Which of the following are features of commercial livestock rearing?
(A) A lot of emphasis is given on breeding, genetic improvement, disease control and health care of the animals.
(B) Focus is on crop cultivation and its marketing.
(C) It is practised on permanent ranches.
(D) They practice transhumance.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (A) and (C) only
Commercial livestock rearing means rearing animals on a large scale for sale. It is organised and needs a lot of money. It is the opposite of nomadic herding, where herders keep moving with their animals.
(A) A lot of emphasis is given on breeding, genetic improvement, disease control and health care of the animals. — Correct. Ranching is run on a scientific basis. Healthy, well-bred animals give more meat, wool and hides to sell.
(B) Focus is on crop cultivation and its marketing. — Incorrect. This activity rears animals, not crops. Only one type of animal is reared, such as sheep, cattle, goats or horses, and its meat, wool, hides and skin are sold.
(C) It is practised on permanent ranches. — Correct. A ranch is a large, fixed area divided into fenced parcels. The animals move from one parcel to the next, so the herd and the rancher stay in one place.
(D) They practice transhumance. — Incorrect. Transhumance is the seasonal move from the plains to mountain pastures in summer and back in winter. It belongs to nomadic herding, as with the Gujjars, Bakarwals, Gaddis and Bhotiyas of the Himalayas.
NCERT (2026-27): “Commercial Livestock Rearing … Unlike nomadic herding, commercial livestock rearing is more organised and capital intensive. Commercial livestock ranching is essentially associated with western cultures and is practised on permanent ranches. These ranches cover large areas and are divided into a number of parcels, which are fenced to regulate the grazing. When the grass of one parcel is grazed, animals are moved to another parcel.” “This is a specialised activity in which only one type of animal is reared. Important animals include sheep, cattle, goats and horses. Products such as meat, wool, hides and skin are processed and packed scientifically and exported to different world markets.” “Rearing of animals in ranching is organised on a scientific basis. The main emphasis is on breeding, genetic improvement, disease control and health care of the animals.” “Nomadic Herding … Movement in search of pastures is undertaken either over vast horizontal distances or vertically from one elevation to another in the mountainous regions. The process of migration from plain areas to pastures on mountains during summers and again from mountain pastures to plain areas during winters is known as transhumance.” |