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- According to the provisional 2019 Livestock Census report, India’s total population of indigenous and nondescript cattle is estimated at 139.82 million. This is a 7.5% decrease from 2012 indigenous cattle population.
- In contrary, the exotic and crossbred cattle population has increased by 29.5%.
- The Indian government had launched Rashritya Gokul Mission in 2014. The mission aims at development of indigenous cattle (through selection of high genetic merit bulls for breeding). It also seeks upgradation of nondescript animals (by using elite indigenous breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal).
- In 2019, the government has also established Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog. It seeks for conservation protection and development of cows and their progeny.
- The Livestock Census is conducted by the Animal Husbandry Statistic Division, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Framers Welfare.
- The 2019 Livestock Census estimated India’s total livestock population at 533.20 million.
