The Animal Husbandry Department will begin its livestock census in Thane district starting November 25, which will run through February 28, 2025. This census is a vital process, conducted every five years, to accurately assess the number of livestock in the district, which helps in the implementation of government schemes and the allocation of funds for animal welfare programs.

Dr. Prashant Kamble, the Regional Animal Husbandry Joint Commissioner, recently reviewed the preparations for the cattle census in Thane district and guided the process.

For this year’s census, one enumerator has been appointed for every 3,000 families. The enumerators have completed their training and are ready to begin the counting process, which will include cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep, horses, and boars. The information collected through this census will play a crucial role in shaping government policies and determining the availability of funds for veterinary clinics, including the supply of medicines for vaccinations.

The previous livestock census was conducted in 2019, with the next one initially planned for 2017 but delayed by two years. As part of the ongoing preparations, the Animal Husbandry Department has appointed 72 praganaks (supervisors) and 14 supervisors for rural areas, while 389 praganaks and 47 supervisors have been designated for urban areas of Thane district.

Enumerators, who are required to have completed the Livestock Supervisor Diploma Course, will now use their mobile phones to record the livestock data, entering it into software provided by the Central Animal Husbandry Department. In the previous census, enumerators used tablets to collect data.

Vallabh Joshi, the Animal Husbandry Deputy Commissioner, and Dr. Sameer Todankar, the District Animal Husbandry Officer of Zilla Parishad, have appealed to animal breeders to provide accurate and honest information about their livestock. This will help ensure the smooth implementation of various government programs and effective resource distribution for animal healthcare.

Statistics from the 2019 Livestock Census in Thane District:

• Cows and Bulls: 80,532
• Buffaloes: 95,415
• Goats, Sheep: 63,334