Buffaloes likely to be removed from government's no-slaughter list

Following protests by some states and business community over new rules on cattle sale and slaughter, the government is considering changes in the definition of the word "cattle" and is likely to exclude buffaloes from it.

Highly-placed sources in the government said it is "actively considering" removing buffaloes from the list of cattle as there is "considerable pressure from the market" over the new regulations on the trade of cattle in animal markets for slaughter.

Last week, an Environment Ministry notification titled Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 banned the sale and purchase of cattle at animal markets for slaughter. The ministry said the rules will ensure adequate facilities for housing, feeding, feed storage area and water supply for the cattle.

The new rules



defined cattle as a bovine animal including bulls, bullocks, cows, buffaloes, steers, heifers, calves and camels.