MP Introduces Colour-Coded Tags for Livestock Identification

State govt rolls out tags to distinguish pet, stray cattle from goshala animals, easing farmer woes and road safety risks

Breaking Initiative

The Madhya Pradesh government is set to introduce colour-coded tags for cattle and buffalo to identify pet animals, strays and those in goshalas. Animal Husbandry Minister Lakhan Patel confirmed the move to this correspondent, addressing a key challenge posed by stray livestock damaging crops and causing accidents.

Sources indicate the state proposed the scheme to the Centre, which approved two distinct colours. Tags will arrive soon, enabling quick identification by colour—pet, stray or goshala-bound.

Minister's Confirmation

Patel explained the tags will simplify ownership checks. "People will know at a glance if an animal is stray or owned," he said. For pets, tags will reveal if they've been abandoned, curbing stray populations over time.

The initiative targets nearly 2.9 crore cattle and buffaloes in MP—1.57 crore bovines and the rest buffaloes. Only 30% are high-breed; 70% are indigenous, low-yield cows needing improvement.

Breed Improvement Push

Patel highlighted Gujarat's edge despite fewer animals: superior breeds boost milk output there. "MP has numbers but weaker stock," he noted. The state plans breed upgrades in self-sustaining goshalas to lift dairy production.

In a goshala with 25,000 cows, producing 1,500-2,000 high-breed calves yearly could yield Rs 1.5-2 crore in three years at Rs 1 lakh per cow, Patel added.

Self-Sustaining Goshalas

Under Policy-2025, large goshalas with over 5,000 capacity are rising in urban areas. Model units operate in Agar Malwa, Indore, Gwalior and Ujjain; construction advances in Bhopal, Jabalpur and Sagar.

Gwalior's facility will house India's first 100-tonne CNG plant from cattle waste. Revenue streams include solar plants, breeding, milk, CNG, manure and tourism—riverside huts, boating and homestays for rural visitors.

Enhanced Subsidies

Goshalas receive Rs 505 crore via the Gosamvardhan Board. Daily fodder aid per animal rises from Rs 20 to Rs 40. Hydraulic cattle-lifting vehicles aid injured strays.

"These steps make goshalas viable businesses," Patel stated, urging breed focus for economic gains.

Farmer and Road Impact

Strays ruin crops and trigger mishaps on MP roads, a persistent public interest story. Colour-coded tags promise relief—farmers spot owned animals easily, reducing conflicts. Authorities expect fewer accidents as strays get tracked to goshalas faster.

Latest news today from India news update underscores this as a practical government updates fix for rural distress.

Future Rollout

Tags deploy province-wide shortly post-Centre supply. Breed programmes expand, with tourism integration boosting goshala incomes. Officials monitor early results, aiming to emulate Gujarat's dairy success.