Cross-bred, female cattle population on the rise: Livestock census

Also, the census shows a sharp increase in backyard poultry

The latest livestock numbers in the country show a sharp increase in cross-bred and indigenous female cattle population, with an accompanying rise in the number of milch animals. According to the 20th Livestock Census, issued on Wednesday, the total cattle population has risen marginally, after falling in previous years. And, an earlier slide in indigenous (desi) cattle population has been stymied after 2012.

Cattle population in 2019 is 192.49 million, about 0.8 per cent more than in the 2012 census, when it had dropped to 190.9 million from the 199.07 million of the previous census in 2007.

The increase was mainly driven