Buffalo count dips 23%, low milk yield to blame

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, September 18

The buffalo number in the state has decreased by 23 per cent over the previous census held in 2012. According to the 20th Livestock Census, the number of buffaloes has fallen from 51,59,734 to 39,98,865.

Jagdev Singh (55), a dairy farmer from Pohir village in Ludhiana, who once owned 13 buffaloes until 2016, now does not have even a single buffalo. Jagdev said he had understood the futility of keeping buffaloes, so he gave it up. “The government has failed to improve the breed of the buffalo. Because of the lack of good breeds, the milk productivity has decreased hence the economical viability. Also, the rate of feed has increased. We buy the feed (maize) at the rate of Rs 25 per kg. The rate was around Rs 19-20 per kg three years ago,” he said.

The utility of the buffalo in farming has also reduced and machines have replaced the animals. Notably, buffalo remained the main dairy animal in the state for many years as the climate is suitable for the breed.

“Speculation is there that people might have stopped keeping unproductive animals, but the analysis of the data would be difficult,” Animal Husbandry officials said, adding that the report was being studied.

Animal Husbandry Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa said a research was underway to identify the new high milk producing breeds. “It will take time, but the research is on,” he said.

Overall cattle population goes up

Pig The report has revealed that the population of pig has increased in Punjab. In 2012, the number was 32,221. It has risen to 52,452 now

Sheep The sheep population has gone down by 31 per cent. Now, the number is 86,006 while in 2012, it was 1,28,534

Cattle The cattle population, on the other hand, has increased by 4 per cent - from 24,27,714 to 25,18,764

Donkey There are only 471 donkeys left in the state whereas, in 2012 there were 2,909