Increasing Population Of Stray Animals

Across India, farmers are becoming their own night security guards. But their enemies aren’t robbers. They’re stray cattle—and there are more than 5 million of them. “A herd can destroy the whole crop in just one hour,” says Anjani Dixit, district head of Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan, a farmer association in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Stray livestock, which gather at garbage dumps and weave through traffic, lead to thousands of road accidents each year; between 2018 and 2022, they caused more than 900 human deaths in the northern state of Haryana.

The issue of stray cattle is becoming a pressing concern in many parts of the world due to the increasing population of these domesticated animals wandering freely in public spaces and rural areas.

India has the largest cow population in the world. Around 142.11 million are indigenous.

Year No of death by road accidents by stray cattle

2018 1130

2019 1425

2020 1305

Many livestock owners abandon male calves soon after they're born, keeping the females, which provide valuable milk and calves. In years past, farmers would deploy the males to plough their fields and use their dung as manure. But nearly every farmer now uses tractors, while manure has been replaced with chemical fertilisers.

 There is no compensation for culling [diseased cows], so [farmers] will either sell them off to another farmer, which leads to spreading infections, or they will abandon them on the streets. Cattle can spread zoonotic diseases such as brucellosis to people, which can cause flu-like symptoms.

Reasons For The High Share Of Stray Cattle In The Country

Once a cow stops giving milk, feeding and maintenance of the cow becomes a financial burden on the farmer who cannot afford their upkeep.

Resources required to maintain the unproductive cattle.

Neglect of the indigenous populations to excessive focus on crossbreeding in the past few decades.

Increased mechanisation has reduced use of bulls in the agricultural sector.

Problems Caused By Stray Cattle

1. Injuring other animals/ humans.

2. Crop damage.

3. Overgrazing of land.

4. Increased the level of Methane emission by cattle production and dung of stray cattle.

The increasing population of stray cattle can be attributed to various factors, one of which is the production of milk and dairy products. As the demand for these products rises, there might be a corresponding increase in the number of cattle raised for milk production.

Cattle farming contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane and nitrous oxide, which are potent contributors to climate change. Deforestation for cattle grazing and feed production further exacerbates environmental concerns, leading to habitat loss and biodiversity depletion. Moreover, intensive dairy farming practices can lead to water pollution through excessive nutrient runoff.

Prevention 

The first step to prevent this should be to stop cross-breeding indigenous and exotic varieties. Research institutes should instead use the semen of indigenous breeds.

Researchers should also develop sexed semen of indigenous breeds to control the population of male calves that have lower demand.

The dung of indigenous cattle has a lot of useful bacteria that can prevent diseases caused by pathogenic strains and can be used as a natural purifier.

Mandatory ear tags for cattle to easily find the owner if the cattle is found abandoned.

Wearing them glow in dark stickers band on neck to prevent road accidents.

Making fixed food distribution areas for stray cattle.

Taking them to gaushalas where people keep stray cattle and take good care of them.

Less using milk products as it can reduce the reproduction of more female calves to produce milk.

Making people aware that animal protein is not at all good for health rather it causes bad effects to the human body.

Encouraging responsible consumption patterns, reducing food waste, and supporting local and organic dairy products can also contribute to a more sustainable dairy industry.

Conclusion:

The growing population of stray cattle is a complex issue with significant impacts on communities and the environment. Addressing this problem requires a collaborative effort involving cattle owners, local authorities, and the broader community.

 By implementing responsible livestock management practices, creating designated grazing areas, and raising awareness, we can work towards mitigating the challenges posed by stray cattle and create safer and more sustainable living environments for both humans and animals alike.