A STUDY ON THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF MALNAD GIDDA CATTLE IN SHIVAMOGGA DISTRICT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MANAGEMENT INTERVENTIONS
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Date
2021-02-01
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KARNATAKA VETERINARY, ANIMAL AND FISHERIES SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, BIDAR
Abstract
The objectives of this study was to document the existing management practices
of Malnad Gidda cattle in Shivamogga district, record the performance of Malnad Gidda
cows under field conditions, evaluate the constraints faced by Malnad Gidda cattle
farmers, and assess the effect of strategic nutritional interventions on the productive
performance of Malnad Gidda cows. The existing management practices were recorded
by means of personal interview using a structured schedule, with respondents selected
using a multistage stratified sampling procedure. Most farmers rearing Malnad Gidda
cattle reared negligible numbers of crossbred cattle, recognised buffalo breeds, sheep,
goat or poultry; thus revealing the suitability of Malnad Gidda cattle to their production
system that is low input and low output system. The most common management practices
were loose housing, natural service with locally available bulls, grazing during the day
time and some farmers used stall feeding at night, good care and feeding practices for
calves, no concentrate purchase for cows, and adequate milking techniques. The mean
lactation milk yield, peak yield, lactation length, milk fat, milk SNF, age at first calving,
service period, dry period, gestation period and calving interval were found to 193.74 kg,
1.68 kg, 185 days, 4.02 per cent, 8.17 per cent, 38.70 months, 169.28 days, 168.29 days,
280.45 days and 558.01 days, respectively. The major constraint categories, analysed as
per Garrett”s Ranking technique, in descending order of importance, were problems in
breeding, feeding problems, general problems, marketing problems, breed characteristics
and health care problems. The results of a feeding trial of 12 weeks on Malnad Gidda
cows revealed that though treatment group fed with CFM, body weight gain, milk yield
and milk SNF yield had significant differance than those not fed CFM group that is
control group. It was concluded that Malnad Gidda cattle are highly suited as a multipurpose
breed for Shivamogga district and there is vast potential for improvement in the
performance of the breed by means of selective breeding techniques. Efforts must be
made to educate farmers regarding improved management practices like construction of
proper feed mangers, regular vaccination and deworming, adequate nutrition of heifers
and milking cows, and scientific waste management.