Livestock development
Improved animal productivity through better breeding, feeding and healthcare practices, enhancing milk production and farmer incomes.
Livestock & allied activities
Promoting livestock development and allied activities for diversified income sources across rural Tamil Nadu.
6,033
Animals treated, five reported years
7,650
Trained in husbandry, 2013–14
1,202
Milch animals distributed
6
Districts in the 2013–14 dairy programme
Understanding
What livestock & allied activities mean
What are livestock & allied activities?
Livestock & allied activities encompass the breeding, rearing and management of domesticated animals — including dairy farming, animal husbandry, veterinary services and value-added processing.
Our approach focuses on improving animal productivity, enhancing veterinary care, establishing dairy enterprises and developing market linkages for livestock products — sustainable management practices that ensure animal welfare and economic viability. Our annual reports record 6,033 animals treated across the years animal health work was reported, and 1,202 milch animals distributed.
The work integrates quality breeding stock, modern animal husbandry techniques, feed production units and value chains for milk, eggs and meat products. In 2013–14 alone, 7,650 people were trained in husbandry — 2,476 farm women in scientific cow rearing, 1,775 farm women and 1,226 rural youth in goat rearing, and 935 marginal farmers, 782 landless women and 456 rural youth in backyard poultry.
- Dairy development
- Veterinary services
- Feed & fodder
- Value addition
Why this work matters
The challenge on the ground — and our answer
The challenge
One crop, one fragile income
When a family depends on crop farming alone, a single failed season can take the whole year's income with it.
Our response
Daily income from livestock
Dairy, poultry and goat rearing provide steady cash flow through daily milk sales, egg production and periodic sale of animals — the reports record milch animals provided to 30 women farmers under RMK in 2008–09 and 50 more on loan in Kadavur block in 2009–10.
The challenge
Disease drains a family's biggest asset
Without healthcare and vaccination, livestock — often a rural household's most valuable asset — is lost to preventable disease.
Our response
Veterinary care and vaccination
Veterinary services, vaccination programs, health monitoring and preventive treatment keep herds healthy — 4,660 animals were screened and treated in 29 watersheds of Karur, Tiruchirappalli and Sivagangai districts in 2004–05 alone, and 6,033 across all the years animal health work was reported.
The challenge
Husbandry skills that limit productivity
Without training in modern animal care, feeding and breeding, milk yields and farmer incomes stay low.
Our response
Technical training at scale
7,650 farmers, women and rural youth trained in dairy, goat and poultry husbandry in 2013–14, across 24 goat-rearing and 50 poultry trainings in Dindigul, Karur, Tirunelveli and Salem.
The challenge
Few income opportunities for rural women
Rural women often lack independent income sources of their own within farming households.
Our response
Dairy entrepreneurship for women
Through the RMK and Mahalir Thittam projects, women build dairy enterprises with entrepreneurship training, milk collection systems and market linkages.
At a glance
The essentials
- Active since
- 2004Animal health campaigns from 2004–05; livestock and allied projects still running in 2024–25
- Coverage
- 6 districtsDindigul, Karur, Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Salem and Vellore in the 2013–14 dairy programme
- Scheme partnerships
- RMK, Mahalir Thittam, PMKVY & NSDCNational and state schemes behind our projects
- Project portfolio
- 4 projectsDairy, skilling and animal welfare, 2009–2025
- Most recent delivery
- Goshala (cow care center)Animal welfare at Velliyani, Karur district — still running in the 2024–25 report
- Delivery model
- Training-led & enterprise-focusedHusbandry training, veterinary care, market linkages
Track record
Project portfolio, 2009–2025
| Programme | Period | Type | Highlights | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) project | 2009–2015 | National scheme | 50 milch animals on loan to 50 women in Kadavur block, Karur (2009–10) | Completed |
| Mahalir Thittam project | 2009–2015 | State programme | Dairy entrepreneurship for rural women | Completed |
| Skill development through PMKVY & NSDC (dairy & apparel) | 2014–2016 | Training programme | 539 dairy farmers under PMKVY (2014–15) and 560 under NSDC, of whom 461 were certified (2015–16) | Completed |
| Goshala (cow care center) | 2021–2025 | Key activity | 32 rescued stray cows at Velliyani, Karur; 400–450 litres of milk a day | Ongoing |
Impact
What livestock & allied activities change
Dairy enterprise
Established sustainable dairy businesses through entrepreneurship training, milk collection systems and market linkage development.
Skill enhancement
Provided technical training in dairy farming, animal husbandry and livestock management to 7,650 farmers, women and rural youth in 2013–14 alone.
Animal welfare
Promoted animal welfare through goshala management, veterinary care and humane treatment practices.
Get involved
Support livestock development
Join us in promoting sustainable livestock development that provides regular income, nutritional security and economic empowerment to rural families. Your support helps farmers adopt modern animal husbandry practices and build profitable livestock enterprises.