Stray cattle in India

India has over 5 million stray cattle according to the livestock census data released in January 2020.^[1] The stray cow attacks on humans and crops in both urban and rural areas is an issue for the residents.^[2]^[3]

Cow slaughter is banned in many places in India with penalties of long imprisonment and huge fines. Fear of arrest, persecution, and lynching by cow vigilantes has reduced the trading of cows. Once a cow stops giving milk, feeding and maintenance of the cow becomes a financial burden on the farmer who cannot afford their upkeep. Cattle that farmers are unable to sell are eventually abandoned. A cow is considered "stray" when its owner no longer claims ownership or its owner cannot be determined.^[4]^[5]^[6]

Stray cattle are rarely a nuisance to traffic in urban areas and rarely cause road accidents.^[1]^[7] The problem of solid waste pollution, especially plastic pollution and garbage dumped at public places, poses a risk to stray cattle which feed on garbage.^[8] Western scholars have advocated that India reduces its dairy production and rely more on Western imported milk and milk products, and also to reduce the respect given to cows.

^ ^a ^b D K, Sadana (5 April 2021). "'India needs to look beyond gaushalas to address its stray cattle problem'". DownToEarth. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
^ Cite error: The named reference IT 11 Jan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Yogi Adityanath government stares at UP farmers' backlash as cattle destroy crops". The New Indian Express. 10 February 2019. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
^ "Stray cattle Definition". Law Insider. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
^ Cite error: The named reference BBC UP deadly cow was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Why India has 5 million stray cows roaming the country". Washington Post. 16 July 2018. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
^ "Next to Adityanath's Rally Ground in Rae Bareli Is a Shelter Where Cows Die Every Day". The Wire. 22 February 2022. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
^ "71 Kg Of Waste Found In Stomach Of Stray Faridabad Cow". NDTV.com. 4 March 2021. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.

[:0-1] D K, Sadana (5 April 2021). "'India needs to look beyond gaushalas to address its stray cattle problem'". DownToEarth. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.

[IT_11_Jan-2] Cite error: The named reference IT 11 Jan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Backlash_10_February_2019-3] "Yogi Adityanath government stares at UP farmers' backlash as cattle destroy crops". The New Indian Express. 10 February 2019. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.

[Definition-4] "Stray cattle Definition". Law Insider. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.

[BBC_UP_deadly_cow-5] Cite error: The named reference BBC UP deadly cow was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Washington_Post_16_July_2018-6] "Why India has 5 million stray cows roaming the country". Washington Post. 16 July 2018. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2022.

[Rae_Bareli_22_February_2022-7] "Next to Adityanath's Rally Ground in Rae Bareli Is a Shelter Where Cows Die Every Day". The Wire. 22 February 2022. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.

[8] "71 Kg Of Waste Found In Stomach Of Stray Faridabad Cow". NDTV.com. 4 March 2021. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.

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