The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday said the state was the nation’s frontrunner in cow protection and livestock development, accounting for 16 percent of India’s cattle population.It said that cows are not only revered in UP, but are also powering the rural economy, creating jobs and strengthening livelihoods.The government claimed, citing the 20th Livestock Census (2019),the state is home to 1.90 crore cattle, including 11.84 lakh stray cattle, a figure that has grown from over 12 lakh in 2017, before formal policies were in place.The government further claims, after Yogi Adityanath became Chief Minister in 2017, cow protection became a top priority in the state. On January 2, 2019, UP became the first state in the country to launch a policy for the protection of stray cattle.According to the governmentdata there are 7717 cow shelters in the state, housing 12.52 lakh (1.25 million) cattle.The government spends Rs 50 per animal per day, around Rs 7.5 crore daily, for their care. For every large cow protection center, Rs 1.60 crore is being invested in construction.According to the offcial data the state produces 5,500 tonnes of cow dung daily, which is being used to make various products like vermicompost, flower pots, cow-based lamps, cow-dung wood, incense sticks, Panchgavya, Jeevamrit, and Ghanamrit.According to the government, the state has a Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of rupees 25.63 lakh crore of which the livestock sector contributes rupees 1.67 lakh crore. While livestock contributes to 4.11 percent to India’s overall GDP,Story continues below this adWhile livestock contributes 4.11% to India’s GDP overall, UP contributes a much higher, 7.1 percent according to the government.The state also produces 390 lakh metric tonnes of milk every year, strengthening the rural economy.Under the Chief Minister’s Indigenous Cow Promotion Scheme and the Nandini Krishak Samriddhi Yojana, native breeds like Sahiwal, Gir, and Tharparkar are being promoted.These schemes provide 40–50% subsidy and rewards of Rs 10,000–15,000 through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to over 6,500 cattle rearers.Story continues below this adThe government data stated, to encourage artificial insemination in cattle, 3.08 lakh free procedures were done in 2024–25.Under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund and National Livestock Mission, 44 and 292 projects are being implemented with investments of Rs 1,094.38 crore and Rs 144.29 crore, respectively.Under the UP Global Investors Summit (UPGIS) 2023, 578 dairy and livestock units have attracted investments worth Rs 2,221.99 crore and created 1.23 lakh jobs.Through schemes like the Nandini Krishak Samriddhi Yojana, the government is helping set up units with 25 milch cows, with 50% of the beneficiaries being women. Under the Fodder Policy 2024, Napier grass is being grown on 230 hectares of land, aiming to produce 1.73 lakh quintals of green fodder.Story continues below this adIn addition, 9,449.82 hectares of pasture land have been freed from illegal occupation, and fodder has been planted on 5,458.93 hectares.Women’s participation in cow dung and urine-based product units has made many rural women self-reliant, the data reveals.