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. 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