Executive Summary and Major Recommendations:

1. India’s livestock sector is one of the largest in the world. It has 56.7% of world’s buffaloes, 12.5% cattle, 20.4% small ruminants, 2.4% camel, 1.4% equine, 1.5% pigs and 3.1% poultry. In 2010-11, livestock generated outputs worth Rs 2075 billion (at 2004-05 prices) which comprised 4% of the GDP and 26% of the agricultural GDP. The total output worth was higher than the value of food grains.
2. Demand for animal food products is responsive to income changes and is expected to increase in the future. Between 1991-92 and 2008-09, India’s per capita income grew at an annual rate of 4.8%, and its urban population at a rate of 2.5%. These trends are likely to continue. By the end of the 12^th Plan, demand for milk is expected to increase to 141 million tons and for meat, eggs, and fish together to15.8 million tons. The global market for animal products is expanding fast and is an opportunity for India to improve its participation in the global market.
3. The livestock sector grew at an annual rate of 5.3% during the 1980s, 3.9% during the 1990s, and 3.6% during the 2000s. Despite the deceleration, growth