📊 20th Livestock Census 2026 & 21st Livestock Census — Free Notes for IBPS AFO, NABARD & Agriculture Exams

Livestock Census Basics

• The first livestock census was done in 1919, 47 years after human counting was started in 1872. This means India has a long history of systematically documenting its animal wealth, recognizing its economic significance even during the colonial era.
• First livestock census, after independence was conducted in the year 1951. Post-independence, the census became a critical tool for planning livestock development programmes under the Five Year Plans.
• It is held by Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying under Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. (Made recently in 2019)
• It is conducted quinuennially (every five years). The five-year interval allows the government to track long-term trends in livestock population, breed composition, and species distribution across the country.
• The Livestock Census covers all domesticated animals and its headcounts. So far 19 such censuses have been conducted in participation with State Governments and UT Administrations.
• The 20^th Livestock Census was conducted in participation with all States and Union Territories. This was a landmark census as it employed digital technology for data collection for the first time.
• The enumeration was done both in rural and urban areas. Various species of
  • Animals: Cattle, Buffalo, Mithun, Yak, Sheep, Goat, Pig, Horse, Pony, Mule, Donkey, Camel, Dog, Rabbit and Elephant
  • Poultry birds: Fowl, Duck, Emu, Turkeys, Quail and other poultry birds
• possessed by the households, household enterprises/non-household enterprises and institutions have been counted at their site.

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Main objectives

1. To assess the growth rate of the livestock
2. It helps to assess/improve the quality/production performance
3. It helps to reduce the uneconomical livestock by culling

These objectives collectively enable the government to formulate evidence-based policies for breed improvement, disease control, and feed management across the nation.

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Important Highlights of 20th Livestock Census 2019

• The total livestock population consisting of Cattle, Buffalo, Sheep, Goat, Pig, Horses & Ponies, Mules, Donkeys, Camels, Mithun and Yak in the country is 536.76 million in 2019. The total livestock population has increased by about 4.8% over the previous 2012 census. Rural livestock: 514.11 million (95.78%); Urban: 22.65 million (4.22%).
• Total bovine population (Cattle, Buffalo, Mithun and Yak) is 303.76 million in 2019 which shows an increase of about 1.3% over the previous census. Bovines form the backbone of India's dairy sector and contribute the most to milk production.
• The Total Number of Cattle in the country in 2019 is 193.46 million showing an increase of 1.3% over previous Census.
• The Female Cattle (Cows population) is 145.12 million, increased by 18.0% over the previous census (2012). This significant rise in female cattle reflects the growing focus on dairy development and the preference for milch animals.
• The Exotic/Crossbred and Indigenous/Non-descript Cattle population in the country is 51.36 million and 142.11 million respectively.
• The Indigenous/Non-descript female cattle population has increased by 10% in 2019 as compared to previous census. This is an encouraging trend, showing improved conservation efforts for indigenous breeds.
• The population of the total Exotic/Crossbred Cattle has increased by 29.3% in 2019 as compared to previous census. This sharp increase reflects the success of crossbreeding programmes aimed at enhancing milk productivity.
• There is a decline of 6% in the total Indigenous/Non-descript cattle population over the previous census. However, the pace of decline during 2012–2019 is much lesser than 2007–12 which was about 9%. This slowing decline suggests that breed conservation programmes like the Rashtriya Gokul Mission are having a positive effect.
• The total buffaloes in the country is 109.85 million showing an increase of about 1.1% over previous Census. India holds the largest buffalo population in the world, and buffaloes are major contributors to India's milk production.
• The total milch animals (in-milk and dry) in cows and buffaloes is 125.75 million, an increase of 6.0% over the previous census. More milch animals directly translate to higher milk production capacity.
• The total sheep in the country is 74.26 million in 2019, increased by 14.1% over previous Census.
• The goat population in the country in 2019 is 148.89 million showing an increase of 10.1% over the previous census. Goats remain the "poor man's cow" and are vital for the livelihood of landless labourers and marginal farmers.
• The total Pigs in the country is 9.06 million in the current Census, declined by 12.03% over the previous Census.
• The total Mithun in the country is 3.9 lakh (↑ 29.5%) and Yak is 58 thousand (↑ 24.9%) over previous Census.
• The total Horses and Ponies in the country is 3.4 lakhs in 2019, decreased by 45.2% over previous Census.
• The total Mules is 84 thousand (↓ 57.1%) and Donkeys is 1.2 lakhs (↓ 61.2%) in 2019.
• The total Camel population is 2.5 lakhs (0.25 million), decreased by 37.1% over previous Census. Only Camel and Donkey have shown continuous decline over the last four censuses (17th–20th).
• Stray Cattle: 50 lakhs | Stray Dogs: 153 lakhs in 2019.

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Species-Wise Livestock Snapshot

Category	Population	Growth 2012–2019
Cattle	193.46 Million	↑ 1.3%
Exotic/Crossbred	51.36 Million	↑ 29.3%
Indigenous/Non-descript	142.11 Million	↓ 6%
Buffaloes	109.85 Million	↑ 1.1%
Mithun	3.9 Lakh	↑ 29.5%
Yak	58 Thousand	↑ 24.9%
Total Bovines (Cattle + Buffalo + Mithun + Yak)	303.76 Million	↑ 1.3%
Goat	148.89 Million	↑ 10.1%
Sheep	74.26 Million	↑ 14.1%
Pig	9.06 Million	↓ 12.03%
Horses & Ponies	3.4 Lakh	↓ 45.2%
Mules	84 Thousand	↓ 57.1%
Donkeys	1.2 Lakh	↓ 61.2%
Camel	2.5 Lakh	↓ 37.1%
Total Livestock	536.76 Million	↑ 4.8%

Species Share (2019): Cattle (36%) > Goat (28%) > Buffalo (20.5%) > Sheep (13.87%)

This ranking is important to remember for competitive exams. Cattle constitute the largest share of India's livestock, followed by goats, buffaloes, and sheep.

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Poultry

Category	Population (Million)	Growth over 2012
Total Poultry	851.81	↑ 16.8%
Backyard Poultry	317.07	↑ 46%
Commercial Poultry	534.74	↑ 4.5%

• The Total Poultry in the country is 851.81 million in 2019, registered an increase of 16.8% in the total poultry. This impressive growth highlights the rapid expansion of India's poultry industry, driven by rising demand for eggs and chicken meat.
• The total birds in the Backyard Poultry in the country is 317.07 million. The backyard poultry has increased by around 45.8% as compared to previous Census. Backyard poultry is gaining popularity because it provides nutrition and supplementary income to rural households with minimal investment.
• The total Commercial Poultry in the country is 534.74 million in 2019, increased by 4.5 % over previous Census. Commercial poultry operations are concentrated in states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.

Top Poultry States: Tamil Nadu > Andhra Pradesh > Telangana

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Camel

• Total Camel Population in the country is 2.5 lakh (0.25 Million) during 2019.
• Total Camel Population has decreased by 37.1% over previous Livestock Census 2012. This dramatic decline is due to the long gestation period of camels, mechanisation of transport, and shrinking desert grazing lands.
• Rajasthan > Gujarat > Haryana

Rajasthan alone accounts for the majority of India's camel population, as the state's arid terrain is ideal for camel rearing. The Border Security Force (BSF) also maintains camels for patrolling desert borders.

Note: Only Camel and Donkey have shown a continuous declining trend across the last four Livestock Censuses — 17th (2003), 18th (2007), 19th (2012), and 20th (2019).

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Stray Animals (20th Census 2019)

Category	Count
Stray Cattle	50 Lakh (5 Million)
Stray Dogs	153 Lakh (15.3 Million)

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Maximum Population (State Wise)

Category	Maximum Population (State Wise)
Total Livestock	UP (67.8 Million) > Raj > MP
Cattle	W.B. > U.P
Buffalo	UP
Horse & Ponies	U.P.
Sheep	Telengana > AP
Goat	Raj
Donkey	Raj
Camel	Raj
Pig	Assam
Mules (Male Donkey x Female Horse)	U.K.
Mithun	Arunachal Pradesh
Yak	J&K
Poultry	T.N. > A.P. > Telengana

Total Livestock Population by State

S.No.	State	Population 2012 (Million)	Population 2019 (Million)	% Change
1	Uttar Pradesh	68.7	67.8	-1.35
2	Rajasthan	57.7	56.8	-1.66
3	Madhya Pradesh	36.3	40.6	11.81
4	West Bengal	30.3	37.4	23.32
5	Bihar	32.9	36.5	10.67
6	Andhra Pradesh	29.4	34.0	15.79
7	Maharashtra	32.5	33.0	1.61
8	Telangana	26.7	32.6	22.21
9	Karnataka	27.7	29.0	4.70
10	Gujarat	27.1	26.9	-0.95

Major State increase in Livestock population

West Bengal > Telangana > Andhra Pradesh

References

1 source • [8]

[8]

G.C. Banerjee: A Textbook of Animal Husbandry

Book

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21st Livestock Census (2024–25) — What's New?

The 21st Livestock Census is the next in the series, following the 20th Census of 2019. Enumeration was carried out between October 2024 and February 2025 across all States and Union Territories.

Key Facts for Exams

Parameter	Details
Census Number	21st Livestock Census
Enumeration Period	October 2024 — February 2025
Conducted By	Dept. of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD)
Species Covered	16 animal species
Indigenous Breeds Covered	219 breeds recognised by ICAR-NBAGR
Data Collection Mode	Fully digitised — mobile app + digital dashboard
GPS Recording	Latitude & longitude of each data collection point

16 Animal Species Covered

Cattle, Buffalo, Mithun, Yak, Sheep, Goat, Pig, Camel, Horse, Ponies, Mule, Donkey, Dog, Rabbit, Elephant — plus poultry birds (fowl, chicken, duck, turkey, geese, quail, ostrich, emu).

What's New in 21st Census (Not in Earlier Censuses)

1. Pastoralist Data — For the first time, the census will collect information on the contribution of pastoralists to the livestock sector, their socio-economic status, and their livestock holdings.
2. Household Income Dependency — Data will be collected on the proportion of households whose primary income comes from the livestock sector.
3. Gender of Stray Cattle — The census will record the sex-wise count of stray cattle, a new addition to the dataset.
4. 219 Indigenous Breeds — More granular breed-level data, covering all ICAR-NBAGR recognised breeds.

Exam Tip: The 21st Livestock Census will be fully digitised with mobile-app-based data collection, GPS coordinates, and real-time monitoring via a digital dashboard — same as the 20th census but with additional new data points.

ICAR-NBAGR — Quick Reference

ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal, is the body responsible for identifying, registering, and conserving indigenous animal breeds in India. All 219 breeds covered in the 21st census are registered with NBAGR.

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Summary Cheat Sheet

Census Framework

Concept / Topic	Key Details
First livestock census	1919 (47 years after human census in 1872)
First census after independence	1951
Census frequency	Quinquennial (every 5 years)
Conducted by	Dept. of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, AH & Dairying
Latest (completed) census	20th Livestock Census (2019) — first to use digital technology for data collection
Objectives	Assess growth rate; improve production quality; reduce uneconomical livestock by culling

20th Livestock Census 2019 — Population Data

Species / Category	Population	Growth over 2012
Total Livestock	536.76 million	↑ 4.8%
Rural livestock	514.11 million (95.78%)	—
Urban livestock	22.65 million (4.22%)	—
Total Bovines (Cattle + Buffalo + Mithun + Yak)	303.76 million	↑ 1.3%
Cattle	193.46 million	↑ 1.3%
Exotic/Crossbred cattle	51.36 million	↑ 29.3%
Indigenous/Non-descript cattle	142.11 million	↓ 6%
Female cattle (Cows)	145.12 million	↑ 18%
Buffaloes	109.85 million	↑ 1.1%
Mithun	3.9 lakh	↑ 29.5%
Yak	58 thousand	↑ 24.9%
Milch animals (cows + buffaloes)	125.75 million	↑ 6%
Goat	148.89 million	↑ 10.1%
Sheep	74.26 million	↑ 14.1%
Pig	9.06 million	↓ 12.03%
Horses & Ponies	3.4 lakh	↓ 45.2%
Mules	84 thousand	↓ 57.1%
Donkeys	1.2 lakh	↓ 61.2%
Camel	2.5 lakh (0.25 million)	↓ 37.1%
Total Poultry	851.81 million	↑ 16.8%
Backyard Poultry	317.07 million	↑ 45.8%
Commercial Poultry	534.74 million	↑ 4.5%
Stray Cattle	50 lakh	—
Stray Dogs	153 lakh	—

Key Rankings & Trends

Concept / Topic	Key Details
Species share order	Cattle 36% > Goat 28% > Buffalo 20.5% > Sheep 13.87%
Continuously declining	Camel & Donkey — only species with decline in all last 4 censuses (17th–20th)
Most cattle (state)	West Bengal > UP
Most buffalo (state)	Uttar Pradesh
Most goat (state)	Rajasthan
Most sheep (state)	Telangana > AP
Most pig (state)	Assam
Most camel (state)	Rajasthan > Gujarat > Haryana
Most mithun (state)	Arunachal Pradesh
Most yak (state)	J&K
Most poultry (state)	Tamil Nadu > AP > Telangana
Total livestock leader	Uttar Pradesh (67.8 M) > Rajasthan > MP
Highest livestock increase	West Bengal > Telangana > Andhra Pradesh

21st Livestock Census (2024–25)

Parameter	Details
Enumeration period	October 2024 — February 2025
Conducted by	DAHD
Technology	Fully digitised — mobile app + GPS coordinates + digital dashboard
Species covered	16 animal species
Indigenous breeds	219 breeds recognised by ICAR-NBAGR, Karnal
New: Pastoralist data	First time — socio-economic status & livestock holdings of pastoralists
New: Income dependency	% of households whose primary income is from livestock
New: Stray cattle sex-wise	Sex-wise count of stray cattle (new addition)