A STUDY ON BUFFALO PRODUCTION SYSTEM IN GUNTUR DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
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Date
2016-12
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SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA
Abstract
ABSTRACT :
An investigation was carried out to study the buffalo production management practices, cost of milk production and constraints perceived by the landless, small farmer and commercial milk producers of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh. The buffalo population increased by 21.36 per cent, whereas, cattle population decreased by 22.07 per cent during the period from 1993 to 2012 in the district. The contribution of buffalo milk was 97.16 per cent of the total milk production in the district. The mean number of Murrah and Murrah graded buffaloes in commercial milk producers was found to be significantly (P≤0.01) higher than that in small farmers and landless milk producers. The average age at first calving, service period, calving interval and dry period was significantly (P≤0.01) lower in Murrah than that in graded Murrah and local buffaloes. The mean peak yield, lactation milk yield and lactation length was significantly (P≤0.01) higher in Murrah than that in graded Murrah and local buffaloes in the study area.
The average age at first calving (months) of graded Murrah buffaloes was significantly (P≤0.05) lower in commercial milk producers than that in small farmers and landless milk producers in the study area. The average dry period of graded Murrah buffaloes were significantly (P≤0.01) lower in commercial milk producers than that in small farmers and landless milk producers. The average service period and calving interval of graded Murrah buffaloes was significantly (P≤0.01) lower in small farmer category than that in commercial milk producers. The mean peak yield, lactation milk yield and lactation period of graded Murrah buffaloes was significantly (P≤0.01) higher in the commercial milk producers than that in small farmer and landless milk producers. Commercial milk producers maintained both high yielding Murrah and graded Murrah buffaloes, whereas small farmers and landless milk producers maintained mostly graded Murrah buffaloes. Adoption of A.I in buffaloes was higher in the landless milk producers (85%) and small farmers (84%) than that in commercial milk producers. Some of the commercial milk producers (22%) practiced natural service by maintaining Murrah buffalo breeding bulls in the farm. Majority of milk producers bred their buffaloes between 3-5 months after calving in the small farmers (91%) followed by commercial (86%) and landless (83%) milk producers. Most of the respondents followed pregnancy diagnosis in commercial (100%), small farmers (99%) and landless (92%) milk producers. Majority of buffaloes calved in winter season (78%) followed by rainy (13.60%) and summer season (8.4%) in the study area. Adoption of green fodder production was higher in commercial (100%) and small farmers (97%) than that in landless milk producers (13%). The practice of chaffing of green fodder was higher in commercial (100%) than that in small farmers (27%) and landless milk producers (5%). Overall 11.2 per cent of respondents practiced hay making, whereas silage making and urea treatment of paddy straw were not practiced by all categories of milk producers in the study area. Majority of respondents provided purchased concentrate mixture in the landless (100%), small farmers (92%) and commercial (86%) milk producers. Majority of milk producers practiced soaking of concentrates (41.6%) followed by boiling (31.2%) and mash feeding (27.2%). Supplementation of mineral mixture was also found to be higher in commercial milk producers (90%) than that in small farmers (35%) and landless milk producers (16%). Extra concentrate feeding during advanced pregnancy and early lactation was adopted by overall 83.2 and 98.4 per cent of respondents, respectively. Majority of respondents in landless (99%), small farmers (92%) and commercial milk producers (50%) located the buffalo shed separately nearer to their dwelling. Kutcha type of flooring was provided in the sheds by majority of landless milk producers (98%), whereas cement type of floor was provided by majority of commercial (100%) and small farmer (53%) milk producers in the study area. Asbestos sheet roofing was practiced by majority of commercial (82%) and small farmers (52%) milk producers, whereas no roofing (57%) and thatched roofing (39%) was provided by majority of landless milk producers in the study area. Pucca type of drainage was provided by majority of commercial (98%) and small farmer (72%) milk producers. Majority of commercial (86%) and small farmers (27%) arranged cooling devices like fans in the buffalo sheds. Colostrum feeding to new born calf within one to two hours of birth was practiced by majority of commercial (82%), small farmers (75%) and landless (72%) milk producers. Very few milk producers in the commercial (48%), small farmer (24%) and landless (18%) milk producers adopted feeding of calf starter to calves. Overall buffalo calf mortality was found to be more in winter (62.4%) followed by rainy (32.4%) and summer (5.2%) season.
Full hand method of milking was adopted by majority of commercial (58%), small farmer (33%) and landless (40%) milk producers. Small farmer and landless milk producers used their family labour for milking the buffaloes, whereas 74 per cent of commercial milk producers engaged hired labour for milking. Majority of commercial (96%), small farmers (88%) and landless (79%) milk producers marketed the milk to the district cooperative dairy union. The average cost of milk production per liter was significantly (P≤0.01) lower and net income was higher in Murrah buffaloes than that in graded Murrah and local buffaloes. The average cost of milk production per liter was significantly lower and net income was higher in commercial milk producers than that in small farmers in Murrah and graded Murrah buffaloes. High cost of pure bred buffaloes, feed ingredients, non- remunerative price for milk, feed and fodder shortage and high incidence of repeat breeding in buffaloes were found to be major constraints felt by the milk producers in the study area. Problem of silent heat, repeat breeding, lack of sufficient knowledge to the farmers about scientific feeding and management and inadequate facilities for diagnostic purpose were observed to be constraints felt by the field veterinarians in Guntur district.
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