New Delhi (NVI) The country has witnessed a rise of 4.6 percent in livestock population, while the female cattle population comprising cows has increased by 18 percent, the 20th Livestock Census report said here.
According to the census, released by the government on October 16, the total livestock population in the country is 535.78 million which is 4.6 percent more than previous census of 2012, while the population of cows is 145.12 million.
Moreover, the indigenous or the non-descript female cattle population has increased by 10 percent but a decline of six percent has been registered in the total cattle population compared to previous census.
The exotic or the crossbred cattle however has risen by 26.9 percent . The bovine population, comprising cattle, buffalo, Mithun and Yak has also increase by about one percent.
According the report, the poultry population has also shown an increase of 16.8 percent at 851.81 million. Similarly, the total commercial poultry in the country is 534.74 million which is 4.5 more than the previous census. There has been a huge 46 percent increase in the total birds in the backyard poultry.
With regards to sheep and goat, their percentage has increased by 14.1, 10.1 respectively, while the population of pig has declined by 12.03 percent.
The Livestock Census has been conducted in the country periodically since 1919-20 and covers all domesticated animals and its headcounts.
The major thrust given to 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 take to digitise household level data through online transmission from the field.
National Informatics Centre (NIC)-developed mobile application software was used for data collection as well as online transmission of data from the field to the NIC server.
For the smooth conduct of the census, more than 80,000 field personnel were engaged who were mostly veterinarians and para-veterinarians.
–RB
