Livestock census vital for animal husbandry policies: Minister

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Shyam Singh Rana has said livestock census acts as the backbone for policy making and implementation of various programmes in the animal husbandry sector.

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Attending the inauguration ceremony of the 21st Livestock Census Campaign at the Government Animal Hospital in Radaur on Friday as a chief guest, Rana said in this livestock census, a comprehensive door-to-door survey would be conducted in the entire state in which data about domestic animals and poultry would be collected.

“Since the first livestock census was held in 1919, livestock census is organised every five years,” he said, adding that the census included counting of various species of livestock such as cow, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig, camel, horse, etc. as well as poultry birds.

He further said this livestock census would also provide detailed information about the dairy equipment available with the citizens involved in animal husbandry, which was important for the interest of the livestock sector of the nation and the state.

The minister said the government had developed the infrastructure of a total of 2,928 veterinary institutions in the state, which included 1,079 veterinary hospitals, 1,796 veterinary dispensaries, seven veterinary polyclinics or pet centres, 41 para-clinical or auxiliary institutions and the Government Livestock Farm in Hisar.

He said besides, 70 mobile veterinary units were being run in various districts of the state, with the help of which animal health and breeding services were being made available to the livestock owners at their doorsteps continuously (day and night) through toll free number 1962.

He added that the annual milk production of the state had increased to 119.65 lakh tons due to the efforts of the government and animal breeders of the state.

“The per capita milk availability in the state has increased to 1098 grams per day, which is more than double the availability of 459 grams at the national level,” said Rana. He added that there was a need to take the milk productivity of animals to the level of advanced animals of developed countries, for which continuous efforts were being made by the government.

Commissioner and Secretary, Animal Husbandry Dairy Department, Vijay Singh Dahiya, Radaur SDM Jai Prakash, Joint Director of Animal Husbandry Department Dr Prem Singh and other officers were also present on the occasion.