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Subject: Livestock Production and Management × Author: DAS, MUKUT × End date: 2016 × Start date: 2010 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    DAIRY CATTLE MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING OF MILK IN LOWER BRAHMAPUTRA VALLEY ZONE OF ASSAM
    (Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, 2014-01) DAS, MUKUT; Mili, D. C.
    An investigation was undertaken to study the dairy cattle management and marketing of milk in rural areas of Kamrup, Barpeta, Goalpara and Nalbari district under lower Brahmaputra valley zone of Assam from April, 2012 to March, 2013. Two hundred dairy farmers having at least two milch cows were selected randomly for collection of data. A structured, reliable and valid interview schedule was prepared, pre-tested and was employed for data collection. All the obtained data were tabulated and put to standard statistical test to facilitate proper interpretation and to arrive at some conclusions as per the pre-formulated objectives of the study. The study revealed that the overall average age at first calving, lactation yield, lactation length, intercalving period, dry period and service period in crossbred cattle were found to be 31.03 ± 0.09 months, 1441.18 ± 26.53 litres, 292.32 ± 0.72 days, 385.64 ± 0.85 days, 93.32 ± 0.99 days and 111.95 ± 0.85 days respectively in crossbred cattle irrespective of locations, while the corresponding values for indigenous cattle were recorded as 42.34 ± 0.10 months, 280.75 ± 7.45 litres, 238.60 ± 1.83 days, 538.42 ±1.69 days, 299.86 ± 2.03 days, 258.57 ± 1.71days respectively. All the economic traits were found to be significantly influenced by the genetic group and the location except for the lactation yield within the location in indigenous cattle. In regards to the housing of cattle in the study areas, the dairy farmers used 56.84 and 43.16 per cent thatch and corrugated iron sheet roof respectively in crossbred cattle. However, majority of the dairy farmers (81.48%) and only 18.52 per cent used corrugated iron sheet as roof material for housing of the indigenous cattle. Most of the dairy farmers (47.95%) had cattle shed with half wall, 23.97 per cent with full wall and 28.08 per cent without wall in respect of crossbred cattle. The corresponding data in respect of indigenous cattle were 25.93, 62.96 and 11.11 per cent respectively in the study areas. Further, 32.19 per cent of dairy farmers housed cattle in earthen floor and 67.81 per cent used concrete floor in housing of crossbred cattle; however, 90.74 and 9.16 per cent respectively in case of indigenous cattle. Another important finding of the investigation was that 65.75 per cent of dairy farmers had shed with drainage and 34.25 per cent without drainage in the study areas. However, for dairy farmers rearing indigenous cattle only 11.11 per cent had cattle shed with drainage and 88.89 per cent without drainage in the study areas. The majority (58.22%) of the dairy farmers practiced stall feeding of their cattle and 41.78 per cent practiced grazing in case of crossbred cattle. However for indigenous cattle, only 7.41 per cent of the dairy farmers practiced stall feeding and 92.59 per cent practiced grazing in the study areas. It was found that 94.52 per cent of the dairy farmers fed their animals with naturally grown green fodder and only 5.48 per cent fed their animals with own cultivated green fodder in case of crossbred cattle. In respect of indigenous cattle, 96.30 per cent of the dairy farmers fed their animals with naturally grown green fodder and only 3.70 per cent fed their animals with their own cultivated green fodder in the study areas. In the study areas, the main source of dry fodder was paddy straw (Oryza sativa L.) and fed to the animals @ 2-5 kg per milch animal per day. Concentrate ration was provided @ 3-7 kg per day per crossbred cattle; while for indigenous cattle, 62.96 per cent of dairy farmers offered only rice polish @ 1-3 kg per day per animal and 37.04 per cent of dairy farmers provided no concentrate ration. The overall average total fixed capital per milch animal in crossbred cattle was estimated to be Rs.38,120.13 irrespective of location. In respect of indigenous cattle, the corresponding overall average total fixed capital per milch animal was Rs.10,102.81. The overall average total fixed cost (FC) per milch animal per annum was worked out to be Rs.5,901.72 in crossbred cattle and Rs.1,673.76 in indigenous cattle irrespective of location. The overall average total variable cost per milch animal per annum was estimated to be Rs.41,391.17 in crossbred and Rs.8,367.72 in indigenous cattle; while the overall average total cost per milch animal per annum was Rs.47,292.63 in crossbred and Rs.10,041.47 in indigenous cattle irrespective of their rearing locations. The overall average total return per milch animal per annum was estimated to be Rs.54,295.51 in crossbred and Rs.11,101.02 in indigenous cattle; while the overall average net return per milch animal per annum were Rs.7,002.88 in crossbred and Rs.1,059.55 in indigenous cattle irrespective of study locations. The overall average cost of milk production per litre without considering the study locations was worked out to be Rs.30.31 in crossbred and Rs.31.88 in indigenous cattle. The overall average return over feed cost (ROFC) irrespective of study locations were Rs.18,955.68 and Rs.6,270.80 with the overall average feed cost efficiency of 53.67 and 129.82 per cent in crossbred and indigenous cattle respectively. The overall average return over variable cost (ROVC) irrespective of study locations were Rs.12,880.68 in crossbred and Rs.2,733.33 in indigenous cows; while the fixed cost and variable cost ratio were 1:7.01 in crossbred and 1:4.99 in indigenous cows. The overall average break-even output of milk production irrespective of study locations were 929.36 litres in crossbred and 286.11 litres in indigenous cows. The per cent of break-even output to total output irrespective of locations were 62.04 in crossbred and 101.91 in indigenous cattle. The overall average input-output ratios irrespective of study locations were 1:1.15 in crossbred and 1:1.11 in indigenous cows. In respect of marketing of milk, majority of the dairy farmers adopted marketing channel 1 (Producer – Consumer) which accounted to 44 per cent of the total milk marketed in the study area; while only meager 6 per cent of total milk were marketed through channel 4 (Producer – Dairy Co-operative – Retailer – Consumer). In regards to socio-economic study, 77 per cent (majority) of the dairy farmers were of middle age group (38 – 55 years), had medium size family (4 – 7 members) medium level (primary – higher secondary) educational qualification, medium (Rs. 28,369 – Rs. 1,58,600) annual family income, medium (upto Rs. 1,09,476.00) annual family income of the dairy farmers from dairying alone. Studies on the different constraints faced by the dairy farmers in adopting day-to-day animal husbandry practices, majority (48.5%) responded that lack of finance was the major constraint followed by delay in receiving payments for milk (44.5%). Other constraints included high cost of concentrate, shortage of green fodder, non-availability of skilled labour, lack of desired marketing channel, inadequate knowledge of cattle diseases, their prevention and control, besides non-availability of timely veterinary services in the study areas.