Animal Husbandry Practices and Problems of Dairy Farmers in Coastal Areas of South Gujarat

Abstract

Through mass contact programme at doorstep, the information on land holding, agriculture and occupational practices of 1198 livestock farmers of coastal area of South Gujarat, and reproductive and productive parameters of 5060 breedable dairy animals possessed by them were obtained. The percentages of landless, small, medium and large landholder dairy farmers in the area were 14.94, 71.62, 12.77 and 0.67, respectively. The irrigation facility for agriculture and the primary occupation of agriculture with animal keeping was up to 85 per cent. The average age at first calving was 28.40±3.12 and 42.05±4.23 months in crossbred cattle and buffaloes, respectively (pis less than 0.01). The mean calving interval (13.64±2.46 vs 18.47±2.86 months) and postpartum estrus interval (51.66±17.08 vs 92.68±15.93 days) were significantly shorter in crossbred cows than in buffaloes. Among 3232 and 1828 crossbred cattle and buffaloes surveyed, 25.34 and 27.35 per cent had different reproductive problems. The problem of silent heat was more in buffaloes including heifers than the crossbred cows. The percentages of anoestrus and repeat breeding were comparatively higher in buffaloes including heifers as compared to crossbred cows. The average milk yield/day was 10.28±3.49 and 6.93±4.63 liters in crossbred cows and buffaloes, respectively (pis less than 0.05). The mean lactation length was more or less similar in both the classes of animals. Breeding (>99% through AI) and feeding practices of green (15-16 kg), dry (6-7 kg) fodder and concentrate (1-2 kg) were similar in cattle and buffaloes. Supplementation of mineral mixture was slightly higher in crossbred cows as compared to buffaloes, and concerned farmers had a greater tendency to provide drinking water ad lib or 3 times a day. The higher percentage of both cows and buffaloes were kept in close animal houses. The findings indicated the awareness level and facilities of farmers of coastal areas in dairy husbandry practices and thereby productive-reproductive problems in their animals, which need to be improved by scientific interventions.

Productive-Reproductive Performance and Problems of Dairy Animals in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of Kutch and North Gujarat

“…These observations are in agreement with Dhami et al (2017) in cattle and buffaloes of tribal and nontribal areas of Middle Gujarat. The mean age of buffaloes including heifers was higher than the zebu and crossbred cows and also higher in arid area as compared to semi-arid area.…”

“…Gujarat is also known as "Milk bowl of India" with milk production and productivity higher than the national average, owing to development of wide network of co-operative dairy system (Patel et al, 2013). To work out appropriate sustainable livestock management practices and intervention policies, it is crucial to have surveillance of livestock management practices followed by the farmers and the productive-reproductive performance to identify the problem areas of the animal rearing system (Dhami et al, 2017). Hence, the present study was undertaken to gather information regarding existing animal husbandry practices adopted and productive-reproductive problems faced by dairy farmers of arid and semi-arid areas of Kutch and North Gujarat.…”