- In India’s drought-prone arid zones, rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall are increasingly compromising livestock productivity and health.
- A recent study highlights that indigenous livestock breeds are better suited to meet these challenges, as they have evolved over generations to thrive in these climatic conditions.
- Research efforts are now directed towards identifying the genetic markers that contribute to these resilience traits.
Climate change poses a significant threat to agriculture and livestock worldwide, particularly in India’s arid regions. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and frequent extreme weather are forcing the livestock industry to adapt for survival and growth. Efforts to enhance livestock resilience to climate change are underway worldwide, including developing heat-resistant cattle in the U.K., promoting traditional pastoralism in Spain, and introducing cactus pear fodder and farmer training in India.
Meanwhile, a recent study in the Journal of Livestock Biodiversity has found that India’s indigenous livestock breeds are better suited to meet these challenges, as they have evolved over generations to live in tough climatic conditions.
“Rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall are increasingly compromising livestock productivity and health,” says Ved Prakash, senior scientist at ICAR-National Research Centre on Camel in Bikaner, Rajasthan, and co-author of the review. “Extreme heat reduces forage growth and disrupts animal physiology, leading to declines in feed intake, milk yield, and fertility rates. Heat stress complicates estrous cycles in females and lowers semen quality in males, while climate variability increases disease risk, potentially triggering severe food shortages in resource-limited areas.”
To withstand these challenges, livestock must develop climate resilience — the capacity to endure and adapt to extreme conditions like intense heat and drought, for which they must possess the relevant physiological, behavioural, and genetic traits.
Adapted for resilience
In India, arid zones, covering roughly 12% of the country’s land area and spanning regions such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Karnataka, experience annual rainfall as low as 100 to 500 millimetres, with temperatures ranging from 1°C to 48°C, the study states. India’s indigenous cattle, sheep, goats, and camels have adapted over generations to live in these demanding climates.
For example, Zebu cattle, widely found in these regions, possess unique heat tolerance traits. “They have a lighter body density and larger surface area, helping them withstand high temperatures. This breed’s heat tolerance is also linked to genetic traits, such as the HSF1 gene, which boosts immunity and metabolic control under stress. Other hardy breeds, like Tharparkar and Ongole cattle, are adept at efficient foraging, water retention, and disease resistance,” says Prakash.
Similarly, the Marwari, Jaisalmeri, Deccani and Chokla sheep are known for their endurance in arid zones. They can travel long distances in search of sparse vegetation, showcasing impressive resilience to heat and food scarcity. Indigenous goats, another staple livestock species in these regions, have developed efficient thermo-regulatory mechanisms that allow them to withstand extreme temperatures. Camel breeds, such as the Jaisalmeri camel, well-known for its long, thin legs and lean body, are adept at moving across hot, sandy terrains with minimal water intake. Such adaptations enable indigenous livestock to not just survive but to thrive in challenging environments.
Impact on rural communities
Livestock systems play a critical role in rural economies, providing a source of income, food, and agricultural services, like manure for soil fertility. Extreme weather events, including prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall, disrupt these systems, often leading to reduced livestock productivity, feed scarcity, and outbreaks of animal diseases.
Climate-resilient livestock not only reduce vulnerability to these shocks but also contribute to food security. “For instance, cattle breeds such as the Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, and Gir, which are known for their heat tolerance and milk production, offer reliable sources of nutrition for rural families. The same holds true for the Banni buffalo, a breed adapted to nocturnal grazing that maximises available vegetation in sparse landscapes,” says Kishan Singh, who runs a dairy farm near Bhuj. Similarly, Kachchhi, Jaisalmeri, and Mewari camels are invaluable assets to the arid economy, particularly for communities that rely on them for transportation and milk.
The livestock sector is both a contributor to and a potential mitigator of climate change. Livestock production accounts for significant greenhouse gas emissions, primarily methane, which is released during enteric fermentation in ruminants. However, resilient livestock can mitigate these emissions by requiring less feed and water for the same levels of productivity, as well as contributing to sustainable practices like soil health maintenance and carbon sequestration.
For instance, certain breeds like the Nagori cattle and the Kharai camel play dual roles in supporting agriculture and conserving ecosystems. “The Kharai camel, in particular, is adapted to both dryland and coastal ecosystems and can feed on saline shrubs like mangroves. Such ecological adaptations enable livestock to not only survive but also support biodiversity in their habitats,” says Jaga Rabari, a camel breeder from the Kutch district.
Policy and research for a sustainable future
Recognising the importance of climate-resilient livestock, research efforts are now increasingly directed towards identifying the genetic markers that contribute to these resilience traits. “Selective breeding using these traits could help develop livestock better suited to rising temperatures and climate challenges,” says Prakash. Through this approach, livestock that possess strong resilience traits can pass characteristics on, improving the overall hardiness of the species.
Alongside genetic improvements, adapting livestock management strategies is essential. “This includes climate-smart practices like adjusting herd composition to reduce resource use. In areas with water and fodder shortages, shifting to smaller breeds or diversifying into non-farm activities can lower risks. Practical measures such as shaded shelters, cooling systems like sprinklers, and feeding adjustments with added electrolytes enhance animals’ heat resilience and help maintain productivity,” says Prakash. Vulnerability mapping is another key tool, as it can help identify which areas and livestock populations are most at risk due to climate variability.
Despite these promising developments, there are challenges to promoting climate resilience in India’s livestock sector. The growing demand for livestock products, driven by economic growth and urbanisation, has led to an increase in high-yield, non-native livestock breeds such as crossbreeds of Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss, Merino sheep, exotic dairy breeds of goats are Toggenberg, Sannen, French Alpine and Nubian, which are less suited to India’s climatic extremes, experts say. Additionally, the lack of widespread knowledge and resources for climate-smart livestock management limits the adoption of resilient practices among small-scale farmers.
To this end, from a policy perspective, fostering sustainable livestock practices requires integrated support systems. “This includes embedding climate-smart agriculture (CSA) into development agendas, deploying early warning systems for extreme weather, and building farmer capacity through training on CSA and climate information services. Tailoring livestock breeding programmes to match local ecological conditions and market needs can also bolster food security and the farmers’ livelihoods, particularly in regions vulnerable to climate-induced disruptions,” adds Prakash.
Read more: [Explainer] Why mitigating methane emissions matters
Banner image: Camels in Jaisalmer. Image by Ninara via Flickr (CC BY 2.0).
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