ECONOMIC VALUATION OF INDIGENOUS DAIRY CATTLE BREEDS- A CASE OF SAHIWAL IN INDIA
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Date
2020
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL
Abstract
Due to continuous emphasis on raising the milk production and market failure to account for
other benefits of indigenous breeds, our cattle biodiversity are under severe threats which
calls for their valuation and designing of suitable strategies. Current study attempts to
standardize the methodology for valuation of indigenous dairy cattle breeds which is then
used to assess the economic value of Sahiwal breed which is one of the best indigenous cattle
breed of India but is still facing threat of extinction in its own homeland. Cost of conservation
was also estimated for the breed. Primary data was collected from 84 Sahiwal rearing and 84
crossbred rearing farmers spread over prominent breeding tract of Sahiwal in India.
Preliminary information required for construction of profiles was collected from experts and
secondary information was collected from ABRC, NDRI and from companies dealing with
reproduction technologies. Garrett’s ranking technique, conjoint analysis, choice modelling,
dichotomous choice CVM and cost analysis were applied to the collected data. Valuation of
genetic traits of an indigenous dairy cattle breed comprised of following steps- compilation of
attributes, identification of attributes, inclusion of monetary attributes, deciding the levels of
attribute, generation of animal profiles, schedule designing, implementation of survey, data
analysis and valuation while valuation of non-market benefits comprised of identification of
attributes, classification of attributes, selection of attributes, inclusion of monetary attribute,
deciding the levels of attributes, designing the choice sets, schedule designing, survey
implementation, data analysis and valuation. High disease resistance and low milk yield were
respectively the most important positive and negative attributes of the Sahiwal. Direct nonconsumptive
use value of Sahiwal occupied the major share of total economic value followed
by indirect use value and existence value. Farmers in Sri Ganganagar and Fazilka assigned
more value to the Sahiwal breed. Thus, more conservation efforts can be directed to these
areas. Subsidy on purchase price, higher price for milk and ensured availability of pure breed
figured out as the most essential requirement for rearing Sahiwal cattle. Total cost per
conception in Sahiwal through use of cryopreserved semen was found to be Rs. 193.26. For
encouraging the crossbred rearing farmers to rear Sahiwal an additional expenditure of Rs.
19,075 per animal per year is required. At present only 8 per cent of total value of Sahiwal is
being allocated for its conservation in the three states which varies from 0.15 per cent in
Rajasthan to 13.73 per cent in Haryana. On an average, at least around 10 per cent of total
value of the breed in each state can be allocated for its conservation.