Animal Husbandry and Dairying activities continue to be integral part of human life. As a sequel to the age old practices and dependence of population on livestock, Himachal Pradesh is endowed with the large livestock population. According to 2003 Census, total livestock population of H.P. is 50.46 lakh which include 21.96 lakh cattle, 7.73 lakh buffaloes, 9.06 lakh sheep, 11.15 lakh goats and 0.17 lakh horses and ponies. Poultry population of the State is 7.64 lakh.

When Himachal Pradesh came into existence, it had only 9 Veterinary Hospitals and only indigenous animals were being reared. In 1948 separate Animal Husbandry Department came into being and programmes for increased milk production and breed improvement were taken in hand in a big way to meet the day to day requirement of increasing human population and to boost the rural economy. In 1951 up grading programme of cows was started under the All India Key Village Scheme and two key village centres at Kotgarh and Solan were started, where Red Sindhi bulls were located for cross-breeding programme. The impact of this programme was quite encouraging but the coverage was very limited. Subsequently, artificial insemination was started in 1954-55 by transporting Jersey Semen by air from Banglore to Himachal Pradesh. During this period, new cattle Breeding farm was started at Kothipura in Bilaspur district and Jersey animals received from Denmark were maintained at this farm where their performance was quite encouraging. The real break through in the cattle breeding programme was achieved with the implementation of the Indo-New Zealand Livestock Improvement Project under which 175 pure Jersey animals were brought from New Zealand in 1974, which formed the nucleus foundation stock of jersey herd at Palampur in the University campus. Apart from this, the Frozen Semen Laboratory was also established in collaboration with the New Zealand Government and another with the assistance of the West Germany Government at Bhangrotu , District Mandi during 1974. Both these Laboratories acted as a pace setter for intensifying the A.I. programme in the State.

STAFF POSITION OF THE DEPARTMENT