Local breed cattle dwindling: Survey

There's a demographic change happening in the cattle numbers. Between 1997 and 2003, the population of crossbred cattle rose by 22.8 per cent while that of indigenous ones dropped by 10.2 per cent.

This has been revealed by the 17th livestock census conducted in a record time of one year with the reference date of October 15, 2003.

The provisional reports of the census, pertaining to the country as a whole and each of the 28 states, were released by Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar here today. The Union Territories have been clubbed into one report.

The information was collected through household visits in rural and urban areas.

According to the census, the buffalo population has risen by 8.9 per cent since 1997. The fall in the number of indigenous cattle shows a clear shift of cattle owners perception in favour of high-yield cross-bred animals.

The country's total population of livestock has been reckoned at 485 million and that of poultry at 489 million. Uttar Pradesh ranks first in livestock numbers estimated at 58.5 million.

Andhra Pradesh tops all states in poultry population estimated at 102.3 million. The population of sheep, goats and pigs has increased by 6.9 per cent, 1.3 per cent and 1.7 per cent, respectively. At the same time, the poultry population has shot up by handsome 45 per cent.

The census also collected data on agricultural implements and machinery and fishery.