At 536.76 million, Livestock population has increased 4.8% over the last census 

Pashu Sandesh, 18th April 2022

Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has conducted the latest i.e., 20th Livestock Census in 2019 in participation with all States and Union Territories. It covers all domesticated animals and its headcounts for a total of 16 species of animals like Cattle, Buffalo, Mithun, Yak, Sheep, Goat, Pig, Horse, Pony, Mule, Donkey Camel, Dog, Rabbit and Elephant and poultry birds (Fowl, Duck, Turkeys and other poultry birds) possessed by the households, household enterprises/non- household enterprises and institutions at their site. Moreover, the 20th livestock census is indeed a unique attempt as for the first-time data was collected using tablets computers to digitize household-level data through online transmission from the field. Some of the significant findings of the 20th Livestock Census are summarized as under:

• • The total Livestock population is 536.76 million in the country showing an increase of 4.8% over the Livestock Census-2012. The total Livestock population in the rural and urban areas is 514.11 million and 22.65 million respectively with a percentage share of 95.78% for rural and 4.22% for the urban areas.
  • The total Bovine population (Cattle, Buffalo, Mithun and Yak) is 303.76 million in 2019 which shows an increase of 1.3% over the previous census.
  • The total number of Cattle in the country is 193.46 million in 2019 showing an increase of 1.3 % over the previous Census.

• • The Exotic/Crossbred and Indigenous/Non-descript Cattle population in the country is 51.36 million and 142.11 million respectively.

• • The Indigenous/Non-descript Female Cattle population has increased by 10% in 2019 as compared to the previous census.

• • The population of the total Exotic/Crossbred Cattle has increased by 29.3% in 2019 as compared to the previous census.
  • There is a decline of 6% in the total Indigenous (both descript and non-descript) Cattle population over the previous census. However, the pace of decline of the Indigenous Cattle population during 2012-2019 is much lesser as compared to 2007-12 which was about 9%.
  • The total Buffalo in the country is 109.85 million showing an increase of about 1.1% over the previous Census.
  • The total Milch Animals (in-milk and dry) in Cows and Buffalo is 125.75 million, an increase of 6.0 % over the previous census.
  • The total Sheep in the country is 74.26 million in 2019, an increase of 14.1% over the previous Census.
  • The Goat population in the country in 2019 is 148.89 million showing an increase of 10.1% over the previous census.
  • The total Pigs in the country is 9.06 million in the current Census, which declined by 12.03% over the previous Census.
  • The total Mithun and Yak in the country is 3.9 lakh and 58 thousand in 2019, increased by 29.5% and 24.9% respectively over the previous Census.
  • The total Horses and Ponies in the country is 3.4 lakhs in 2019, which decreased by 45.2% over the previous Census.
  • The total population of Mules and Donkeys in the country is 84thousandand 1.2 lakhs in 2019, which decreased by 57.1% and 61.2% respectively over the previous Census.
  • The total Camel population in the country is 2.5 lakhs in 2019, which decreased by 37.1% over the previous Census.
  • The total Poultry in the country is 851.81 million in 2019, an increase of 16.8% over the previous Census.
  • The total Backyard Poultry in the country is 317.07 million in 2019, an increase of 45.8% over the previous Census.
  • The total Commercial Poultry in the country is 534.74 million in 2019, an increase of 4.5% over the previous Census.
  • The total number of Stray Cattle and Stray Dogs in 2019 is 50 lakhs and 153 lakhs respectively in the country. A marginal decrease in comparison to the last census Data.