Reasons for milk crisis in Jharkhand and dependence on Bihar for supply of milk could finally be found in the decline in the population of milch animals in Jharkhand. The 19th livestock Census reveals that the population of milch animals in Jharkhand has declined by around 1.11 per cent since the 18th census conducted in 2007.
The livestock Census is conducted every five year and the census was conducted in 2012, however, the validated data has been released in 2014 for its use for animal husbandry policies in the current year. According to the 19th census, at the onset of the census in 2012 head count of milch animals was 21.91-lakh compared to the population of 24.66-lakh in 2007.
The decline has been alarming for the population of milch buffalo which dwindled from 4.56-lakh in 2007 to 3.41-lakh till the last census. Interestingly, population of bovine declined considerably since the 18th census. The overall population of buffalo slipped to 11.86-lakh in 2012 from 15.06-lakh that was recorded in 18th livestock Census.
The population declined from 87.81-lakh in 2007 to 87.30-lakh in the beginning of 2012. But the final figures of the census present the brighter side of animal kingdom in Jharkhand. Although bovines are on decline, population of meat yielding animals have gone up especially in count of pigs, which is reared for meat and Jharkhand has seen an impressive jump of 31.38 per cent in last five years thus putting the state on second position in India. Similarly, population of sheep has jumped 20 per cent whereas count of poultry has increased by about 21 per cent.
However, donkeys are in precarious situation as compared to other animals and they could soon become an animal with mention in texts only. The embodiment of mockery today stands lower among all animals in terms of population with 304 remaining in the State.