The Andhra Pradesh government began the online registration of cattle in the state on Thursday, by issuing Aadhaar-like unique numbers under the Information Network on Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH).
The state will now tag them, and also plans to keep a central data bank with all the details collected.
The project was inaugurated in Amaravati mandal of Guntur district by State Minister for Animal Husbandry C. Adinarayana Reddy and Minister for Agriculture S. Chandramohan Reddy, under Pasu Sanjivani programme.
“Dairying is an important sector in our country as we are the highest milk producers in the world, but productivity of our animals is low,” the Deccan Chronicle quoted Adinarayana Reddy as saying.
The DC report adds that the government could increase productivity by boosting infrastructure, to produce genetically improved bulls and procuring their semen.
The ministers also said that the infrastructure related to cattle feed, feed supplements, fodder seed etc will also be made available to the farmers under the project.
This online registration of cattle will also be linked to the local veterinary hospital, which would help authorities monitor the animals individually with their personal profile.
According to Deccan Herald, this move came after the Centre imposed new restrictions on sale of cattle to slaughterhouses, in order to stop the 'illegal transportation' of cattle.
The report also added that united Andhra Pradesh had around 10.6 million cattle, which included several rare breeds.
This move will particularly hit the drought-prone Rayalaseema region in the state, where several farmers sell their cattle in times of crisis, to survive the summer.
Adinarayana Reddy also said that the government was making more efforts to provide Rs 15,000 income to every farmer, by promoting milk production.
Earlier, the Central government proposed Aadhaar-like unique identity system for cows in the Supreme Court, to prevent cow smuggling.
The Centre said that the Unique Identification Number will consist of all the records of identification details such as age, breed, sex, lactation, height, body, colour, horn type, tail switch, special mark etc.
The government said that the identification numbers will help track cows and prevent inter-state and inter-country smuggling.