Disposal trend analysis of crossbred cattle under farm and field conditions of tarai region of Uttarakhand
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Date
2011-09
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
Present study was carried out at the Instructional Dairy Farm (IDF) (1998-99 to 2009-10) of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar as well as at 11 farms in Tarai region of U.S. Nagar district of Uttarakhand as a study area of the project. A survey was conducted (February 2010 to December 2010) to access the animal husbandry practices from the owner’s of the farms at field level to draw recommendations. A total of 2,696 crossbred cattle were disposed off from 1998-99 to 2009-10, comprising of 1,350 males and 1,346 females at IDF. As per mode wise disposal, 1,205 cattle died (44.67%), in which 607 were females (22.51%); and as per year wise mortality, maximum and minimum male died during 2009-10 (36.92%). Disposal due to auctioned animals were 799 cattle (29.64%), in which 642 were females (23.81%); and as per year wise auction, maximum male auctioned during 2007-08 (34.84%) out of total crossbred cattle disposed in respective year. Total 692 crossbred cattle (25.67%) were disposed due to transfer in which males were 595 heads (22.07%). Results indicated that during 2007-08 to 2009-10 transfer of animals were nil. It was observed that disposal by selling was maximum (46.57%) followed by death (39.35%) and free gifts given to relatives or relieving of animals in forest/ field (14.08%) out of total animals disposed in field conditions. At IDF, PB3 expressed maximum disposal and age at death was lowest among the entire mode of disposal and in all the periods, ranged from 369.66±25.98 d (PD4) to 577.41±28.86 d (PD1). Disposal due to culling was almost similar in all seasons and it ranged from 27.97% (winter season) to 30.34% (summer season). In field conditions maximum disposal occurred during summer season and the selling method of disposal adopted by most of the farmers. Age of disposal due to mortality was significantly higher (P<0.05) in rainy and summer season as compare to winter season. Female mortality during 1-3 month ranged from 17.93% (PD3) to 25.20% (PD2). There were significant difference (P<0.05) among all the birth weight groups in mortality. Lactation milk yield in rainy and winter season differ significantly higher (P<0.05) than summer season’s disposed animals. Overall highest LMY was 2879.97±85.46 l (LMY4) during PD3. Year of disposal and LMYs expressed significant effect (P<0.05) on different years of disposal and LMY groups of crossbred cattle, respectively. The cause of disposal and LMYs expressed significant effect (P<0.05) on different cause of disposal and LMY groups of crossbred cattle, respectively. Lactation milk yield was significantly higher (P<0.05) in LMY3 to LMY>8 of AFC5. In all LOG groups there were increase in lactation milk yield from LMY1 to LMY4. Most of the lactation lengths and seasons differ significantly (P<0.05) among each other. The longest lactation length was observed in LL3 (311.45±9.12 d) of year 2000-01. Death due to circulatory system disorders was not observed in the study. It has been observed that lactation length (318.21±7.71 d) was maximum in AFC6. The lowest AFC was observed during PB2 (965.31±14.77 d). The effect of period/ season of disposal on AFC of crossbred cows were differ significantly (P<0.05). The year of disposalwise AFC in crossbred cows varied from 943.08±14.77 d (2006-07) to 1028.48±9.74 d (2003-04). Result showed that overall AFC due to cause of disposal in crossbred cows were 979.58±7.89 d. It was found that, majority of the head of family were in between 40- 50 years old, educated (54.55%), staying jointly (72.73%), dependent mostly on agriculture, rearing crossbred cows and were interested to take training on animal husbandry practices. Farmers purchased good quality of semen from the known sources and adopted AI (81.82%) as well as natural service. Although, they culled low producing females, considered age and body size criteria while breeding the heifer first time. It was observed that the majority of the farmers grew Berseem and Jowar as green fodder and offered it in groups under stall-feeding condition and kept their animals in loose houses (63.64%) with all intensive system of rearing. Most of the farmers in all the farms practiced vaccination and de-worming mainly for adult animals.
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Thesis-PhD
Keywords
crossbreds, cattle, dairy farming, field conditions, tarai, Uttarakhand, animal husbandry