Sahiwal - a policy pointer in Indian context.

In livestock sub sector the existing policies in place, have exclusively focused on high yield with adoption of modern technologies and establishment of large commercial units to increase the production and productivity of the breeds. Cross breeding native cattle breeds with exotic high yielding breeds mainly Holstein Friesian and Jersey, which has been the most preferred way to increase milk yield, led to the depletion of several indigenous breeds and also pushed some to extinction. This gets evident from the dwindling numbers of indigenous breeds in the country. The policies for conservation of indigenous breed mainly refer to the identification of utility genes and breeds and utilizing them for breeding and research; such a conservation effort being directed towards individual breed overlooks the ecosystem or the small and marginal farmers or the herders and pastoralists who nurture them and depend on them for livelihood. The emphasis on high yielding exotic breeds has also escalated the maintenance cost for cattle rearing with increased uncertainties. This has mainly impacted the small and marginal farmers, the herders and pastoralists who cannot afford such high maintenance cost, led to the disruption or break in the humanlivestock- nature interaction or the crop - livestock system. This article draws an example of Sahiwal- a priced milch cattle, whose numbers are declining in the country, to argue the need for a breeding policy to protect the breed and also the interests of the small and marginal farmers and herders and pastoral community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]