Breeds and breeding strategies for sustainable and organic production from livestock and poultry

One major input to organic production from livestock is the choice of the breed or strain of livestock. Local strains (not defined as a breed yet), in general, are more amenable to organic production as these do not depend on support from external resources and are, by default, more sustainable as well. In addition to organic production of milk and meat, the by-products like dung and urine are superior as organic bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticide for the soil to produce organic forage and feeds. Recent attempts at surveying the local breeds and strains of livestock in India revealed the presence of undisturbed organic production systems which are continuing and have the innate capacity to sustain by themselves e.g. Banni buffalo and Nan cattle. While transition of conventional system to organic is under active consideration, a planned support is also needed for maintenance/continuation of the organic production systems represented by livestock strains notably in the developing countries.