Sharp dip in desi cattle numbers in last 7 yrs: Census

Indians are opting more for exotic and crossbred cattle than the desi ones. According to the latest livestock census report, the population of desi cattle in India has declined by nearly one crore during the past seven years — between the last livestock Census in 2012 to the current one in 2019. The population of exotic and crossbred cattle has, however, witnessed an increase of 1.14 crore during the same period. The overall livestock numbers have increased with the female cow population registering an 18% rise.

The total livestock population is 535.78 million, an increase of 4.6% as compared to previous census. As per the report, the population of desi cattle is estimated at 142.11 million as compared to the previous 2012 census figure of 151.17 million. There is a decline of 6 % in the total Indigenous/ Non-descript cattle population over the previous census. But the pace of decline of Indigenous/ Non-descript cattle population during 2012-2019 has been much lesser compared to the 2007-12 which was about 9 percent. The population of desi cattle has been decreasing since 1992, when its population was recorded at 189.37 million.

The 20th Livestock Census was carried out in about 6.6 lakh villages and 89,000 urban wards across the country covering more than 27 crore of households and non-households.

The female cattle or cow population is 145.12 million — which is an increase of 18% over the previous census while total milch animals (cows and buffaloes) is estimated 125.34 million, an increase of 6 percent over the last census. This is a clear indicator that farmers are preferring crossbreds to get more milk.

On an average, an indigenous cow gives 700800 litres over a 300-305 days lactation cycle, compared to 4000-5000 litres of crossbreds. The latest census also points that the exotic and crossbred cattle population has jumped to 50.42 million in 2019 as compared to 39 million in 2012.

The total bovine population (cattle, buffalo, mithun and yak) is 302.79 million, which shows an increase of about one percent over the last census.

◗ As per the report, the population of desi cattle is estimated at 142.11 million as compared to the previous 2012 census figure of 151.17 million. There is a decline of 6% in the total.