Livestock Breeding for Disease Resistance: A Perspective Review Gogoi Ankita*, Das Bula1, Chabukdhara Prasanta2, Phookan Arundhati1, Phangchopi Donna Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Joyhing, North Lakhimpur-787 051, Assam, India. 1Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara-781 022, Guwahati, Assam, India. 2Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Joyhing, North Lakhimpur-787 051, Assam, India. *Corresponding Author: Ankita Gogoi, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Joyhing, North Lakhimpur-787 051, Assam, India. Email: ankita.gogoi@aau.ac.in
Online published on 15 April, 2022. Abstract Livestock plays a momentous role in a country's economy especially in a developing nation like India, where livelihoods of about 20.5 million people depend upon livestock and its allied sectors, suggesting that about two-third of the rural community is involved (Annual Report, 2018). The small ruminants like sheep and goat provide main source of income for many economically poor people, especially marginal and landless farmers. Similarly the role of these livestock to various pastoral communities cannot be ignored. So whenever there is a disease outbreak, the burden of huge economic loss falls on these poor livestock keepers. The traditional methods of disease management involve either treatment with antibiotics or vaccination for prevention of diseases. However, the indiscriminate use of these antibiotics has lead to antibiotic-resistant pathogens and likewise it is extremely difficult to develop vaccines against a wide range of pathogens that are frequently mutating and are caused by multi etiological factors. Hence, considering all these factors breeding of disease resistant animals becomes a top priority in this changing world. The literature is filled with references of indigenous animals and poultry being resistant to many diseases. Keeping this in view, the current review has been written to highlight sustainable and feasible methods for breeding them for disease resistance. Top Keywords Breeding, Disease, Indigenous, Livestock, Resistance. Top |