New Delhi, There has been a sharp jump, by 18 per cent, in the number of cows in the country, as per the latest livestock census report released on Wednesday, over the previous enumeration done in 2012.
The NDA government at the Centre and the BJP governments in various states have introduced many schemes for the protection and welfare of cows.
The 18 per cent jump in the number of cows in 2019 is sharply higher than the increase in livestock population at 4.6 per cent and increase in bovine population by one per cent.
The total livestock population in the country increased by 4.6 per cent over the previous census conducted in 2012, to a total of 535.78 million.
The female cattle (cows) population is 145.12 million, increasing by 18 per cent over the previous census (2012).
The 20th Livestock Census report was released by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying on Wednesday.
The total bovine population comprising cattle, buffalo, mithuns and yaks is at 302.79 million in 2019 which shows an increase of about 1 per cent over the previous census.
In addition, the total number of cattle in the country in 2019 is 192.49 million showing an increase of 0.8 per cent over the previous census.
The 20th Livestock Census was conducted in participation with all states and Union Territories. The enumeration was done both in rural and urban areas.
Various kinds of animals including cattle, buffaloes, mithuns, yaks, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, camels, dogs, rabbits and elephants, and poultry birds including fowls, ducks, emus, turkeys, quails and other poultry birds possessed by the households, household enterprises and non-household enterprises and institutions have been counted at their site.
The data of more than 27 crore households and non-households have been collected in the 20th Livestock Census to assess and arrive at the livestock and poultry count in the country.
According to the census, there is a decline of 6 per cent in the total indigenous/ non-descript cattle population over the previous census. However, the pace of decline of this cattle population during 2012-2019 is much lesser than as compared to the 2007-12 period, where it was about 9 per cent.
The total buffaloes in the country numbered 109.85 million showing an increase of about 1 per cent over the previous census.
The total milch animals (in-milk and dry) in cows and buffaloes is 125.34 million, an increase of 6 per cent over the previous census.
The total poultry in the country, at 851.81 million in 2019, registered an increase of 16.8 per cent.
The total commercial poultry in the country is 534.74 million in 2019, increasing by 4.5 per cent over the previous census.
The major thrust given to the latest census is the collection of data through tablets computers. This census is a unique attempt as for the first time such a major initiative has been take to digitise household level data through online transmission from the field.
In the whole operations, the state/UT governments engaged more than 80,000 field personnel who are mostly veterinarians and para-veterinarians for the smooth conduct of the exercise.
The Livestock Census has been conducted in the country periodically since 1919-20 and covers all domesticated animals and their headcounts. So far 19 such censuses have been conducted.
