Livestock growth in the district has shown a marginal increase over the decade. Animal Husbandry which allied activity of Agriculture cannot grow as fast as agriculture since its breeding programme is a slow process the district has more indigenous cattle than any special breed of cattle. We depend on cattle purchases outside the district. Thanjavur poled cattle are distinguished by dehorned and possession of clipped ears. The main stream of the District is fed by Cauvery river, when the river is dry flock owners of the sheep from Ramnad and Southern Districts are coming with their migratory stock for pasturing temporarily.

The Cattle Breeding and Fodder Development has been replaced for Intensive Cattle Development Project which functions from Thanjavur. Under Cattle Breeding and Fodder Development a Semen Bank is established at Ammapettai about 19 Kms., from Thanjavur from which Liquid Nitrogen and Frozen Semen straws are being supplied to various institutions and Veterinary Sub-centres of the Animal Husbandry Department in this district.

Since, January, 2000, the Hon'ble Chief Minister's Special Animal Husbandry camps are being held in various Panchayat Union Villages where Livestock breeders are not having access to Veterinary aid, in which Veterinary aids, Artificial Insemination (at free of cost) Disease investigation works are being carried out. Demonstration of Urea enrichment of paddy straw Audio Visuals are exhibited in the special camps by Cattle Breeding and Fodder Development.
Cattle owners in remote villages are benefitted by the various department activities of this district.

The district has two livestock Farms. One Exotic cattle Breeding Farm at Eachenkottai, in Orathanad Taluk, another Progeny Testing Scheme (Buffaloe) District Livestock Farm, Orathanad. There are 2 Poultry Extension Centres one at Orathanad and another in Pattukkottai.

The Animal Husbandry Department of this District looks after the welfare of the livestock through 2 clinician Centres, 6 Veterinary Hospitals, 45 Veterinary Dispensaries, 73 Sub-Centres, 14 Extension Veterinary Dispensaries, 3 Mobile Veterinary Dispensaries and 16 visiting Sub-centres in the district.
Work done particulars of the department during 1999-2000 as follows:

1. No. of Artificial Inseminations done : 1,78,514
2. No. of Calves Born : 57,382
3. No. of Mass contact Programmes conducted: 881
4. No. of Vaccinations done : 9,82,964
5. No. of Castrations done : 38,061
6. No. of cases treated : 5,97, 423