India's ambitious bid to provide a 12-digit unique identification (UID) number, just like the Aadhar for human beings, to its entire 300-million cattle population would need a major thrust to achieve the desired results. Of the total cattle population, only 1.5 million cattle has been registered so far for being provided with the UID number, that would make it easier to keep a tab on them through the database.
The unique identification (UID) number contains details of the cattle's age, breed, sex, height, body colour, horn type, tail switch and special marks.
"The data base of animals is crucial for control and spread of animal diseases, scientific management of animals, enhanced production and productivity, improvement in quality of livestock and livestock products, increase in trade of livestock and livestock products by meeting out sanitary and phtyosanitory issues," officials of agriculture ministry said. Of the 300 million cattle populace, 90 million are milk-producing animals.
Identifying animals and giving them unique identities help, because a database gets created with vital details, unique to each animal. This helps by controlling the spread of diseases, improving the quality of their life, and productivity. Some ear tags use Radio Frequency Identification Devices to keep track of animal movements. Animal identification started off primary for ownership reasons-people would often brand cattle, to denote ownership. Now, however, the bigger picture has emerged. Keeping track of data helps experts to judge whether productivity can be increased, without harming the animal's health.
The UID tagging of animals is being done under the 'Pashu Sanjivni' component of the National Mission on Bovine Productivity Scheme initiated from November 2016.
Tagging has long been used in wildlife conservation. Endangered animals are given UID numbers so that comprehensive data regarding their health can be maintained. In wildlife, tagging helps officials not only keep track of the census but the quality of health of that census.