21st Livestock Census

About 21st Livestock Census:

• The Livestock Census is conducted every five years.
• The census carries out a headcount of the number of domesticated animals, poultry, and stray animals in the country.
• The census takes into account information about the species, breed, age, sex, and ownership status of the animals in question.
• Background: Since 1919, a total of 20 livestock censuses have been carried out so far, with the last being conducted in 2019.
• The enumeration process for the 21st census will take place between October 2024 to February 2025.
• Focus of 21st Livestock Census
  • According to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, information on sixteen animal species will be collected in the 21st census. These include: cattle, buffalo, mithun, yak, sheep, goat, pig, camel, horse, ponies, mule, donkey, dog, rabbit, and elephant.
  • In total, the census will capture information on 219 indigenous breeds of these sixteen species recognised by ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).
  • Besides these, the census will also carry out a headcount of poultry birds such as fowl, chicken, duck, turkey, geese, quail, ostrich, and emu.
• The census this time will be fully digitised, like the last one in 2019.
• This will include “online data collection through a mobile application, monitoring at various levels through a digital dashboard, capturing the latitude and longitude of data collection location, and generation of livestock census report through software.
• The 21st census will capture several new data points. These include:
  • Data on pastoral animals, pastoralists: The census will, for the first time, collect data on the contribution of pastoralists to the livestock sector, their socio-economic status, and livestock holding.
  • More details, granular information: The census will find out the proportion of households whose major income comes from the livestock sector. It will also contain data on the gender of stray cattle.

Q1: What is the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)?

ICAR is the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture in the entire country under the aegis of DARES, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Source: What is the livestock census? Why is it conducted?

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