STUDY ON SHEEP MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN ARID AND SEMI ARID REGION OF RAJASTHAN
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Date
2011
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Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner - 334001
Abstract
The present investigation was conducted in arid and semi arid region of Bikaner district of Rajasthan. Two tehsils Bikaner and Lunkarnsar were selected in Bikaner. From each tehsil, four villages were selected randomly and from each village fifteen sheep rearers were selected thus making a sample of 120 sheep rearers.
The study revealed that majority of sheep rearers 85.83 per cent belong to Hindu religion, whereas 60.00 per cent sheep rearers belong to other backward caste and 53.33 per cent respondents live in nuclear families. The family size of surveyed respondents was more than 5 members in 66.67 per cent families and 45.83 per cent respondents were in 35-60 years age group. Overall 72.50 per cent sheep rearers were illiterate. The main source of irrigation was tube well and canal 50.00 per cent and 33.33 per cent, respectively. Overall 20.83 per cent sheep rearers were getting media information.
Majority of sheep rearers at 64.44 per cent were dependent on agriculture and animal husbandry as an occupation. Survey results indicated that overall 99.17 per cent respondents were land holders. Maximum sheep keepers at 37.50 per cent earned annual income from sheep rearing occupation was recorded as Rs. >30000 and 46.67 per cent respondents got overall income Rs.2500060000.
Women played very important role in many sheep husbandry practices like cleaning, feeding and care of young stock that were 57.50, 36.66 and 52.50 per cent respectively whereas, sale of animal, control of ecto-parasites, breeding, control of endo- parasites and grazing were performed at 92.50, 67.50, 85.00, 88.33 and 65.83 per cent by men, respectively. Children usually assisted in all these practices.
Most of the sheep rearers at 58.33 per cent housed their sheep in shed away from residence and had Kaccha shed (98.33 per cent) with Kaccha boundary wall (94.17 per cent) and Kaccha floor (98.33 per cent) with thatched roof (98.33 per cent). Most of the sheep rearers did not have water trough (75.83 per cent), urine drainage (93.33 per cent) and not availability of feeding manger (85.00 per cent) in sheep sheds. Majority of sheep rearers at 98.33 per cent did not use bedding material for sheep but 91.67 per cent respondents provided protection against cold through different methods. Significant effect of flock size was observed on site of housing, water trough, housing of breeding ram and type of feeding manger.
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Complete grazing was adopted by maximum respondents at 81.67 per cent and sheep were usually grazed on community pasture land for more than 5 hours daily. Most of the sheep rearers preserved the tree leaves in the form of pala and not protected pasture land. The green fodder was offered only by 5.83 per cent sheep rearers. Lopping of trees was a routine practice for grazing. Majority of sheep keepers do not provided concentrate during critical stage of growth and pregnancy. Maximum sheep rearers were not aware to provide mineral mixture and common salt feeding. Significant effect of sheep flock size was observed on concentrate feeding, feeding of dry fodder, and type of concentrate use for animals.
The majority at 73.33 per cent of sheep keepers were aware about heat detection. The age at first mating was recorded as 1218 months maximum 69.16 per cent in sheep. Only natural service was used for breeding due to non-availability of artificial insemination services in sheep. Maximum respondents at 74.17 per cent have their own breeding ram. About 56.67 per cent respondents reported heat during rainy season.
Maximum sheep rearers 95.83 per cent confirm the pregnancy in sheep by enlargement of abdomen. Pregnant sheep were also housed with other animals and send for grazing in pasture with the flock. Most of sheep rearers at 72.50 per cent did not adopted castration of male Lambs. Physical appearance was used as a criteria for selection of breeding ram by 77.50 per cent sheep rearers.
The association of flock size with keeping of breeding ram, veterinary aid during lambing and selection of breeding ram was significant whereas, association with rest of the breeding practices with flock size was non-significant.
Majority of sheep rearers at 80.00 per cent practiced deworming while 35.00 sheep rearers did not adopt control of external parasites. The effect of flock size on health care practices viz. use of veterinary facility, isolation of sick animals, sanitization of shed and control of external parasites was non-significant. Most of sheep rearers preferred to sale their animals in own village round the year on the basis of physical appearance and weight of animals.
Maximum sheep keepers at 70.83 per cent were not aware about cleaning of lamb after birth and only 6.67 per cent were well aware about disinfection of naval cord. Colostrum feeding to lamb and suckling of lamb for more than 3 month was practiced by 99.17 and 58.33 per cent sheep rearers, respectively. About 70.83 per cent respondents were not aware about control of external parasites. Isolation of Lamb was not followed by 99.17 per cent respondents. Flock size was affected significantly by cleaning of lamb after birth and not affected by rest of lamb rearing practices.
The most serious constraints perceived by the sheep rearers in the study was lack of grazing area followed by non-availability of green fodder, lack of veterinary services and lack of credit facility, respectively in the area surveyed.
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Keywords
genotypes, planting, yields, drying, developmental stages, dry matter, sowing, jute, biological development, harvesting