Poultry count doubles in Punjab

The preliminary report of the 21st Livestock Census has revealed a remarkable surge in the population of poultry across the state.

According to data, the total number of poultry — mostly broilers and layers — has more than doubled, increasing from 1.76 crore in the 20th Livestock Census in 2019 to 3.57 crore at present.

This sharp increase highlighted a growing public interest in poultry farming as a viable commercial activity, said a senior official of the Animal Husbandry Department.

“While the population of cattle and buffaloes has seen a decline, the public has shown a noticeable interest in allied sectors such as commercial poultry farming, goat rearing and even horse breeding. People are diversifying their livestock-related activities and moving beyond traditional cattle-based farming,” the official added.

Dr Gurdit Singh, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry Department, said, “Multiple factors have contributed, including the absence of major bird diseases in recent years, and consistently better egg prices. Moreover, the rise of contract broiler and layer farming has further boosted the sector.”

A poultry farm owner said, “The contract farming has led to a rise in poultry numbers. For example, those who earlier reared 5,000 birds are now rearing 10,000. Under the contracts, companies provide inputs, technical support and marketing, while farm owners offer land, labour and other facilities. In return, they receive either a fixed fee or a share of profits.”

Animal Husbandry Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian acknowledged the upward trend in poultry numbers. “The poultry population in the state has more than doubled in the past five years. This clearly reflects the growing enthusiasm among people for allied agricultural ventures,” he said.

The minister, however, expressed concern over the declining population of cattle and buffaloes. “We are taking this matter seriously. Efforts will be made to address the reasons behind the decline and to encourage livestock owners to reinvest in traditional cattle and buffalo farming,” Khuddian said.

He further said the department planned to launch new initiatives aimed at boosting interest in cattle and buffalo rearing, along with organising more livestock-related events and awareness drives to support the overall growth of the sector.