Livestock Population

There has been drastic changes in livestock population over the past 5 years which has been presented in Table 

Let us see the species-wise changes in population: 

Cattle Population 

In India, cattle are fairly distributed all over  the country. Total cattle population has decreased from 204.58 million in 1992 to 185.18 million in 2003.The important changes observed in cattle population are: 

• Cattle constitute about 38.2 % of the livestock population in the country. 
• There has been a marked shift from work  animals towards milch animals.
• Within cattle crossbred cattle constitute 13.3% where as 86.7% are indigenous cattle.
• Crossbred cattle have grown at a much faster rate (22.82 %)than the indigenous stock which has decreased by (-) 10.23 percent. 

         

 Changes in livestock  Population in India over the last 5 years 

Source: DAHD, 2003. 17* Indian Livestock Census. 

• Maximum number of cattle is found in Uttar Pradesh (10.2 %), followed by West Bengal (10.0 %), Madhya Pradesh (10.0 %), Maharashtra (8.6 %),  Orissa (7.4 %), Bihar (7.0 %), Rajasthan (5.8 %), Karnataka (5.1 %) and Andhra Pradesh (5.0 %) . 
• As per the 17th Livestock Census (2003), the total male and female crossbred cattle below 2.5 years is 3.08 and 7.44 million respectively and the corresponding figures for indigenous cattle is 21.85 and 30.75 million, respectively. Majority of the male calves particularly crossbred calves are dying due to starvation and negligence. These calves remain underutilized for meat production, as cattle slaughter is not permitted in most of the states. 

Buffalo Population :

The buffalo population has increased by 8.9 per cent during the period from 89.92 million (1997) to 97.92 million (2003). 

• Buffalo constitute about 20.2 % of the livestock population in the country. 
• As per 17th Livestock census (2003), buffalo is found mostly in Uttar Pradesh (22.3 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (11.0 per cent), Rajasthan (10.8 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (7.8 per cent), Gujarat (7.3 per cent), Haryana (6.3 per cent), Punjab (6.2 per cent), Maharashtra (6 per cent), Bihar (5.5 per cent) and Karnataka (4.1 per cent). 
• Maximum meat production in India comes from buffalo. However, male calves born in the suburban areas (City Dairies) die due to starvation and negligence. They could be saved and reared for meat production. 

Goat Population:

• During last three decades, goat population in India had increased at the fastest rate among all major livestock species, in spite of the fact that more than 30 per cent of goats are slaughtered annually while about 15 per cent die. 
• Goat population reached 124.36 million (2003) from 122.72 million (1997) with an increase of 1.33%. 
• Goats constitute about 25.6 % of the livestock population in the country. 
• According to 17th Livestock census (2003), major goat producing states are West Bengal(15.6 per cent) followed by Rajasthan (14 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (10.3 per cent), Maharashtra (8.5 per cent), Bihar (7.0 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (6.7 per cent), Tamil Nadu (5.3 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (5.2 per cent). 

Sheep Population: 

• Sheep constitute about 12.7 % of the livestock population in the country. 
• During last three decades, there has not been much increase in sheep population. But in the last decade, sheep population started increasing and reached to about 61.47 million in 2003 compared to about 57 million in 1997 with an increase of 6.91%. 
• As per 17th Livestock census (2003), sheep population is maximum in Andhra Pradesh (35 per cent) followed by Rajasthan (16.4 per cent), Karnataka (12 per cent), Tamil Nadu (9 per cent), Jarnrnu and Kashmir (5.5 per cent), Maharashtra (5 per cent) and Gujarat (3.2 per cent). 

Pig Population: 

• There is an increasing trend in pig population. It was 12.78 million in 1992, 13.29 million in 1997 and 13.52 million in 2003. 
• Pigs constitute only 2.8 % of the livestock population in the country. 
• According to 17th Livestock census (2003), maximum number of pig are found in Uttar Pradesh (1 7 per cent) followed by Assam (11.4 per cent), West Bengal (9.6 per cent) and Jharkhand (8.2 per cent). Pig is very common in north- easter states including Sikkim. 
• Population of crossbred pig is also increasing. It increased at the rate of 2.78 % per annum from 1997 to 2003. Eighty three per cent of total pigs are indigenous. Crossbred pigs are predominant in north-eastern states and Uttar Pradesh. 

Camel, Yak and Mithun Population :

• There is a decreasing trend in camel population whereas, Yak and Mithun population increased in 2003 when compared to 1997 census. 
• Camel population decreased from 9.12 lakh (1997) to 6.32 lakh (2003). 
• Mithun population showed an increasing trend. It increased from 1.77 lakh (1997) to 2.78 lakh(2003). 
• Livestock Population and Meat Production in India 
• Yak population increased from 0.59 lakh (1997) to 0.65 lakh (2003). 

Poultry Population 

• According to 17th Livestock Census (2003), there is sharp increase in the chicken population in the country during the period from 315 million (1997) to 457 million (2003). The population of other birds like ducks has increased marginally, from 32.2 million in 1997 to 31.61 million in 2003. Out of total poultry, around 93.5% are fowls (Chicken) and the rest 6.5% are duck, drakes, ducklings, turkey and other poultry birds. 

 Poultry Population in India as per 17th Indian Livestock Census 

Source: DAHD, 2003. 17th Indian Livestock Census