Diversification is crucial for ensuring sustainable livelihoods due to its ability to mitigate risks and enhance resilience. Diversification in agriculture’ has tremendous impact on the agro-socio-economic upliftment of resource-poor farming communities (Deogharia, 2018). In India, crop and livestock production systems are practiced by 86 per cent of smallholders. However, the choices available to farmers are limited by the availability of resources such as land, labor and capital. Livestock is the backbone of agriculture GDP which contribute around 25 per cent in Indian agriculture GDP and approx. 30 per cent of Rajasthan agriculture GDP. The contribution of GDP in agriculture GDP can be increased by switching with profitable innovation or improved breeds that is profitable for the particular region. In another words a shift from less sustainable or profitable livestock to a more profitable and sustainable or ensuring livelihood security is livestock diversification.

Livestock diversification refers to the practice of integrating multiple livestock species or combining livestock with crop systems to increase farm resilience, optimize resource use and enhance income stability. It is a key strategy in smallholder and mixed farming systems to manage climatic, economic and disease-related risks (FAO, 2021; Thornton et al., 2022).

Traditionally, many rural households have depended on a narrow range of livestock species, making them vulnerable to shocks such as droughts, disease outbreaks and market volatility. By diversifying their livestock holdings-through poultry, goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, fisheries, or even beekeeping-farmers can access multiple income streams, food sources and insurance mechanisms (Reddy et al., 2020). In India, Jammu and Kashmir is home to diverse cattle genetic resources, including native breeds adapted to harsh environments. The region has a rich history of cattle introduction, with various breeds brought in by different cultures, such as the Aryans, Pathans and Sikhs (Anonymous, 2021). Local breeds, like the Gurezi cattle, remain uncharacterized but possess distinct features, such as a prominent hump and small stature (Lawrence, 2002; Sarma et al., 2025). 

Livestock diversification not only improves economic returns but also contributes to ecological sustainability. Integrating livestock with crops enhances nutrient recycling, reduces reliance on external inputs and promotes sustainable land management practices (Steinfeld et al., 2019). Moreover, it plays a critical role in climate-smart agriculture by enhancing adaptation capacities and reducing greenhouse gas emissions per unit of output (Thornton and Herrero, 2021).

Recent studies have emphasized that livestock diversification contributes to food and nutrition security by improving household diets through access to varied animal-sourced foods (IFPRI, 2023). However, the benefits depend on enabling factors such as market access, extension services, institutional support, gender equity and local knowledge systems (Singh et al., 2022).

Livestock diversification plays a critical role in smallholder farming systems, especially in developing countries, where it contributes significantly to livelihood security, nutritional improvement and employment generation (Kumar et al., 2013). Additionally, integrating livestock with crops not only diversifies income but also enhances ecological sustainability by closing nutrient cycles and reducing reliance on external inputs. In addition to giving a lot of people access to affordable, wholesome food, this industry contributes significantly to the creation of job possibilities in rural areas (Al-Sharafat, 2013).

The strategy of diversification aligns with broader goals of climate-smart agriculture, sustainable rural development and food security. However, its success depends on access to veterinary services, market infrastructure, knowledge dissemination and policy support (Herrero et al., 2010). As global agricultural systems face increasing pressure from climate change, resource degradation and population growth, livestock diversification emerges as a viable pathway toward sustainable rural development.

  

  

 Proportion of category × Total livestock population

Livestock plays an important role in the sustainable livelihood of poor people because of inherent risk involved in the crop farming due to uncertainty of rainfall and occurrence of recurrent droughts. They provide income and increased economic stability of the households (Rani et al., 2025). The present study calculates the Diversification Index Indigenous cattle, Cross bread cattle and Buffalo in different districts of Rajasthan for the years 1997, 2003, 2007, 2012 and 2019, shown in Table 1. The Diversification Index shows how many different kinds of cattle there in each area. A lower index value means greater diversity, which means that the three species of animals are more evenly mixed. On the other hand, a higher score means less variety, with one or two varieties of cattle being more common.



Most districts in the state show a general downward trend in the score, which means that the variety of cattle has become better over time. For example, the index has been going down steadily in Ajmer, Bhilwara, Churu and Udaipur from 1997 to 2019. This shows that the distribution of indigenous cattle, crossbreds and buffaloes is becoming more balanced. This tendency shows that livestock improvement programs could work and that farmers might be altering their minds about keeping a variety of diverse breeds.

Some districts, on the other hand, show patterns that are different from the others. For example, in 1997, Jaisalmer and Dungarpur had relatively high index values (0.994 and 0.990, respectively), which meant that there was very little variety at that time. However, both districts’ index values steadily drop until 2019, which shows that they are making progress towards diversity. On the other hand, districts like Karouli and Tonk have index values that have been going higher over the years. This means that there is less variety and more of certain sorts of cattle.

Also, keep in mind that Pratapgarh was founded after 2007, hence there is no data for prior years. This is why there are no values for 1997, 2003 and 2007. Overall, the data gives us useful information about how the variety of livestock has evolved over time in Rajasthan’s districts. Most places demonstrate a favourable trend towards balanced livestock management.

Table 2 indicates the percentage and numerical change in the numbers of three significant types of livestock in Rajasthan districts between 1997 and 2019: Indigenous Cattle, Crossbred Cattle and Buffaloes. Relative change indicates how many more or less of each type of animal there are and numerical change indicates how many more or less there are each year.


 
Indigenous cattle
 
In all districts except two, the indigenous cattle decreased, both in absolute as well as relative terms. Dungarpur, for instance, had the highest decline, with percentage depletion of -0.437 and loss of over 3.3 lakh indigenous cattle. Jaipur (-338,630) and Udaipur (-206,474) also had huge declines. Ganganagar and Hanumangarh were the sole two districts where indigenous cattle were slightly higher in number. This also means that people in most of the state are leaving behind traditional breeds.
 
Crossbred cattle
 
On the other hand, the population of crossbred cattle increased mainly in Rajasthan, which shows that people are moving towards more productive cattle. Some of the districts that have experienced high proportionate growth include Jhunjhunu (0.303), Sikar (0.263) and Jaipur (0.177). The absolute numbers also went higher, which is in line with the trend. To give an example, Jaipur alone had more than 3.3 lakh crossbred cattle, which is an indication that crossbreeding is highly popular in this area.
 
Buffaloes
 
The buffaloes also grew in numbers, though not uniformly. The greatest proportionate growth was in the Tonk (0.332), Sawai Madhopur (0.325) and Karauli (0.287) districts, which had more than 2 lakh, 1.2 lakh and 1.6 lakh more buffaloes, respectively. But districts like Jhunjhunu (-0.232) and Sikar (-0.151) experienced a proportionate fall in buffaloes, which means that people in different areas have different propensities towards breeding buffaloes. This data shows a pattern in the state of fewer indigenous animals and more crossbred animals and buffaloes. This conforms to changes in agricultural and dairy farming practice with a view to raising productivity and economic output.

Table 3 presents information on the relative and absolute changes in population of three key livestock categories-Indigenous Cattle, Crossbred Cattle and Buffaloes-in the districts of Rajasthan from 2012 to 2019. The data indicates changing trends in animal husbandry that impact different animal groups and areas in diverse ways.



One of the most striking discoveries from the table is the overall decrease in Indigenous Cattle across most districts. Districts such as Udaipur (-0.076 proportion, -1,09,072 cattle), Jhalawar (- 0.139, -82,562) and Ajmer (-0.093, -84,265) have experienced significant decreases both in proportion and in actual counts. This decrease has occurred due to a shift away from native breeds under the assumption that they produce less milk than crossbred animals. Moreover, issues such as inadequate fodder, low returns and limited veterinary services for Indigenous Cattle might have discouraged farmers from maintaining sizable herds of these animals.

Conversely, Crossbred Cattle have shown a growth trend in most of the districts. Hanumangarh (0.067 proportion, 56,861 cattle), Sikar (0.057, 49,710) and Bikaner (0.041, 57,411) have shown impressive growth. This indicates a growing trend of livestock owners towards high-yielding crossbreed cattle, which are going to be promoted through dairy development schemes and artificial insemination schemes. The relatively higher economic payback from crossbred cattle, especially in terms of milk yield, makes them a more viable option for farmers to increase household income.

Buffalo population shows mixed trends, with some districts showing increments and others showing decrement. Districts such as Jhalawar (0.128 proportion, 76,406 buffaloes), Udaipur (0.055, 78,479) and Chittorgarh (0.093, 79,195) showed significant increments, reflecting growing demand for milk from buffaloes and possibly greater adaptability of buffaloes to local climatic and fodder conditions. On the other hand, districts such as Sikar (-0.066 proportion, - 57,276 buffaloes), Hanumangarh (-0.080, -67,354) and Ganganagar (-0.059, -49,633) showed significant decrements. These modifications might indicate alterations in land utilization, water accessibility, or community requirements influencing the selection of livestock.

Interestingly, several districts displayed unique trends. One district that stood out was Barmer, which demonstrated a rise in Indigenous Cattle despite overall negative trends for that category, while Jaipur saw relatively minor fluctuations across all three types of livestock. Nagour and Jhunjhunu districts experienced small increases in Indigenous and Crossbred Cattle but a decline in Buffaloes, which reflects sub-regional variations in livestock priorities.

Overall, the trends show a gradual shift in livestock composition in Rajasthan. Decline in Indigenous Cattle shows the problems of traditional animal husbandry, while increase in Crossbred Cattle shows the shift towards commercialization and increased productivity. The buffaloes hold importance but display uneven growth, likely influenced by regional economic and environmental factors. The trends indicate the need for tailored livestock development in the region, focusing equally on productivity, sustainability and the preservation of local breeds.

The study conclude that the past two decades show a clear shift in Rajasthan’s livestock sector toward more balanced and economically efficient compositions. Many districts, such as Ajmer, Bhilwara and Udaipur, have moved toward greater livestock uniformity, reflecting improved awareness and adoption of diverse breeds supported by government initiatives. Conversely, areas like Karouli and Tonk show reduced diversity, possibly due to market preferences or breed adaptability. Despite a general decline in indigenous cattle, crossbred and buffalo populations have grown, indicating farmers’ inclination toward higher-yielding and profitable breeds. Overall, these trends highlight a structural transformation in livestock management driven by economic, environmental, and policy factors.

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article. No funding or sponsorship influenced the design of the study, data collection, analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.