Module 1: Animal Husbandry in Bihar
Concept
Subtopic 1.1: Importance of Livestock
- Livestock is vital to Bihar's economy because its traditional farming is basically animal-based.
- Animals are used for ploughing, carrying goods, irrigation, threshing (dauni) and for dung (manure) that raises soil fertility.
- Livestock also provides milk, meat and wool.
- Bihar's livestock includes cows, bullocks, buffaloes, horses, mules, pigs, donkeys, sheep, goats and poultry (hens and ducks).
- Bihar's traditional farming system is basically based on animals.
- Animals are used for ploughing, carrying goods, irrigation, threshing and dung manure.
- Poultry (kukkut) means hens and ducks.
- Question: Why does livestock hold an important place in Bihar's economy? Answer: Traditional farming is basically animal-based.
- Question: Which of these is NOT listed as a farm use of animals? Answer: Spraying pesticides.
- Question: Which birds make up 'kukkut' (poultry) in Bihar's livestock list? Answer: Hens and ducks.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 1: Why does livestock hold an important place in Bihar's economy?
Question 2: Which of these is NOT listed as a farm use of animals?
Question 3: Which birds make up 'kukkut' (poultry) in Bihar's livestock list?
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Why does livestock hold an important place in Bihar's economy?
Traditional farming is basically animal-based.Which of these is NOT listed as a farm use of animals?
Spraying pesticides.Which birds make up 'kukkut' (poultry) in Bihar's livestock list?
Hens and ducks.Concept
Subtopic 1.2: Livestock Density and Milch Animals
- Bihar has one animal per 30 persons, against the national average of one per 20 persons.
- In villages there is on average one cow or bullock per 5 persons.
- Livestock density is very high in Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Madhubani and Purnia.
- The buffalo is commercially more important than the cow because it gives more and fattier milk; 60% of the state's milk comes from buffaloes.
- Cows are important milch animals, found mainly in plains Bihar.
- Bihar has one animal per 30 persons; India averages one per 20.
- 60% of the state's milk comes from buffaloes, which give more and fattier milk.
- On average one cow or bullock is kept per 5 persons in villages.
- Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Madhubani and Purnia have very high livestock density.
- Question: How many persons per animal does Bihar have, compared with India? Answer: 1 per 30 (India 1 per 20).
- Question: What share of Bihar's milk comes from buffaloes? Answer: 60%.
- Question: In Bihar's villages, there is on average one cow/bullock per how many persons? Answer: 5.
- Question: Which group of districts has very high livestock density? Answer: Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Purnia.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 1: How many persons per animal does Bihar have, compared with India?
Question 2: What share of Bihar's milk comes from buffaloes?
Question 3: In Bihar's villages, there is on average one cow/bullock per how many persons?
Question 4: Which group of districts has very high livestock density?
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
How many persons per animal does Bihar have, compared with India?
1 per 30 (India 1 per 20).What share of Bihar's milk comes from buffaloes?
60%.In Bihar's villages, there is on average one cow/bullock per how many persons?
5.Which group of districts has very high livestock density?
Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Purnia.Concept
Subtopic 1.3: Small Animals, Poultry and the 2007 Census
- Current position (20th Livestock Census, 2019): Bihar has 3.65 crore livestock (up 10.67% from 2012; 5th in India): cattle 1.54 crore, buffaloes 77.2 lakh, goats 1.28 crore, sheep 2.1 lakh, pigs 3.4 lakh; poultry 1.65 crore. The 2007 figures are given below.
- Small four-legged animals such as goats, sheep and pigs are also important; goats and sheep give milk, meat and leather.
- As per the 2007 livestock census, Bihar has 416.13 lakh livestock, of which 39.8% are milch animals: cows 124.01 lakh, buffaloes 66.98 lakh, goats 101.69 lakh and hens & ducks 114.14 lakh.
- Sheep are animals of dry climates that live on fodder; they are found in districts near the southern plateau such as Rohtas, Gaya and Nalanda.
- Native pigs are reared mainly by Harijans (especially the Dom caste) and Musahars; hen and duck rearing is common everywhere.
- These are found mainly in Purnia, Kishanganj, Katihar, Araria and Patna. Bihar has more than 2,000 poultry centres.
- 3.65 crore (36,540,820).
- Cattle 1.54 crore, then goats 1.28 crore.
- Total livestock was 416.13 lakh, of which 39.8% were milch animals.
- Cows were the most numerous at 124.01 lakh (poultry 114.14, goats 101.69, buffaloes 66.98 lakh).
- 39.8% of the livestock are milch animals.
- Sheep are dry-climate animals found near the southern plateau, e.g. Rohtas, Gaya and Nalanda.
- More than two thousand poultry centres have been set up.
- Question: Total livestock in Bihar as per the 20th Livestock Census (2019): Answer: 3.65 crore.
- Question: Which animal is most numerous in Bihar (20th Livestock Census)? Answer: Cattle.
- Question: What was Bihar's total livestock as per the 2007 census? Answer: 416.13 lakh.
- Question: As per the 2007 census, which animals were the most numerous in Bihar? Answer: Cows.
- Question: What percentage of Bihar's livestock are milch animals (2007)? Answer: 39.8%.
- Question: Sheep are found especially in which districts? Answer: Rohtas, Gaya, Nalanda.
- Question: How many poultry centres have been set up in Bihar? Answer: More than 2,000.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 1: Total livestock in Bihar as per the 20th Livestock Census (2019):
Question 2: Which animal is most numerous in Bihar (20th Livestock Census)?
Question 3: What was Bihar's total livestock as per the 2007 census?
Question 4: As per the 2007 census, which animals were the most numerous in Bihar?
Question 5: What percentage of Bihar's livestock are milch animals (2007)?
Question 6: Sheep are found especially in which districts?
Question 7: How many poultry centres have been set up in Bihar?
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Total livestock in Bihar as per the 20th Livestock Census (2019):
3.65 crore.Which animal is most numerous in Bihar (20th Livestock Census)?
Cattle.What was Bihar's total livestock as per the 2007 census?
416.13 lakh.As per the 2007 census, which animals were the most numerous in Bihar?
Cows.What percentage of Bihar's livestock are milch animals (2007)?
39.8%.Sheep are found especially in which districts?
Rohtas, Gaya, Nalanda.How many poultry centres have been set up in Bihar?
More than 2,000.Concept
Subtopic 1.4: Government Programmes for Animal Husbandry
- Current position (Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2025): in 2024-25 Bihar produced 134 lakh t of milk (+4.2%, 6th in India), 378 crore eggs (+10%, 1st in growth rate) and 4.2 lakh t of meat. Milk availability is 285 g/person/day against the national 485 g. COMFED markets milk under the Sudha brand.
- The Bihar Livestock Development Agency (BLDA) has been formed.
- At Nalanda, a milk processing plant of 5 lakh litres/day and a milk powder plant of 30 MT/day are being set up.
- 100 pathological laboratories are being set up at the sub-division level.
- Fodder block plants are being set up under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.
- 4 poultry breeding farms (for low-input-technology birds) are being set up at Patna, Muzaffarpur, Kishanganj and Purnia.
- About 134 lakh tonnes (6th in India).
- Egg production (about 10%).
- Both plants are being set up at Nalanda.
- BLDA is the Bihar Livestock Development Agency.
- 100 pathological laboratories are being set up.
- Fodder block plants come under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.
- The poultry breeding farms are at Patna, Muzaffarpur, Kishanganj and Purnia.
- Question: Bihar's milk production in 2024-25 was about: Answer: 134 lakh t.
- Question: In 2024-25 Bihar ranked first in India in the growth rate of: Answer: Egg production.
- Question: Where are the 5 lakh litre/day milk processing plant and 30 MT/day milk powder plant being set up? Answer: Nalanda.
- Question: What does BLDA stand for? Answer: Bihar Livestock Development Agency.
- Question: How many pathological laboratories are being set up at the sub-division level? Answer: 100.
- Question: Under which scheme are fodder block plants being set up? Answer: Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.
- Question: At which places are the 4 poultry breeding farms being set up? Answer: Patna, Muzaffarpur, Kishanganj, Purnia.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 1: Bihar's milk production in 2024-25 was about:
Question 2: In 2024-25 Bihar ranked first in India in the growth rate of:
Question 3: Where are the 5 lakh litre/day milk processing plant and 30 MT/day milk powder plant being set up?
Question 4: What does BLDA stand for?
Question 5: How many pathological laboratories are being set up at the sub-division level?
Question 6: Under which scheme are fodder block plants being set up?
Question 7: At which places are the 4 poultry breeding farms being set up?
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Bihar's milk production in 2024-25 was about:
134 lakh t.In 2024-25 Bihar ranked first in India in the growth rate of:
Egg production.Where are the 5 lakh litre/day milk processing plant and 30 MT/day milk powder plant being set up?
Nalanda.What does BLDA stand for?
Bihar Livestock Development Agency.How many pathological laboratories are being set up at the sub-division level?
100.Under which scheme are fodder block plants being set up?
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.At which places are the 4 poultry breeding farms being set up?
Patna, Muzaffarpur, Kishanganj, Purnia.