October 23, 2007

Livestock census in India's Kerala state to determine extent of decline
 

India's Kerala State has completed a month-long census of its livestock population, according to Director of the state's Animal Husbandry Department R Vijayakumar.

Quick estimates on the data collected would be available by month-end, Dr Vijayakumar told The Hindu.

The census would be able to confirm whether widespread reports about the decline of the livestock population are true, he said.

According to the last census conducted in 2003, the state had 21.2 million cattle, 64, 600 buffaloes, 12.1 million goats, 76,500 pigs. Poultry numbered 12.2 million 

The Additional Director of the Department K G Suma said an accurate view on the size of the cattle population in the State would be possible only after the census data was collated, Dr Suma said the figures collected as part of the animal vaccination programmes however did not indicate a drastic decline in the cattle population in the State in the recent years, though there had been a gradual decline.