September 9, 2014

India records 3% dip in livestock numbers

India recorded a drop in livestock numbers by 3.33% according to its 2012 livestock census released on September 3, 2014.

Numbers have fallen from the previous census of 2007, although some states have since increased livestock numbers: Gujarat (15.36%), Uttar Pradesh (14.01%), Assam (10.77%), Punjab (9.57%) Bihar (8.56%), Sikkim (7.96%), Meghalaya (7.41%), and Chhattisgarh (4.34%).

The number of dairy animals (in-milk and dry), cattle and buffaloes, has increased from 111.09 million to 118.59 million, an increase of 6.75%. The number of animals in–milk has increased from 77.04 million to 80.52 million, by 4.51%. Dairy buffaloes increased by 4.95% from 48.64 million to 51.05 million over the previous census.

The female cattle population has increased by 6.52% over the previous census and the total number of female cattle in 2012 is 122.9 million.

The female buffalo population has also increased by 7.99% over the previous census and the total number of female buffaloes is 92.5 million in 2012.

Further, the exotic/crossbred dairy cattle increased by 34.78% from 14.4 million to 19.42 million while native dairy cattle increased from 48.04 million to 48.12 million, an increase of 0.17%.

India's poultry numbers has also shown a healthy increase of 12.39% over the previous census and the total head in the country was 729.2 million in 2012.

Livestock Census in the country is conducted every five years.