Role of Local Breeds in Enhancing Climate Resilience and Livelihood Stability

Climate change is reshaping the landscape of livestock production — rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, emerging diseases, feed scarcity and frequent extreme weather events are placing unprecedented pressure on smallholder systems. In this context, local livestock breeds (indigenous, native or regionally adapted breeds) have emerged as vital assets for climate-resilient agriculture and stable rural livelihoods. Their unique genetic traits, adaptability and cultural relevance make them essential for sustainable livestock development.

This article explains the significance of local breeds, the traits that make them climate-resilient and how they contribute to income, nutrition and long-term livelihood stability for rural families.

Why Local Breeds Matter in a Changing Climate: Local breeds are shaped by centuries of natural selection and human management. As a result, they thrive in every environment where exotic or high-yielding true reeds often struggle.

Key advantages include:

• High tolerance to heat, drought and humidity

• Better immunity to local diseases and parasites

• Ability to utilize low-quality feed resources

• Lower maintenance cost and minimal input requirement

• High survival rates during climate shocks

In fragile ecosystems and marginal environments — arid zones, hilly regions, flood-prone areas — local breeds often outperform improved or crossbred animals, especially under climate stress.

Climate-Resilient Traits of Local Breeds:

• Thermotolerance: Many indigenous goats, sheep and cattle have:

  • Loose skin and short hair/hair coats that help dissipate heat

  • Efficient sweating and panting mechanisms

  • Ability to maintain body temperature with minimal metabolic stress

• Disease and Parasite Resistance: Local breeds tend to have:

  • Higher innate immunity

  • Better resilience to endemic diseases and internal/external parasites

  • Lower requirement for antibiotics and veterinary interventions

• Feed Efficiency Under Scarcity: Local breeds:

  • Are efficient converters of low-quality roughage, crop residues and grazing biomass

  • Can withstand long walking distances in search of forage

  • Require less concentrate feed, reducing cost burden

• Reproductive Resilience

  • Regular breeding cycles even under nutritional stress

  • High kidding/lambing/calving survival rates

  • Better maternal instincts and mothering ability

These traits make local breeds a natural buffer against climate variability.

Role of Local Breeds in Livelihood Stability:

• A Safety Net for the Poor: Local breeds are commonly owned by marginal farmers, landless families, women and tribal communities. Their low input needs and high survival capacity provide:

  • Regular income (sale of animals, milk, manure)

  • Emergency liquidity during crises

  • A manageable entry point for poor households

• Enhancing Nutrition Security: Local breeds provide:

  • Milk with higher fat, protein and micronutrient content

  • Meat with unique flavor and leaner composition

  • Nutritional diversity for rural families

• Women’s Empowerment: Local breeds are often managed by women, enabling:

  • Control over assets

  • Improved household decision-making

  • Increased participation in local livestock value chains

• Cultural and Ecological Value: Indigenous breeds often carry rich cultural heritage — linked with festivals, rituals and local economies. They also play ecological roles such as:

  • Grazing that maintains grassland biodiversity

  • Manure that supports sustainable soil fertility

Local Breeds vs. Exotic/Crossbred Animals:

Parameter	Local Breeds	Exotic / Crossbred Animals
Heat tolerance	High	Low–moderate
Disease resistance	High	Low
Feed requirement	Low	High
Milk/Meat productivity	Moderate	High
Survival under stress	Excellent	Poor–moderate
Vet care need	Low	High
Suitability for smallholders	Excellent	Moderate

While exotic breeds offer higher productivity under ideal conditions, local breeds ensure consistent, dependable performance under real-world constraints — especially where climate variability is high.

Strengthening Local Breeds for Future Challenges:

• Conservation Programs

  • Community-based conservation

  • Breed societies and farmer groups

  • Incentives for maintaining purebred populations

• Community-Based Breeding Programs (CBBP)

  • Selection of best-performing local animals

  • Farmer-led breeding decisions

  • Persistent improvement while retaining native traits

• Value Chain Strengthening

  • Branding of local breed products (e.g., milk, ghee, meat)

  • GI tagging and niche marketing

  • Linking producer groups to markets and processors

• Policy Support: Governments and institutions must:

  • Integrate local breeds in climate action plans

  • Promote insurance, credit and extension services

  • Support research on indigenous genetic resources

A Strategic Asset for Climate-Resilient Livelihoods

Local breeds are not “low productivity animals” — they are high-survival, high-resilience animals. In a future shaped by climate uncertainty, the resilience of local breeds becomes more valuable than peak productivity. They reduce risks for farmers, ensure reliable output and maintain biodiversity and ecological stability.

Local breeds = Climate resilience + Low risk + Sustainable livelihoods

Local breeds are indispensable for building climate-resilient rural economies. Their unique genetic advantages, ability to thrive under stress and close integration with community livelihoods make them central to future livestock development strategies. Policies, investments and development programs must recognize their strategic value — not just as heritage resources, but as frontline assets in combating climate change and securing livelihood stability for millions.