prob lems and constraints of dairy farm ing in fatehgarh sa hib dis

Progressive Research 9 (1) : 250-252 (2014)
Society for Sci. Dev. in Agric. and Tech.
PROBLEMS AND CONSTRAINTS OF DAIRY FARMING IN FATEHGARH SAHIB
DISTRICT OF PUNJAB
S.S. Dhindsa1, R. Nanda2 and Balwinder Kumar3
1,3
2
Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, GADVASU, Ludhiana-141004
Rural Veterinary Officer, Civil Veterinary Hospital, Ranwan, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab
ABSTRACT
Dairy farming has emerged as most important alternative for diversification of agriculture in Punjab.
The problems perceived by the livestock owners should be taken into consideration while
formulation of strategies for enhancing milk production in the state. Keeping this in view, the present
study was conducted in four villages (Ranwan, Meheshpura, Nanglan and Bilaspur) of Fatehgarh
Sahib district of Punjab. The data was collected from 200 dairy farmers owning 1150 milch animals
(buffaloes= 656; Cows = 494) through a specially designed interview schedule. The incidence of
various reproductive disorders viz. anestrus, repeat breeding, prolapse of genitalia, dystocia,
retention of placenta, metritis, difficult detection of estrus and abortion was 23.0 and 20.6, 17.0 and
40.3, 1.5 and 1.0, 7.0 and 4.2, 9.1 and 6.1, 7.6 and 6.3, 8.4 and 0.8 and 4.3 and 2.0 per cent in buffaloes
and cows, respectively. It was noted that more than 90 per cent dairy farmers believed high cost of
feed and fodder, low price of crossbred cow milk, less fat content in cow milk and problem of
disposal of old/disabled cows as major constraints in dairy farming. Other major constraints were
high mortality in male calves, reproductive disorders and inadequate knowledge about balanced
feeding. In conclusion, dairy owners should be encouraged to rear high yielding animals. Further,
appropriate strategies may be formulated to optimize reproductive efficiency of the animals in the
area.
Key words :
Dairy farming, constraints, reproductive disorders
Livestock is most important component of economic
and social life of the rural masses in Punjab. Among all
the possible livestock enterprises dairy farming is most
popular and successful venture. The composition of
milch animal stock has shifted towards greater
domination of the buffaloes and crossbred cows and
gradual disappearance of indigenous cows. The share
of buffaloes in milch animals stock has gone up from
64.64 per cent in 1966 to 76.93 per cent in 2007. In
1966, the milch cows stock largely consisted of
indigenous cows but by 2007 about 80 per cent of the
milch cows were crossbred (1). In spite of increase in
number of milch animals and total milk production over
the years, productivity of milch animals is not very
encouraging in the state. To enhance the production
potential of milch animals the only way is to make
availability of developed technologies for mass
adoption and to create the required infrastructural
facilities vital for adoption. The problems perceived by
the dairy farmers should be taken into consideration
while formulation of strategies for upliftment of dairy
farming in the state. Keeping this in view, the present
study was conducted to ascertain the problems and
constraints perceived by dairy farmers in four villages
of Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab so that the findings
could be used in upliftment of dairy enterprise in the
state.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present study was conducted in Fatehgarh Sahib
district of Punjab. Four villages viz. Ranwan,
Meheshpura, Nanglan and Bilaspur were selected from
the district. Total 200 dairy farmers owning 1150 milch
animals (Buffaloes = 656; Cows = 494) were included in
the study. An interview schedule was purposively
designed for the study and pretested for its suitability
and feasibility before adopting it. The data was
collected from each selected dairy farmer using
personal interview method. Information regarding
incidence of various reproductive problems and
constraints in dairy farming was collected. The tabular
analysis method was used to analyse the data.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Incidence of various reproductive disorders in
milch animals : The incidence of various reproductive
Problems and constraints of dairy farming in Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab
Table-1: Incidence of various reproductive problems.
Problem
Anestrus
Repeat Breeding
Prolapse of genitalia
Dystocia
Retention of Placenta
Metritis/abnormal vaginal discharge
Difficult detection of estrus
Abortion
Total
Buffalo
Cow
151
(23.0)
111
(17.0)
10
(1.5)
46
(7.0)
60
(9.1)
50
(7.6)
55
(8.4)
28
(4.3)
511
(77.9)
102
(20.6)
199
(40.3)
05
(1.0)
21
(4.2)
30
(6.1)
31
(6.3)
04
(0.8)
10
(2.0)
402
(81.3)
Figures in parenthesis indicate percentage.
disorders is presented in Table-1. Out of total 1150
animals included in the study, 77.9 and 81.3 per cent of
buffaloes and cows, respectively, suffered from
reproductive disorders. The incidence of anestrus in
buffaloes and cows was 23.0 and 20.6 per cent,
respectively. Similarly, in earlier studies it ranged
between 9.1 to 28.6 per cent (2,3,4,5). However, a
study in central Punjab has reported that 3.82 and 1.20
per cent buffaloes suffer from anestrous (6). The repeat
breeding syndrome was noticed in 17.0 and 40.3 per
cent of buffaloes and cows, respectively. This finding
was in concurrence with the observations of other
studies (3,6,7). The incidence of prolapse of genitalia
was 1.5 and 1.0, whereas dystocia 7.0 and 4.2 per cent
in buffaloes and cows, respectively. The incidence of
dystocia has been reported in 8.0 per cent of buffaloes
in Ambala (8), 12.6 per cent in Karnal (3) and 6 to 14 per
cent in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Sangrur districts of
Punjab (6). About 9.1 and 6.1 per cent buffaloes and
cows suffered from retention of placenta. In earlier
studies, incidence of retention of placenta has ranged
between 6.6 to 25.04 per cent (3,6). Difficult detection of
estrus was also a reproductive constraint in buffaloes
(8.4 %), whereas in cows it was not a major problem as
its incidence was only 0.8 per cent. Abnormal vaginal
discharge/metritis was observed in 7.6 and 6.3 per cent
251
of buffaloes and cows, respectively. Similar findings
were also reported in previous studies (4,6,7). About
4.3 per cent of buffaloes and 2.0 per cent of cows had
aborted during the current lactation which indicated
that abortion was not a major problem in the study
area.
Constraints in dairy farming : Various constraints in
dairy farming are summarized in Table-2. It was noted
that more than 90 per cent dairy farmers believed high
cost of feed and fodder (97.0 %), low fat content in cow
milk (96.5 %), problem of disposal of old/disabled cows
(96.0 %) and low price of crossbred cow milk (95.0 %)
as major constraints in dairy farming. About 89 per cent
dairy farmers said that there is high mortality in male
calves and reproductive disorders in milch animals.
Another 40-51 per cent farmers responded to
inadequate knowledge about balanced feeding (51 %),
low availability of quality green fodder (50.0 %),
problem of disposal of male calves (47.5 %), low
productivity in local cows and buffaloes (45.0 %) and
low availability of dry fodder (40.0 %). Another 37-30
per cent farmers stressed upon problem of heat
detection in buffaloes (37.5 %), non availability of land
for fodder cultivation (35.0 %), lack of availability of
green fodder round the year (35.0 %), improper
housing facilities leading to infection (31.0 %) and poor
quality of bull at village level (30.0 %). About 10 per
cent farmers reported relative low conception rate
through artificial insemination. Similar findings were
also reported in previous studies (9). Most of the
farmers seemed to be satisfied with the veterinary,
artificial insemination and milk marketing facilities in
the area.
CONCLUSION
The dairy owners should be encouraged to replace
their low yielding buffaloes with high yielding buffaloes
or crossbred cows. The Government must initiate
adequate steps to increase area under fodder crops
and to resolve constraints faced by dairy farmers
through development and implementation of latest
dairy technologies, organisation of veterinary extension programmes and improved animal health
services. The efforts must be done to improve
reproductive efficiency of the animals in the area.
252
Dhindsa et al.,
Table-2: Constraints in dairy farming.
Rank
Constraints
Number of
farmers
Per cent of
farmers
I
High cost of feed and fodder
195
97.0
II
Crossbred cow milk has less fat
193
96.5
III
Problem of disposal of old/disabled cows unfit for breeding
192
96.0
IV
Low price of crossbred cow milk
190
95.0
V
High morality in male calves
178
89.0
VI
Incidence of reproductive disorders among dairy animals
178
89.0
VII
Inadequate knowledge about balanced feeding
102
51.0
VIII
Low availability of quality green fodder
100
50.0
IX
Problem of disposal of male calves
95
47.5
X
Low productivity in local cows and buffaloes
90
45.0
XI
Low availability of dry fodder
80
40.0
XII
Problem of heat detection in buffaloes
75
37.5
XIII
Non-availability of land for fodder cultivation
70
35.0
XIV
Lack of availability of green fodder round the year
70
35.0
XV
Improper housing facilities leading to infection
62
31.0
XVI
Poor quality of bull at village level
60
30.0
XVII
Relative low conception rate through artificial insemination
20
10.0
XVIII
Lack of veterinary facilities
05
2.5
XIX
Lack of artificial insemination facilities
02
1.0
XX
Lack of organized milk marketing facilities in village
02
1.0
endometritis in repeat breeder buffaloes. Buffalo
Journal. 2: 145-165.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to thank the dairy owners participated in
this survey. We acknowledge the assistance provided
by staff of Civil Veterinary Hospital, Ranwan,
Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab.
5.
6.
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