Priority Areas of Livestock Sector for Strengthening
Food & Nutrition Security in Nepal
Tek B Gurung and Bimal K Nirmal
Nepal Agricultural Research Council
ILRI workshop on transforming livelihoods in South Asia through sustainable livestock research and
development
Kathmandu, Nepal, 13-14 November 2018

To give an overview on status and priorities of livestock sector
Objectives
2

Longitude: 850 E, Latitude:
270 N Lowest Altitude: 64
m
Total Area: 1,47,181 sq km
Nepal : Altitude & Animal Breeds Distribution
Mt. Everest 8848 m
TERAI
SIWALIK
HIMALAYA
ALPINE
SUB
ALPINE
COOL
TEMP-
ERATE
SUB
TROPIC
AL
Upper limit of
grazing
Upper limit of Yak,
Chauri, Sheep,
Horse
( Holstein-Friesian,
Jersey
Lulu, Achhami &
other cattle, goat,
sheep, poultry
birds
Holstein-Friesian,
Jersey
Parkote, Lime,
Murrah, Poultry, Pig
5000
4000
3000
1000
2000
HIGH
MOUNTAIN
WARM
TEMP-
ERATE
ARCTIC
MIDDLE
MOUNTAIN
Holstein-Friesian,
Jersey, Murrah, goat,
sheep, pig poultry
Meter
China
India
Population : 29.73 million (2018), 36 million by 2050.

• Per capita income 1000US$
• Livestock contributing ~11% to NGDP
(MoLD 2017).
• Population growth rate 1.13% (2016)
• Population in Agriculture 65.6%
• Without livestock small farmers
cannot sustain
• ~10-20% of livestock farmers may be
commercial
• The highest ratio of livestock to
humans in Asia (5.8 heads of livestock &
poultry/ household).
• Cattle - as sacred animal
• Goat, poultry & pig- sacrificed in
ceremonies.
Livestock sector in Nepal
4

5
Malnutrition in Nepal
Source: https://www.wfp.org/countries/nepal/overview
• ~36% of children suffer from stunting,
• ~10% from wasting,
• ~ 53% from anemia,
• ~ 41% of women of reproductive age suffer from anemia,
• ~ 17% from long term energy deficiencies (source : http://www.nnfsp.gov.np/)
• Malnutrition slows economic growth and perpetuate for poverty
through direct losses in productivity (World Bank 2017).
• GDP lost due to malnutrition can be reach as high as 2-3%.
• The GoN targets to reduce the rate of stunting from 36 to 24% by
the year 2025 and to 14% by 2030.

Cow
Buffalo
Cow
Buffalo

Challenges & Priorities : Livestock Sector
• Import substitution is the
great challenge.
• Despite of high number of
animals, poor genetics,
nutrition, value chain,
health and small holdings
etc. causing low
productivity.
• Climate change impacting
feed availability, animal
health and reproduction.
7
3
8
13
18
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
AnnualAveMinTemp
(oC)
Year
Min. temp trend in 3 Eco Zones
Mountain min Hill min Terai min
16
21
26
31
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
AnnualAve.Max.Tem(0C)
Year
Max Temp Trend in 3 Eco-Zones
Mountain Max Hill Max Terai Max
Source : NASRI (2014)

• 58 directives by Hon. Minister
• Self sufficiency in egg, meat &
milk production
• Genetic improvement by:
• Doubling the improved breeds
by 2020.
• Promotion of AI activities
• Prioritizing frozen semen
production of improved breed
• Value chain promotion
• Emphasis on pasture based
livestock development
• 4 mission programs, forage,
goat, pig & pork
• DCIP, BGIP Collaboration (DLS &
NARC)
Priorities
5 Pillars of Breeding Policy

Livestock Research in NARC
• National Cattle Res. Program
• National Buffalo Res. Program
• Mountain Agriculture Research
Institute
• Pasture & Fodder Res. Station,
Rasuwa
• Goat Res. Station, Bandipur
• Sheep & Goat Res. Program
• Swine and Poultry Res. Program
• Animal Breeding Division
• Animal Nutrition Division
• Pasture & Forage Division
• Animal Health Res. Division
• Fisheries Res. Division
RARS Tarahara
• Swine Unit,
• Poultry Unit,
• Pasture Unit
ARS. Pakhribas, Dhankuta
• Goat, Swine, Poultry, Rabbit
RARS Parwanipur
• Poultry Unit
RARS Lumle
• Sheep, Goat, Rabbit,
RARS Nepalgunj
• Goat, Sheep, Pasture
RARS, Doti
• Cattle
• 11 Cost Centers
• 8 Research Units

26 native breeds identified, contributing high; but
neglected; thus conservation & promotion required
Cattle (7) : Lulu, Siri, Acchami,
Pahadi, Terai, Khaila, Yak
Buffalo (4): Gaddi, Lime, Parkote,
Terai
Goat (4): Terai, Khari, Sinhal,
Chyangra
Sheep (4) : Lampuchhre, Kage,
Baruwal, Bhyanglung
Pig (4) : Chwanche, Hurrah,
Bampudke, Bandel (wild)
Chicken (3): Saakini, Ghanti
Khuile, Pwankh Ulte

Ex- & in-Situ Conservation of Lulu Cattle
11
Highest milk yield : 3.7 L /d
Photo: Bhola Shrestha (ABRD)
Kathmandu Manang District

Documentation of Native Farm Animal Genetic Characters
Molecular level genetic diversity of native animal breeds
Source: ABRD
No food security without seed & breed security

Frozen semen for conservation

Saanen
Boer
Goat Genetic Improvement Program

Using CIDR (progesterone) and Folligon
(PMSG) hormone female goat after
synchronization the conceiving rate
reached up to 55%.
AI Technology in Goat

Ex-situ Conservation of Bampudke
pig
Bampudke pig in far west/mid west
Photo: Bhola Shrestha (ABRD)
Local Pig Breed Improvement
75% wild boar cross

Use of fresh semen for AI in pigs
Use of fresh semen in pigs of
farmers achieved 84% success rate
performed in 115 pigs.

Black Colored Pig Development
18
Photo: ABRD
After Pakhribas Black Pig, Now (Duroc x Nagpuri) crossed black pig

Poultry Breed Improvement

Sakini Bax (GR+Sa) (GR+Sa)xNH
(BA+Sa)xGR (NH+Sa)xGR NHx(GR+Sa)
Development of Dual Purpose Poultry
20Photo: Bhola Shrestha (ABRD)

21
Technological package of Turkey & Quail

677
827 866
Per day BW gain, in gm
Formula A
Maize flour – 41%
Rice - 20%
Mustard Cake - 25%
Min Mix – 1%
Molasses – 10
Urea – 2%
Salt – 1%
- Feed - 25% (Formula A)
- Green Grass - 55%
- Rice straw 20%
528
A B C D

Baseline Data on Zoonotic Diseases
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
brucella
bluetongue
toxoplasmosis
cysticercosis
leptosiporisis
LPAI
disease
mountains
hills
terai
Frequency
23Photo: AHRD

Rye Grass Dhunche Oat Amritdhara
Berseem Green Gold Oat Nandini
Recently Released Forage Crop (May 24th, 2015)
24Photo: Kishor Shrestha (PFRD)
(Potential milk, meat, wool, production has been masked due to insufficient fodders & pasture)

Forage Varieties in Pipeline for Registration
(2015)
Cocksfoot-Rasuwa
Oat-Swan
Teosenti-sirsa Berseem-Mescavi 25
Photo: Kishor Shrestha (PFRD)

Forage Varieties in Pipeline for Registration
(2015)
Cocksfoot-Rasuwa
Oat-Swan
Teosenti-sirsa Berseem-Mescavi 26
Photo: Kishor Shrestha (PFRD)

• Oat, Berseem, Vetch & Saftal (Winter: Dec-Mar)
• Teosenti, sorghum, Sudan, cowpea (Summer: Apr-Sep)
• Napier, Setaria, Dinanath, Para, Rhodes, Mulato, Peanut, Stylo
(Perennial: July- Feb)
Year-round Fodder Production Technological
Model (Season Based)
(Winter) (Summer) (Perennial)
27
Photo: Kishor Shrestha (PFRD)

Agro-forestry Models (Farming Based)
Banana alley crop model Silvi pastureHorti pasture
Agri silvi pastureTerraces Risers
28
Photo: Kishor Shrestha (PFRD)

Oat
Wheat
Maize
Hydroponic forage (maize) for
piglets feeding trial
Hydroponic fodder production

Sugarcane Silage & Baggase – for
Ruminant
- Sugarcane tops silage -
with 1 % urea (31%
increased in milk
production)
- Sugarcane baggase silage –
with 1-2 % urea + 0.5%
mineral mixture .
- Dry period feeding
in ruminant).
30
Photo: ANRD

Climate Resilient Technologies
Urea Molasses Mineral Block
(UMMB) reduces CH4 Gas in the
Rumen by > 2 times (7 Vs. 17%)
31
Photo: ANRD
Total Mix Ration (TMR) Technology
• Integrated TMR block enhanced 15%
of milk production
• For TMR block 17% Maize flakes
• Rice bran 10%
• Soya powder 15%
• Grass 35%
• Straw 20%
• Lime 1%
• Salt 2%

• Modernization of R&D facilities along with quality human
resources.
• Urgent need to formulate a national livestock policy.
• So that Nepal can sustainably increase livestock
productivity and production by diversification,
commercialization and conservation etc.
• An ILRI office in Nepal could help in achieving Nepal’
livestock sectors priorities.
Conclusion

Thanks
For further questions : tek_fisheries@hotmail.com