Shahista Sarin Lodhi1, Ravi Prakash Pal2, Neeti Lakhani3, Asish Debbarma4, Nitish Singh Kharayat5, Ashutosh Fular5, Madhusoodan A.P5, Amol Gurav Ramdas5, Nidhi Sharma5, Sayed Nabil Abedin5
1Faculty of Veterinary Science, SKUAST-J, RS Pura Campus
2ICAR- Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur, Rajasthan
3ICAR- Research Complex for Eastern Region (RCER), Patna, Bihar
4ICAR- National Research Centre on Yak, Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh
5ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Mukteshwar Campus, Nainital, Uttarakhand
Corresponding Email: sayedna14@gmail.com
Summary
One of India’s most underappreciated climate assets is its native livestock, which includes cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep, and poultry that have been shaped over centuries of farmer-led selection. Because they have evolved in hot, arid plains, humid coasts, semi-arid zones, and mountain ecosystems, these animals have innate characteristics that enable them to endure and thrive in the face of endemic disease pressure, heat stress, feed scarcity, and water limitation. Indigenous animals maintain fertility, survivability, and basic productivity under variable and resource-constrained circumstances, in contrast to exotic high-yield breeds that rely on intensive feeding, cooling, and veterinary inputs. They serve as biological insurance in an uncertain climate, lowering farmer risk and minimizing environmental impact. Indigenous breeds have the potential to advance from the periphery of agriculture to the core of India’s climate-resilient livestock strategy if they are preserved and given strategic support.
Why indigenous breeds matter in the changing climatic scenario?
India’s livestock production is already changing as a result of climate change. Animal stress is rising due to heat waves, unpredictable rainfall, and changing disease patterns, particularly in pastoral and smallholder systems with limited input access. Resilience frequently matters more in these situations than maximum productivity. This reality is met by native breeds. They usually tolerate local parasites and diseases, use coarse or variable-quality fodder effectively, need fewer concentrates, and reproduce effectively under stress. Native livestock is a viable, low-regret adaptation pathway because of these qualities, which lower production volatility and safeguard livelihoods during climate extremes (Sarang, 2024).
How native breeds cope better: key biological advantages
Thermoregulatory capacity
The physical characteristics of many native breeds, such as their lighter coat color, loose skin, larger ears, and compact body size, help them dissipate heat. These characteristics lessen heat load and cooling energy costs. Under comparable heat conditions, field research consistently demonstrates that native animals maintain lower body temperatures and respiration stress than exotics with poor adaptation (Sejian et al., 2021).
Metabolic efficiency
During heat and feed stress, indigenous livestock use less water and energy. They exhibit fewer physiological stress reactions, maintain a steady metabolism, and moderate feed intake during periods of high heat. According to Chauhan et al. (2023), this metabolic thrift promotes survivability during extended hot or dry periods and lessens body condition loss.
Behavioural intelligence
Local breeds exhibit behaviors that are perfectly adapted to their surroundings, such as grazing in cooler weather, looking for shade, minimizing needless movement, and effectively browsing the leaves of trees and shrubs. Particularly when faced with limited resources, goats and sheep exhibit exceptional dietary adaptability. Offspring survival in challenging conditions is further enhanced by strong maternal behavior (McManus et al., 2022).
Disease tolerance
The immune systems of native breeds have been influenced by prolonged exposure to regional disease ecologies. Many native animals can tolerate infection while still functioning without the need for extensive medical intervention, which lowers energy costs and promotes survival in the face of climate stress. This trait is becoming more and more valuable as disease dynamics change due to climate change.
Molecular signatures of resilience
Genomic studies increasingly identify stress-response genes—such as heat-shock proteins and immune-related pathways—associated with thermotolerance and resilience in indigenous livestock. These markers offer tools for conservation-oriented genetic improvement without eroding local adaptation.
Examples of Indian breeds
Zebu cattle (Sahiwal, Gir)
These Bos indicus breeds evolved under heat, humidity, and feed scarcity. They maintain fertility and lactation under thermal stress, efficiently utilize coarse fodder, and reduce dependence on high-input feeding and cooling. National documentation consistently recognizes them as climate-suitable dairy breeds for vulnerable regions (NBAGR, 2023).
Indigenous goats (Osmanabadi, Malabari, Salem Black)
Native goat breeds maintain body condition and reproductive performance under heat stress, showing lower physiological strain and effective cellular stress responses. Their adaptability makes them indispensable to marginal farmers in arid, semi-arid, and hilly regions.
Local buffalo and hill cattle
Indigenous buffaloes cope with heat and humidity through behavioural strategies such as wallowing and shade use, while hill cattle combine compact build and strong mobility to survive cold stress, steep terrain, and seasonal fodder shortages. Recent breed registrations highlight growing recognition of these populations as climate-relevant resources (NBAGR, 2023).
From conservation to climate strategy
[1] Turning indigenous livestock into a climate solution requires moving beyond passive conservation:
[2] Map breeds against climate risk to identify priority regions.
[3] Support in situ conservation with livelihood incentives so communities can continue stewarding adaptive traits.
[4] Use genomics carefully, protecting heat- and disease-tolerance genes rather than replacing them with narrow productivity traits.
[5] Match breeds with low-input technologies, such as improved fodder, feed preservation, water harvesting, and climate-appropriate shelters.
[6] Create premium markets for indigenous-breed products to align conservation with income.
A clear call to action India already possesses a living, climate-tested genetic resource in its indigenous livestock. By investing in conservation-linked livelihoods, smart genomics, and supportive markets, these breeds can shift from being seen as “low-yield” relics to becoming cornerstones of climate-resilient agriculture. In a warming world, resilience is productivity—and India’s native animals are already showing the way.