Our country is predominantly an agrarian economy with more than 75% of the population in villages depending on agriculture, animal husbandry and allied activities for their livelihood. In fact Indian agriculture is an economic symbiosis of crop and livestock production and cattle is the foundation of Indian agriculture. It provides livelihood to 65% of the State's population and contributes 62% of employment generated in the State. Bullocks provide draught power and organic manure, which augments the crop production. Animal husbandry contributes significantly in supplementing the income of small, marginal farmers and landless labourers and in generating gainful employment opportunities especially self-employment to a substantial number of rural and urban population many of whom are women who play a major role in the care and management of livestock. It serves as a vital source for providing nutritious protein rich balanced food in the form of milk, egg, meat and value added products. Moreover, they are also intricately associated with the social, cultural and traditional values of the region.

Livestock sector contributes value-added products significantly to the Gross Domestic Product at 5.51% of the total Gross Domestic Product and 22.17% of the total Gross Domestic Product from agriculture sector. The percentage share of livestock to Gross Domestic Product has increased from 4.82% in 1980-81 to 5.51% in 1999-2000, which reflects the importance of livestock sector's contribution to the national economy and augmenting the household food security. Milk is now the largest agricultural commodity contributing to the Gross Domestic Product.

Animal Husbandry Department plays a major role in providing veterinary health care and improving the genetic production potentialities of livestock and poultry reared in the State. Apart from this, various beneficiary oriented schemes are also being implemented for the economic upliftment and welfare of the poor, downtrodden and weaker sections of the society. Various veterinary institutions spread throughout the State provide the above services. With the dedicated and sustained efforts of the department in implementation of various beneficiary oriented programmes and judicious utilization of animals and the natural resources in an eco-balanced way, the livestock sector of the State has been elevated to a prominent position.

The estimated milk production, which was 25.62 lakh metric tonnes during 1983-84, has increased to 42.73 lakh metric tonnes during 1998-99 and further to 47.53 lakh metric tonnes during 2003-04. The per capita availability of milk per day has increased from 145 grams during 1983-84 to 191 grams during 1998-99 and further to 209 grams during 2003-04.

During the same period the estimated egg production, which was 996 million numbers in 1983-84 has increased to 3,588 million numbers during 1998-99 and further to 3,784 million numbers during 2003-04. Likewise the per capita availability of eggs per annum has gone up from 21 numbers to 59 numbers and further to 61 numbers during the above period. With the implementation of cross breeding programme and disease control, the Indian Council for Medical Research recommended level of 220 grams of milk per day and 183 numbers of eggs per annum per person will be reached.

During 2003-04, the total number of animals slaughtered and meat produced in the registered slaughterhouses are 24.05 lakh and 46.67 million Kgs respectively. The value of leather and leather products exported from the ports of Tamilnadu has increased from Rs. 22,115.54 millions during 1997-98 to Rs.37,183.80 millions during 2002-03 showing an appreciable increase of 59.48%.

Phenomenal growth in human population, urbanization, shrinking arable land, increase in waste lands, poor returns, rapid fragmentation of land and adverse economic pressure on seasonal crop production, rise in income and change in lifestyles all demands a nutritious and protein rich diet (milk, egg and meat) from the animal origin in terms of volume, kind and quality. With the participation of private, cooperative sector and continued patronage of the Government for various beneficiary oriented programmes for the poor and downtrodden, the unexplored potentials of this sector can be effectively tapped. Animal Husbandry thus will not only be capable of meeting basic demands of the rapidly growing population, but it can also act as a powerful instrument for a comprehensive socio-economic transformation of the rural people by eliminating poverty and unemployment. Animal Husbandry thus can act as an engine for growth and trigger the economy besides improving the quality of life of every individual.