Why was it in the news?
Recently, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying released the 20th Livestock Census
About the Livestock Census
The Livestock Census has been conducted in the country periodically since 1919-20. The Livestock Census covers all domesticated animals and its headcounts. So far 19 such censuses have been conducted in participation with State Governments and UT Administrations.
The 20th Livestock Census was conducted in participation with all States and Union Territories.
The enumeration was done both in rural and urban areas.
The major thrust given to the 20th Livestock Census is the collection of data through tablets computers.
The 20th livestock census is indeed a unique attempt as for the first time such a major initiative has been taken to digitise household level data through online transmission from the field.
The following are the key results of the 20th Livestock Census:
The total Livestock population is 535.78 million in the country showing an increase of 4.6% over Livestock Census-2012
Total Bovine population (Cattle, Buffalo, Mithun and Yak) is 302.79 Million in 2019 which shows an increase of about 1% over the previous census.
The total number of cattle in the country in 2019 is 192.49 million showing an increase of 0.8 % over previous Census.
The population of the total Exotic/Crossbred Cattle has increased by 26.9 % in 2019 as compared to the previous census.
There is a decline of 6 % in the total Indigenous/ Non-descript cattle population over the previous census. However, the pace of decline of Indigenous/ Non-descript cattle population during 2012-2019 is much lesser as compared to the 2007-12 which was about 9%.
The total buffaloes in the country are 109.85 million showing an increase of about 1.0% over previous Census.
The total milch animals (in-milk and dry) in cows and buffaloes are 125.34 million, an increase of 6.0 % over the previous census.
The total sheep in the country is 74.26 million in 2019, increased by 14.1% over previous Census.
The Goat population in the country in 2019 is 148.88 million showing an increase of 10.1% over the previous census.
The total Pigs in the country is 9.06 Million in the current Census, declined by 12.03% over the previous Census.
The other livestock including mithun, yak, horses, ponies, mule, donkeys, camel together contribute around 0.23% of the total livestock and their total count is 1.24 million.
The total poultry in the country is 851.81 million in 2019, registering an increase of 16.8% in the total poultry.
