Livestock population rises to almost 66.5 million

The preliminary results of the annual nationwide livestock census were released by the National Statistics Office on Thursday.

The census was conducted from December 7 to 17 across the country and the preliminary estimate for livestock population in 2018 is 66.46 million, marking a 0.4 percent increase, or 244,700 livestock, since last year. The National Statistics Office reported that the livestock population rose by 4.6 million to 66.2 million by the end of 2017.

Over the last 12 months, the number of sheep went up by 443,600 sheep, or 1.5 percent; camels increased by 25,600, up 5.9 percent; and the number of horses remained the same as last year, at 3.94 million. Meanwhile, there was a 0.2 percent decrease in both the population of cows and goats.

Khuvsgul Province had the most livestock, followed by Arkhangai, Uvurkhangai, Tuv and Khentii.

Compared to 1990, the population of goat rose significantly. It now makes up 21 percentage points higher portion of all livestock.

The traditional appropriate livestock ratio is 75:25, or three sheep for every goat. However, the latest ratio has become 53 sheep for every 47 goat.

As of December 2018, there are 230,800 herder families, most of which own 51 to 200 livestock.

The National Statistics Office said it will provide detailed information along with the integrated results of the census.