The dairy farming plays an important role in the economic development of rural India. More than 70 percent of the rural households still depend on agriculture and livestock sector for their livelihood (FAOSTAT, 2010). The Jammu & Kashmir state is blessed with 8.32 million population (20th livestock census). These animals are mainly reared by Gujjars, who own about 11.9 percent of the total population of the state (Census of India, 2011). Gujjar are pastoral ethnic group with population in India, Pakistan and a small number in north eastern Afghanistan. They are numerically third largest community of Jammu and Kashmir after Kashmiri Muslims and Dogras (Bhat, 2018). The population of Gujjars in Jammu district is 3.81% of the total population of the district (Census of India, 2011). The Rajouri district which thickly populated by Gujjar and Bakerwal is representing the highest proportion of the total tribal population of state followed by Poonch, Kargil, Leh and Reasi districts. They are mainly known for the rearing of livestock and is established with the fact that only 0.85% of the population is urbanized and remaining resides in rural areas and thrives on sustainable livestock production (Singh et al., 2017).

Highlights

• Dairy farming plays an important role in the economic development of rural India. More than 70 percent of the rural households still depend on agriculture and livestock sector for their livelihood
• Gujjar are pastoral ethnic group with population in India, Pakistan and a small number in north eastern Afghanistan.
• Gujjar wear traditional costumes and jewellary and have a peculiar hair style where hair are dressed in twelve to fifteen braids called Gundani.