By Editor The meat industry in India has been growing steadily over the past decade, driven by rising demand, increasing incomes, urbanization, and shifts in dietary preferences. There are poultry, cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, and pigs in the meat production sector. Among all these, poultry is the largest industry as per basic animal husbandry statistics reports.
This report also estimates that the amount of meat produced in 2024-24 was about 10.25 million tonnes in India. The production is growing from previous years, which reflects both better animal husbandry practices and increasing capacity. In the nation’s total meat production, a few states account for a large share of meat output. The key reasons are favourable agro-climate conditions, better infrastructure like abattoirs, cold chains, higher livestock population, better market access, and increasing customer demand.
To understand the meat production industry and its economy, learning about the top 5 largest meat-producing states in India in 2025 is crucial. Let’s get started:
1. West Bengal – 1.29 Million Tonnes
West Bengal leads in the meat production with its 1.29 million tonnes of production in one year. With a share of about 12.62% of the national meat output, West Bengal becomes a key state for the production of meat. Among all the types of meat, poultry, goat, duck, and pig are widely preferred here for consumption in rural and urban areas.
Poultry makes the major share in this state, where the top regions that produce the highest meat are Kolkata, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, and Malda. This state also benefits from the dense population demand and good market infrastructure. The major concerns for West Bengal meat are Hygiene, cold storage, and feed input costs.
2. Uttar Pradesh – 1.26 Million Tonnes
Uttar Pradesh is the highest meat-producing state in India with 1.26 million tonnes of production in 2023-24. Considering the amount of meat Uttar Pradesh produces, it is close in production to West Bengal, and there is a marginal difference. Meat from UP usually includes poultry, cattle, buffalo, goat, and pig, where poultry dominates in this state.
UP alone contributes about 12.29% in total national meat output, where the dominating regions are Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, and Varanasi. The demand is strong in Uttar Pradesh, and the supply chain is also adequately meeting the demand. However, meat produced in Uttar Pradesh faces challenges like animal health, feed cost, and compliance with standards.
3. Maharashtra – 1.15 Million Tonnes
Maharashtra holds the third position with 11.28% share of national meat production, which is approximately 1.15 million tonnes in 2023-24. Poultry is especially significant in Maharashtra; districts with commercial poultry farms and demand are key contributors. Other meat types, such as goat and buffalo, also add to production.
Key districts include Pune, Nashik, Sangli, Ahmednagar, and Aurangabad, where poultry farms, slaughterhouses, and markets are more developed. The state benefits from good road connectivity, lower transportation time to big markets like Mumbai and Pune, and a rising demand for non-veg protein.
4. Telangana – 1.11 Million Tonnes
Telangana holds the fourth position, and it is usually considered the top meat producer with 1.11 million tonnes in 2023-24. Telangana contributes about 10.58% to the total meat output of India, where Telangana also includes Poultry, goat, and pig in smaller proportions. As usual, poultry also dominates in this region, and the number is growing steadily every year.
The top regions with the highest production and demand are Hyderabad, Medak, Nizamabad, and Warangal. The production is rising with the help of relatively modern farming practices, cold chain use, and proximity to metros within South India.
5. Andhra Pradesh – 1.07 Million Tonnes
Andhra Pradesh holds the fifth spot with its 10.41% of India’s total meat output in 2023-24, which makes the total output about 1.07 million Tonnes. The state includes both poultry and small ruminant meat production, and has a robust export and domestic market network. The top regions with the highest meat production are Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari, Prakasam, and Guntur.
The major issues Andhra Pradesh is dealing with in current times are with slaughterhouse regulations, cold storage, and feed cost. However, the use of new technology is showing improvement, and the meat production is growing slowly but steadily.
The Final Verdict
These five states have a combined share of more than 60% in total national output, which shows how strong the poultry industry can be for the economy of particular states. These livestock are important for national food security, employment, and economic growth.