SUBRAHMANYESWARI, B(MAJOR)SHARMA, G.R.KJAGADEESWARA RAO, SJANAKA CHAKRAVARTHY, K2018-07-022018-07-022017-03http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810056393THESESABSTRACT: India has emerged as leading milk producer country in the world due to systematic approach through its stringent efforts, however, production potential per animal is very low. This low production in India is mainly due to lack or low level of adoption of improved animal husbandry practices by dairy farmers. In Andhra Pradesh, Srikakulam district stands second in crossbred cattle population and the district is considered as one of the best areas in A.P for crossbred cattle rearing due to its suitability and adaptability to the agro-climatic zone of the district. Though crossbred cattle rearing was taken up by the farmers due to the factors like high yield, suitability and adaptability to the agro-climatic zone of the district, still milk production per animal is low i.e. 6.941 kg/day. In dairying, milk production not only depends on the best breeds, but also on efficient management through adoption of recommended scientific management practices. Hence a study has been planned entitled as “A study on adoption of recommended dairy management practices among crossbred cattle farmers in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh”. An ex-post facto study was adopted for the present study in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. In Srikakulam district, 180 crossbred cattle rearers from 36 villages of 12 mandals in three revenue divisions have been selected for the study through multistage sampling procedure. The data from the farmers was collected personally with the help of interview schedules and the findings were processed, analyzed and interpreted. Majority of the respondents in the study area belonged to middle age and for majority of the farmers agriculture was the main occupation and dairy was the subsidiary occupation. Majority of the respondents belonged to Backward Caste (BC), 43.88 per cent had high school education, and nearly half of the farmers were with small family size and nuclear family system. Thirty per cent of the crossbred cattle farmers were with small land holding and 45 per cent with small size livestock holdings. Majority of crossbred cattle farmers were with low level of milk production, low level of milk consumption, and were with low level of sale of milk. More than half of the of CB cattle farmers were with low level of dairy income. Majority of the farmers possessed mobile and television and nearly two third of farmers were members of milk co-operative societies. More than half of CB cattle farmers contacted frequently the extension worker/veterinarian and the frequently used information sources were television and newspaper. More than half of crossbred cattle farmers (57.22%) had medium level of knowledge. Practices of breeding like A.I. in cows, practice of inseminating cow during mid heat (AM-PM method), practice of checking cow for every 21 days for heat symptoms and pregnancy diagnosis after A.I. in crossbred cattle adopted by almost all the CB cattle farmers. Almost all the CB cattle farmers adopted the practice of treatment for anoestrum & repeat breeding and nearly three fourth of respondents adopted drying of animals for 60-90 days and more than half of respondents adopted optimum service period (3-4 months after calving) in crossbred cattle. Feeding of concentrate mixture, extra ration to milch animals during advanced pregnancy and extra concentrates for lactating cow were adopted by more than 90 per cent of CB cattle farmers. Practice of addition of mineral mixture to the feed was adopted by only two third of CB cattle farmers. Cultivation of green fodder, feeding of green fodder to milch animals and providing balanced ration in proportion to produce of milch animals were adopted by nearly one third of CB cattle farmers. Chaffing of green fodder, fodder preservation and feeding of urea treated paddy straw were adopted by only few of CB cattle farmers in the study area. Proper housing to protect animals from adverse weather conditions and the practice cleaning of housing/shed regularly were adopted by almost all the farmers. More than half of crossbred cattle farmers practiced disinfection and fumigation of shed and premises and nearly three fourth of respondents adopted the practice of cooling devices. Majority of respondents adopted the practice of colostrum feeding to new born calf within half an hour and only few farmers practiced cutting & sealing of navel cord in aseptic conditions and feeding of calf starter. Majority practiced regular de-worming of calves and nearly three fourth of respondents practiced regular vaccination of calves. Practices like proper cleaning of udder before milking and cleaning and drying of utensils before using were adopted by all the CB cattle farmers. Dry milking practice was adopted by 41 per cent of farmers and full hand method of milking by nearly one fourth of the farmers. Practice of treatment of sick animals by qualified veterinarian in crossbred cattle was adopted by all the crossbred cattle farmers. Practices like deworming of adult crossbred cattle, vaccination of dairy animals against infectious diseases as per schedule, isolation of sick animals and insurance of cattle were adopted by more than 70 per cent of CB cattle farmers. Among the total farmers, 70 per cent had medium level of adoption in the study area. Majority of CB cattle farmers felt that cost of crossbred cattle was expensive, however, 83.89 per cent of farmers expressed that the milk yield from crossbred cattle was good. Majority of farmers perceived crossbred cattle rearing is profitable and crossbred cattle rearing was taken as social prestige by all the farmers. Nearly one third of farmers agreed that crossbred cattle is easy to manage than local cattle. Almost all the farmers agreed that crossbred cattle rearing is suitable to their agroecological conditions and cent per cent of crossbred cattle farmers of the study area agreed that crossbred cattle rearing is in accordance with the beliefs and traditions of their farming community and also suitable to cultural norms of farmers of their district. Nearly two third of farmers agreed that CB cattle rearing ensures greater security & less risk. Nearly one third farmers felt that health care management of crossbred cattle was easy and nearly half of the farmers felt that raising of crossbred calf was easy. Majority farmers felt that crossbred cattle rearing can be tried on limited basis before complete adoption i.e. on large scale and majority (83.89%) of the farmers observed that there was increase in milk production in crossbred cattle rearing and majority of the farmers expressed that benefits of crossbred cattle rearing were observable. Majority farmers agreed that crossbred cattle were reared with prediction of good profits and crossbred cattle rearing will improve the socioeconomic status of farmer than indigenous cattle. All the crossbred cattle farmers agreed that vaccination is important to prevent the incidence of diseases in crossbred cattle and deworming crossbred calf & cattle is a useful practice to prevent future economic loss to the farmer.High cost of crossbred cattle and high cost of feed ingredients occupied first rank among the constraints of breeding and feeding management practices. Shortage and high cost of labour was felt as a constraint which occupied first rank among the various constraints of management practices. Lack of awareness regarding health care practices was expressed as a constraint by 81.48 per cent of small farmers followed by medium (66.67%) and large (53.38%) category farmers, which occupied first rank among the various constraints of health care practices. Low price of milk was felt as a constraint by cent per cent of small and medium farmers followed by large (97.62%) category farmers, which occupied first rank among the constraints of marketing of milk.ennullThesis