After launching its ambitious project of ear tagging the bovine species in the State, the Manohar lal Khattar Government is now mulling to begin a similar project for all kinds of livestock in Haryana.
A proposal in this regard has been prepared by state Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department and is under consideration of the State Government. Under the proposed project, ear-tagging of livestock including sheep, goats, pigs, horses among others would be done in the state.
The project costing crores of rupees is aimed at livestock identification besides helping the government in extending benefits under special livestock insurance scheme (SCSP) and other programmes.
According to the livestock census 2012, buffalo population is highest with 69 percent followed by cattle 20.50 percent, goat 4.19 percent, sheep 4.11 percent and pigs 1.44 percent besides marginal contribution is attributed by other livestock species such as camel, mithun, yak, mules, donkeys, horses and ponies in Haryana.
There were 60.85 lakh buffalo, 18.08 lakh cattle, 3.69 lakh goats, 3.62 lakh sheep, 1.26 lakh pigs, 36,660 lakh horses and ponies, and around 18,000 camels in the State as per 2012 livestock census. However, the number is said to have increased by several fold since then.
“The Department has sent a proposal to the State Government for ear-tagging of livestock in the state. Under the project, ear-tagging of all farm animals would be done,” said a senior official of Haryana Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department while talking to The Pioneer.
The official said the project was aimed at livestock identification and would help the Government in implementation of various schemes for animal welfare. The Department has proposed to cover goats, sheep, horses, camel etc under the project, said he. The ear tags would carry an identification number. With this project, the Department would also be able to keep a record of owners of domesticated animals,” he added.
At present, a project is underway for ear tagging of cattle in gaushalas of Haryana. The ear tagging of bovine species has triggered a controversy in the state and the BJP led State Government is already facing strong criticism from the political parties and social organizations for “playing the cow politics for electoral gains”.
like the Aadhaar card for the citizens, these ear tags for cattle contain the details about the bovine species including the 12-digit tag number, district number and gaushala number. As many as 3.50 lakh ear tags of yellow and pink colour were procured by the Haryana Government last year for carrying out this exercise.