ANIMAL
HUSBANDRY
Cattle,
buffaloes, yak, sheep, goats, pigs, mules and ponies are the
important domestic animals of Sikkim. Poultry birds are also domesticated
in different parts of the state. Buffaloes and cattle are mainly limited to
the tropical humid belt and temperate zone. In the higher cold areas,
Yak is the important animal. Government of Sikkim has established
a separate department of animal husbandry. During the
first three plans the animal husbandry department formulated a
scheme to meet the increasing demand for meat and dairy products, poultry birds and eggs.
Veterinary health services were made available in
villages and like farmers, those interested in animal breeding
and poultry farming were trained at different stations in India. Exotic breeds of sheep that thrive well under the vagaries of
climatic conditions prevailing in Sikkim were introduced in the state.
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