector was the most neglected one. The manpower available had hardly any formal training in the Veterinary Science. The quack practice was rampant and so was mortality amongst the animal population. Disease like Anthrax Black Quarter Hemorrhagic septicemia Rinderpest (Cattle Plague) used to take a heavy toll of Livestock. The paucity of animal produce like Milk, egg and meat rich source of proteins carbohydrates lipids and minerals affected general health of the people which result in their lower output and low disease resistance. Proteins and calorie malnutrition affected more than 75% people and life of span was just in the range of forties. TOWARDS WHITE REVOLUTION, DEVELOPMENT IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
The Jammu and Kashmir was one of the least developed states in the century in 1947. Its backwardness was reflected in mass poverty, deprivation, hunger, disease and ignorance. The annual per capita income in 1951 was Rs.208/- (at 1960-61 prices). The literacy was just 5%. The Agriculture economy was stagnant. Industrial development was almost negligible. Infrastructural bottlenecks were many which accentuated the poverty syndrome. The programmes for reconstruction of the state economy were articulated by the emerging political leadership from 1944. The Naya Kashmir programme envisaged institutional and agrarian restructuring so that the productive force could be unleashed from the shackles of landlordism and decks cleared for economic growth and development. The policies that aimed at establishment of a socialist order in the society for the promotion of the welfare of people were, set forth in the directive principles of the state constituting. “The development in a planned manner (of) the production forces of the country with a view to enriching the material and culture life of the people, the organization and development of “Agriculture and Animal Husbandry “by brining to the aid of cultivators the benefits of modern scientific research and techniques son as to ensure speedy improvement in the standard of living as also the prosperity of rural masses”. In the post 1947 period strong emphasis was paid on the development of Animal Husbandry Agriculture and allied sectors to give a fillip to the economy of the peasantry. The Civil Veterinary Department got transformed into Animal Husbandry Department to ensure overall improvement in the livestock of the state. Ever since independence the Department of Animal Husbandry has been actively working for improving the cattle wealth of the state. Prior to “Economic Planning” the activities of the Department were confined to treatment of ailing animals for which few Veterinary Hospitals and dispensaries were set up in important towns of the State. With the implementation of the 1st Five Year Plan the Department started cattle breeding farms, one at Cheshmashahi, Kashmir and second at Belicharana, Jammu with the aim of producing breeding bulls to be stationed at hospital and dispensaries for up-gradation of local cattle. The number of hospital and dispensaries was also increased to provide Veterinary aid to livestock on more convenient terms. In 1954 “breeding by artificial means” was introduced for the first time in the state. Two Artificial Insemination Centers, one each at Srinagar and Jammu were established. Ghulam Hassan and Kulwant Singh respectively manned the Srinagar and Jammu and Kashmir centre. They were thus the pioneers of Artificial Breeding of Cattle in the State. During the 1st Five Year Plan a start in the Cattle development programme was made with the implementation of “Key Village” and “Feed Cattle development programme scheme” in the state. This was based on the principal of improved breeding, balanced feeding, scientific management and prompt disease control. During 2nd Five Year Plan the key village scheme (KVS) got further expanded and natural service (matting) was replaced with artificial insemination (AI) using semen from Red Sindhi bulls. However, the Sindhi breed introduced under the key village scheme for upgradation of local cattle failed to gain popularity with the farmers as its performance was not at all impressive. Another Scheme known as Hill Cattle Development Scheme for hilly regions was started in 1964. It almost was a replica of key village Scheme. However, under the scheme Jersey rather than Red Sindhi Breed was used for up-gradation of local cattle. During the year 1967-68 the need for taking a large compact area under cattle development programme was felt and accordingly a start was given by setting up to two Intensive Cattle Development Project (ICDP) in the milk shed areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Each ICDP comprised of 4 Regional Cattle Development (RCD) blocks and each RCD block covered 25 Centers. Besides dealing with cattle Development programme the Scheme also provided for dairy extension and fodder development works. The first Jersey calf born through Artificial Insemination was axed to death at Budgam, Anantnag since at the time Jersey breed was presumed by farmers to be a cross breed between pig and cow. A society overwhelmingly illiterate ignorant and superstitious posed a serious challenge to the egress workers out there simply to help the society out of centuries of economic morass. Castration of scrub bulls, an essential component of intensive cattle development programme (ICD), most of times invited the wrath of ignorant villages for the villagers for the Department personnel. There were occasions when police help was sought to carry on the programme. Thanks to livestock improvement Act, intervention by police was possible. The dedicated personnel of the Department overcoming all odds, succeeded in making a break through in the cattle development. The ICDP continued to be operational through the 4th Five year Plan and got strengthened and extended to more uncovered areas. During the 6th Five Year Plan in 1980 two frozen semen Banks, one each at Jammu and Srinagar, were established with the assistance of Danish International Development Agency. Under this programme equipments required for production and processing of Frozen Semen Banks have made it possible to extend A.I. Facilities even to facilities to mountainous areas including those which remain cut off during winter.
