The administration in Ajmer, Rajasthan, has introduced significant reforms for the upcoming international Pushkar animal fair to make competitions more transparent, orderly, and time-bound. Livestock owners arriving at the fairgrounds will no longer have to endure long queues or frequent loudspeaker announcements. The animal husbandry department has decided that the registration of all cattle and horses participating in various events will be finalized exactly two days prior to the start of the respective competition. To assist arriving breeders, special tents are being installed along entry routes, equipped with help desks and dedicated teams.
According to department officials, the fair will feature diverse breed competitions under the Gir exhibition category. These will prominently include Gir cattle, Gir crosses, Jersey crosses, and HF or Holstein Friesian crosses. Alongside breed improvement contests, special milk-yielding competitions will be organized to test productivity, and owners of the highest-yielding Gir and HF cows will be awarded. All cattle-related events will take place at a designated site near the veterinary hospital. Meanwhile, all equine competitions will be hosted at a specially constructed desert point within the new fairground, where grand seating arrangements are being prepared for visitors and spectators.
Last year, an exceptionally high number of horse entries and spot registrations caused the judging process to stretch late into the night. Authorities were forced to set up artificial lighting to evaluate winners well after dark. To eliminate this inconvenience completely this year, specific guidelines have been issued for horse and livestock breeders. Owners have been urged to register their details, including the official horse document, at the help desks or check-post tents immediately upon reaching Pushkar. The application must explicitly state whether the animal is brought solely for trading or will also participate in competitions.
Completing the registration process two days in advance ensures that organizers will possess an official roster for every category a full twenty-four hours before events commence. This eliminates the need to summon breeders over loudspeakers across the grounds. Judging will proceed sequentially according to the pre-established list, and organizers intend to declare all final results before sunset.
