A Study on Management Practices of Dairy Cattle in Baran District of Rajasthan
Loading...
Date
2003
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MPUAT, Udaipur
Abstract
A study was conducted in the command and non-command areas of Baran district to find out the existing dairy cattle management practices, estimate the reproduction and production traits, nutrients requirements and availability to the dairy animals from the local feed resources. Investigation was also conducted to find the incidence of ectoparasitic infestation among the cattle. Based on the observed facts, the second part of the study was contemplated to identify the constraints of dairy cattle management under the field conditions and to suggest possible remedial measures. A total of three hundred twenty households were selected randomly and the related parameters were observed during the summer (March-June), rainy (July-October) and the winter (November-February) seasons. The levels of management practices were quantified using the suitable scores.
The average family size consisted of 5.67 members, of which nearly 2.4 persons per family with low educational background were involved in dairying activities. The average herd size per household was 5.06 animals consisting mainly of non-descript cattle followed by Gir breed. The herd constituted of equal proportion of milking and dry cow. Dry period at 209.91+5.82 and calving interval at 517.63+8.13 days was found to be longer than the average. The average daily milk yield was 4.83+2.544 kg per household. Average number of services per conception was found to be 2.17. The lactational milk yield of Gir and non-descript cows was respectively 1627.54+30.63 and 759.47+28.09 kg in lactation of 324.74+5.91 and 290.80+6.27 days, respectively.
The majority of the farmers (48.43 & 44.02 %) followed low level of housing and milking management. Whereas, medium level of feeding, health and calf management practices were followed by most of the households. Again, very small number of milking animals per household was observed in the area.
* Ex. Prof. & Head, Deptt of Animal Production, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur
** Assistant Professor (Animal Production), Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Anta, Baran
The feeding standard of the households were satisfactory, but still there is some lacuna in feeding of cows, since majority of the households were not feeding mineral mixture and salt is also fed irregularly. The majority of the farmers do not maintain regularity in feeding to milch cows also. Group feeding was done at one time only.
The fodder resources of Baran district as estimated were 3.455 million tonnes per year where as the requirement of the livestock worked out to be 2.29 million tonnes, indicating a surplus of 50.87 per cent fodder. Likewise, the nutrient availability has been estimated at 0.03862 million tonnes DCP and 1.6153 million tonnes TDN. Whereas the estimated requirement is 0.03355 million tonnes DCP and 0.367082 million tonnes TDN. Thus it is revealed that the DCP and TDN in Baran district available through fodder resources was surplus by 15.11 and 340 per cent respectively.
Around 23 per cent animals were found affected with various ailments, which occurred mainly during the rainy and spring seasons. Incidence of ectoparasitic infestation with ticks and lice was found to be around 35 per cent and was lowest in cows. The parasitic infestation rate was significantly (P<0.05) high during the rainy season. The ectoparasitic infestation between different categories of animals was also highly significant (P<0.01).
On the basis of the study, it can be concluded that the constraints like farmer’s poor educational background, inadequate follow up of improved managemental practices of dairying, disease problem in the herd and irregularity in feeding of the milch cows could be overcome by streamlining the activities of various concerned agencies and by adopting planned strategies in the respective field for enhancing the productivity of cows in the area.
Description
A Study on Management Practices of Dairy Cattle in Baran District of Rajasthan
Keywords
null
Citation
Garg and Jain, 2003