Imphal, July 06: Owing to the increased human population and subsequent occupation of grazing ground, population of certain indigenous live stocks including cattle, buffaloes, horses and ponies etc have declined considerably in the last few years.

This sharp decline is clearly evident in the publication of the final report of the 18 quinquennial livestock census, 2003 prepared by the State Directorate of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry.

The report is prepared every five years.

Besides encroachment by the ever increasing human population on the grazing grounds of the animals, another important factor for the sharp decline in the population of indigenous cattle is rampant slaughtering of catties for meat irrespective of their gender, age and breed, opined Dr S Dhabali Singh, Deputy Director (Statistics) of the Vety Directorate.

Pertaining to the steep increase in the population of ducks, the Deputy Director informed that unlike other animals, ducks have strong resistance and very simple food habits.

About the publication of the latest livestock census, he stated that as instructed by the centre, counting of a animal heads was done during Nov 2003 by 340 enumerators comprising Vety Fields Assistance and Trained Matriculate attendants under the supervision of 70 supervisors, he said.

The report was later prepared by the Directorate, he said adding that the same was also sent to the Ministry of Agriculture, Dept of Animal Husbandry and Dairying for necessary information in the middle week of June 2004.

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