Livestock farming in the Uttarakhand Himalaya, India: use pattern and potentiality.

This article aims to examine the use pattern and potentiality of livestock farming in the Uttarakhand Himalaya, India. We collected and compared data on livestock population and production in 13 districts of Uttarakhand (2001–14) and noted that number of milching livestock, improved hen and milk production increased during the period. Meanwhile, population of sheep, goat, lamb and indigenous hen has decreased. The study reveals that livestock farming, including cattle, milching animals, goat and sheep has high potential in livelihood sustainability. Similarly, dairy farming has a prominent role in economic development as it shares 69.1% gross income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]