DWINDLING POPULATION OF INDIAN WORKING EQUINES: A WORRYING TREND

A.R. Ahlawat; A.D. Verma; M.D. Odedra; G.P. Sabapara; R.J. Padodara; D.M. Mane

doi:10.56093/ijvasr.v53i4.158003

Authors

A.R. Ahlawat Professor and Head, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry Kamdhenu University, Anand - 388 001, Gujarat
A.D. Verma Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Genetics & Breeding, COVSAH, Kamdhenu University, Navsari, Gujarat- 396 450
M.D. Odedra Associate Professor, Department of Livestock Production Management, COVSAH, Kamdhenu University, Junagadh, Gujarat-362001
G.P. Sabapara Associate Professor, Department of Livestock Farm Complex, COVSAH, Kamdhenu University, Junagadh, Gujarat-362001
R.J. Padodara Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, COVSAH, Kamdhenu University, Junagadh, Gujarat-362001
D.M. Mane Post-Graduate Scholar, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry Kamdhenu University, Anand - 388 001, Gujarat

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijvasr.v53i4.158003

Keywords:

Equines, Trend, Horses, Ponies, Mules

Abstract

The equine species, which includes donkeys, mules, horses, and ponies, have made major contributions to human civilizations all throughout the world. The Indian livestock sector, after an initial decline in period from 2007 - 2012, staged a remarkable comeback during the period from 2012-2019 with an impressive overall growth rate of 4.8%. However, the total population of horses, ponies, mules and donkeys in India is 0.55 million as per the latest livestock census, a decrease by 51.9% over the previous livestock census (2012). The ‘decreasing utility’ due to increasing vehicles and urbanization has been considered as factors for the drastic dip in population. This paper, based on secondary data, aims to provide a concise summary of the current status, growth rate, distribution patterns, and factors leading to the decline in the population of working equines in India. Tabular presentations and graphical representations have been utilized for easy analysis and comparison of population trends across different years.

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