Constraints Perceived by Private Veterinary Practitioners of Tamil Nadu in the Field and Suggestions Offered by Experts

Abstract

Background: Private Veterinary Practitioners (PVPs) are essential in doorstep veterinary treatment and the backbone of livestock services. During their clinical activities they also facing hindrances in the delivery of livestock service in an effective manner. Under this background, the current study was formulated with aim to know the constraints perceived by PVPs in Tamil Nadu. Methods: The study was conducted from January to March, 2022 in Tamil Nadu. Through well-structured interview schedule data were collected from one hundred private practitioners. The collected data of constraints were analyzed and ranked by Weighed Mean Score (WMS) method. Animal husbandry experts’ suggestions was sought to overcome foremost constraints and interpreted by percentage analysis. Result: The constraint analysis of PVPs revealed that local quacks treatment foremost constraint with WMS of 86.67 followed by absence of efficient diagnostic-laboratory support (WMS 85.67), delayed report of mastitis (WMS 83.67) and self-medication by livestock owner and/or farmers (WMS 83.33) were next important constraints. Animal husbandry experts suggested the following strategies to overcome the constraints: conducting ration balancing awareness campaign to farmers (90.00%), conducting regular refresher diagnostic laboratory management training programmes for field private veterinarians (86.67) and forming farmers’ interest groups to report quacks (73.33%).