Sri Vijaya Puram, Feb. 12: The Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services has issued a landmark directive mandating 100% ear tagging of all cattle and buffaloes across the Islands by 31st March, 2026. This mandatory requirement is a key component of the National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM) being implemented through the Bharat Pashudhan App/Portal, aimed at creating a comprehensive, accurate, and real-time digital database of livestock and livestock owners in the Union Territory.
Ear tagging will provide unique identification for each animal, enabling effective traceability, improved animal health monitoring, better breeding and genetic upgradation services, stronger disease surveillance and control, and efficient record maintenance for vaccination, treatment, and scheme benefits. This initiative marks a major step forward in modernizing livestock management, enhancing productivity, and ensuring transparency in veterinary service delivery across the islands.
From 1st April, 2026 onwards, no veterinary services, including vaccinations, treatments, health certificates, or any other assistance — will be provided to any cattle or buffalo without a valid ear tag linked to the NDLM portal. The issuance of Veterinary Health Certificates and Transportation Certificates for cattle and buffaloes has also been suspended until further orders. All such certificates will henceforth be issued only on the basis of verified ear-tagged identification recorded in the Bharat Pashudhan/NDLM portal. Livestock owners are further required to mandatorily update details of animals sold, dead, or transferred in the portal to maintain accurate records.
All Senior Veterinary Officers (SVOs) have been directed to complete the ear tagging drive on a war-footing, ensuring 100% coverage by the stipulated deadline. Farmers and livestock owners are strongly requested to cooperate fully with the Department and get their animals tagged at the earliest at their nearest Veterinary Institution, Dispensary, or designated tagging centre. Special camps and mobile tagging units will be organised in remote and rural areas to facilitate the process.
This progressive move aligns with the Government of India’s vision for a digitally empowered livestock sector and will significantly contribute to disease-free status, improved productivity, better subsidy targeting, and overall welfare of livestock and livestock-dependent communities in the A&N Islands.