(a) whether any Livestock Census has been conducted recently in Jammu and
Kashmir and West Bengal;
(b) if so, the number of cattle especially the number of milch cattle in these States;
(c) the status of cross breed cattle in these States; and
(d) the steps being taken by the Union as well as State Governments to increase the
number of cattle and also to improve their breed?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a): The Government of Jammu & Kashmir conducted the 16th Livestock Census in
1997 while the livestock census was not conducted by the State Government of West
Bengal.
(b): In Jammu & Kashmir, the total number of cattle population is 31.75 lakhs and out
of this the total number of milch cattle is 6.99 lakhs. On the basis of projected figures
given by the Government of West Bengal, the total cattle population is estimated to be
178.32 lakhs out of which the number of milch cattle is 30.37 lakhs.
(c): In Jammu & Kashmir the total cross-breed cattle population is 10.83 lakhs and in
West Bengal the total cross breed cattle population is 9.36 lakhs
(d): The main focus of policy of the Government at present is to reduce mortality in
cattle by undertaking livestock health cover. It is felt that the number of cattle exceeds
the carrying capacity of the land with an increasing human population competing with
animals for the produce of the land. Therefore, the approach has been to concentrate
on improvement of productivity of cattle rather than increasing their number. Both the
States and Centre have established breeding farms for supply of improved germplasm.
A national project for Cattle and Buffalo Breeding has also been initiated to reach quality
breeding inputs at farmer`s doorstep.