Animal Husbandry and Veterinary services are integral components of the Mising Autonomous Council (MAC), contributing to the livelihoods and well-being of the Mising community. In the predominantly agrarian and riverine landscape of the MAC area, which spans the districts of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Majuli and parts of upper Assam, animal husbandry plays a crucial role in supplementing household incomes and providing nutrition through dairy, poultry, piggery and duck farming. The Mising people rear various livestock such as cattle, buffalo, poultry, pigs and goats, utilising traditional knowledge alongside modern practices to ensure optimal productivity and animal welfare.
Livestock occupies a deeply significant place in Mising society, both economically and socio-culturally. Rearing of pig, goat, cow, buffalo and poultry is a common livelihood practice in the community, and is mostly carried out by Mising women, with the earnings from the sale of livestock going directly to the women of the household. Among all livestock, pigs have a special social and cultural importance, being an integral part of community feasts and rituals associated with festivals such as Ali-Aye-Ligang, Po:rag and Dobur. The department, therefore, works not only to improve productivity and animal health but also to sustain the traditional way of life and cultural heritage of the Mising people.
Livestock Profile of the MAC Area
The livestock economy of the MAC area is predominantly traditional in nature. Studies on tribal farmers of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts reveal that cattle, buffalo and goats are largely maintained under open or scavenging grazing systems, while poultry birds are reared in the backyard system with minimal inputs. Pigs, which are of great economic value to the community, are reared under scavenging and tethering systems with regular supplementary feeding, and some progressive farmers have taken up intensive piggery farming. Buffaloes are generally kept under the "khuti" (scavenging) system. While the region holds immense potential for livestock development, adoption of modern practices such as artificial insemination and farm biosecurity remains limited, and the department is working to bridge these gaps through awareness, training and extension services.
Veterinary Services and Infrastructure
Veterinary services provided by the MAC are essential for maintaining the health and productivity of livestock in the council's area. The department has taken steps to revamp the infrastructure of the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary department, which had fallen into a dilapidated condition, including the establishment and strengthening of 21 Nos. of Veterinary Aid Centres (VACs) and other veterinary institutions across the MAC area. Through these centres, veterinary professionals offer preventive healthcare, disease management and treatment services to safeguard the health of animals and mitigate economic losses caused by illnesses. Key activities include:
- Vaccination campaigns against common livestock and poultry diseases to protect the animal population from epidemics.
- Deworming initiatives and routine health camps in rural and char areas.
- Treatment of sick and injured animals at Veterinary Aid Centres and through mobile visits to villages.
- Artificial Insemination (AI) and breeding support services to improve the genetic quality of cattle and other livestock.
- Awareness programmes on animal care, nutrition, hygiene and scientific feeding practices for livestock rearers.
Schemes and Initiatives
Under its Annual Plan of Operation (AOP), the department implements schemes for the development of animal husbandry and veterinary services in the MAC area. These include the strengthening of veterinary infrastructure, distribution of improved livestock and poultry birds, support to piggery, duckery and goat rearing units, and promotion of backyard poultry and dairy as livelihood enterprises for rural families and women's self-help groups (SHGs). In addition, the department coordinates with the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department of the Government of Assam, the Assam Livestock Development Agency and the Assam Livestock and Poultry Corporation to bring state and centrally sponsored schemes to the MAC area.
Impact and Way Forward
Through sustainable animal husbandry practices and effective veterinary services, the MAC aims to enhance food security, increase rural incomes and promote the overall socio-economic development of the Mising community. In a region frequently affected by floods, where the loss of livestock can severely erode household livelihoods, strengthening disease surveillance, emergency veterinary response and disaster preparedness are priority concerns of the department. By combining modern veterinary science with the community's traditional knowledge, the department seeks to build a resilient livestock economy that supports the well-being and cultural continuity of the Mising people.