There is an overall decline of 3.33 per cent in the total livestock population in the country, as per the 19th livestock Census-2012 compared with the previous census of 2007.
The total livestock population, consisting of buffaloes, sheep, goats, pigs, horses & ponies, mules, donkeys, camels, mithun and yak, stood at 512.05 million in 2012.
However, some States showed an increase in livestock population, such as Gujarat (15.36 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (14.01 per cent), Assam (10.77 per cent), Punjab (9.57 per cent) Bihar (8.56 per cent), Sikkim (7.96 per cent), Meghalaya (7.41 per cent), and Chhattisgarh (4.34 per cent), according to the ‘19th Livestock Census-2012’ published by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries.
The number of milch animals (in-milk and dry), cows and buffaloes, increased from 111.09 million to 118.59 million, up 6.75 per cent, while the number of ‘animals-in–milk’ increased from 77.04 million to 80.52 million, showing an increase of 4.51 per cent, an official release said here on Wednesday.
Female cattle (cows) population also increased to 122.9 million, up 6.52 per cent over 2007, along with a 7.99 per cent rise in female buffalo population, which stood at 92.5 million in 2012.
However, goat and sheep population registered a decline by 3.82 per cent and 9.07 per cent, respectively, over the previous census.
While exotic/crossbred milch cattle increased from 14.4 million to 19.42 million, showing an increase of 34.78 per cent, there was a decline in male breed (-12.75 per cent) against a 28.78 per cent rise in female breed.
The indigenous milch cattle, too, increased from 48.04 million to 48.12 million, with the number of milch buffaloes rising from 48.64 million to 51.05 million, up 4.95 per cent over 2007 census.
The poultry sector also showed a healthy increase by 12.39 per cent, with the total poultry population at 729.2 million in 2012.
The livestock census was conducted in 2012 with the participation of all States and Union Territories, covering all villages and towns/wards in the country, the release added.