Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Nov 20: Karnataka is set to count livestock across 1.5 crore households as part of the 21st National Livestock Census, which will document domesticated animals and even stray cattle and dogs.

The ambitious survey, which kicked off last week under the leadership of chief minister Siddaramaiah, will run until February 2025.

A total of 3,243 enumerators, armed with mobile apps, will visit 29,269 villages and 7,176 municipal wards to gather data on animals, ranging from cows and buffaloes to camels and chickens.

Animal husbandry minister K Venkatesh stressed that the census would play a key role in shaping the government’s livestock programmes. "This data will help us strengthen initiatives like the National Gokul Mission and Dairy Development programmes, improve animal health, boost productivity, and uplift rural incomes," he said.

The livestock census, conducted every five years since 1919, was last held in 2019. Karnataka’s last census recorded over 84 lac cows, 29.85 lakh buffaloes, and 1.1 crore sheep, totaling more than 3 crore livestock.

This year, the survey will cover 16 species, including goats, pigs, ducks, and yak.

What’s new this time?

"In the past, enumerators used lengthy spreadsheets to input data manually," explained Dr A D Shivaram, assistant director of animal husbandry. "Now, data is collected via an app, allowing for direct uploads to the system. If there’s no network, the app stores the information and updates it once connectivity is restored."

While the new system is expected to make the process more efficient, there is a potential hitch: tracking stray dogs. "Since stray dogs move from street to street, we need to ensure they are not double-counted," Dr Shivaram said.

With 16 species and 219 breeds on the list, this year’s census aims to provide comprehensive data that will guide future policies and improve the state’s livestock sector.