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India being an agricultural country, the cattle plays a predominant role as a backbone of agricultural sector. But the owners abandon these cattle when they become old, sick, disabled and non-productive. These cattle are called stray cattle who roam on the streets in search of food or are sighted sitting in the middle of the street as they have no place or shelter. There are about 5 million stray cattle in India with Rajasthan (1.27 million) at the top followed by Uttar Pradesh (1.18 million), Madhya Pradesh (853,971), Gujarat (343,918) and Chattisgarh (184,993) (20th Livestock census). The problem of stray cattle is always matter of concern for the government as it has become menace for farmers and general public. The government has intervened numerous times towards the management of these stray cattle in humane manner. Rehabilitation of these stray cattle is one of the main managemental practices followed across India. Stray cattle are rehabilitated at Gaushalas which act shelters for disowned cattle, breeding station for indigenous breeds where these breeds are developed and preserved. Besides providing income and employment to many people, Gaushala can take India to organic future as food grains, pesticides, fertilizers produced from natural agricultural system with the use of cow-urine, cow dung-based manure are free from chemicals. But to address the problem of stray cattle, it is not sufficient and efficacious that they are kept in Gaushalas; the government needs to look beyond that and should consider taking other options to protect stray cattle from suffering as well as to protect the public from the menace caused by the same.

Physiological and performance parameters of 33 pregnant Changthangi sheep divided into three groups (G1, G2 and G3) of 11each on the basis of body weight, age and parity was undertaken during winter months. Ewes of G1 and G2 were kept inside the closed shed all the time whereas the ewes of G3 were kept in an open area which was chain-link fenced from four sides and was provided with a roof shelter to protect from direct rain or snow. G1 and G3 were fed 400g concentrate and 600g fodder per head per day as per ICAR feeding standard. Ewes of G2 were given concentrate @ 500g and fodder @ 1000g per head per day. Environmental parameters (temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity) were recorded on a daily basis in animal houses and wind chill index was calculated using these parameters. Physiological parameters (rectal temperature, pulse rate and respiration rate) were recorded weekly in the morning. Fortnightly weight of ewes and monthly weight of lambs was recorded upto weaning. Extreme Wind Chill Index was observed throughout the study period in open house. Pulse rate of supplemented ewes with closed housing was significantly (p<0.05) higher than G1 and G3 ewes while respiration rate and rectal temperature were significantly (p<0.05) higher in group reared in open house. Significantly (p<0.05) higher body weight of ewes, birth weight and weaning weight of lambs was obtained in the supplemented group G2 than G1 and G3 ewes. Economic appraisal revealed a net gain of Rs. 3672.15 in the group reared in a closed shed and supplemented with extra feed and a loss of Rs. 593 in the group reared in open housing system than ewes reared in a closed shed without supplementation.