8 September 2014

2 minute read

Asia

Numbers have fallen from the previous census of 2007, although some states have increased livestock numbers during this time. 

Gujarat (15.36 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (14.01 per cent), Assam (10.77 per cent), Punjab (9.57 per cent) Bihar (8.56 per cent), Sikkim (7.96 per cent), Meghalaya (7.41 per cent), and Chhattisgarh (4.34 per cent) have shown an increase in total livestock population.

The number of milk animals (in-milk and dry), cows and buffaloes, has increased from 111.09 million to 118.59 million, an increase of 6.75 per cent. The number of animals in–milk has increased from 77.04 million to 80.52 million showing an increase of 4.51 per cent, the release adds.

The female cattle (cows) population has increased by 6.52 per cent over the previous census (2007) and the total number of female cattle in 2012 is 122.9 million numbers.

The female buffalo population has also increased by 7.99 per cent over the previous census and the total number of female buffalo is 92.5 million numbers in 2012.

Further, the exotic/crossbred milk cattle increased from 14.4 million to 19.42 million, showing an increase of 34.78 per cent whereas the indigenous milk cattle increased from 48.04 million to 48.12 million, an increase of 0.17 per cent.

The milk buffaloes increased from 48.64 million to 51.05 million with an increase of 4.95 per cent over previous census.

Poultry sector has also shown a healthy increase by 12.39 per cent over the previous census and the total poultry in the country was 729.2 million numbers in 2012.

Livestock Census in the country started in the year 1919 and since then the exercise has been continuing every five years.

The 19th livestock census was released by Radha Mohan Singh, Indian agriculture minister. The census is published by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, ministry of agriculture.

Jagdish Kumar, Editor