Vol. 12, Issue 1 (2023)

Author(s):
SS Shinde, Dr. RA Patil, BS Gaikwad and Dr. PV Padghan

Abstract:
The importance of livestock in India is based on their production both in terms of milk and draft. Bullocks are the major source of power for cultivating land and carting in rural area. The present study was undertaken with objective to study draft, speed, Horsepower generated and Physiological parameters (Respiration rate, Pulse rate and Body temperature) during various agricultural operations by Non-descript bullocks. The present research was carried out in Latur district during the month of November 2017 to April 2018. The pairing of bullocks was done at the time of their selection with minimum difference in age, body weight and body measurements. The observation on draft, speed, horse power, area covered and physiological parameter viz. respiration rate, pulse rate and body temperature were recorded by conducting trials on harrowing, sowing and hoeing operation for four consecutive days in between 8.00 am to 12 noon. The observations of pull exerted by the bullocks in kg were recorded by using digital dynamometer of 200 kg capacity which was joined at central beam of the implements with the help of rope joining the yoke and the base of the implement so as to record the draft/pull during the working of the implement. The overall mean draft (kg) generated by Non-descript bullock during harrowing, sowing and hoeing operations were 64.41 to 64.85, 64.76 to 65.94 and 41.48 to 42.64 kg, respectively. The average speed exhibited by non-descript bullock were 2.51 to 2.68, 2.49 to 2.54 and 3.34 to 3.36 km/hr. for harrowing, sowing and hoeing operations, respectively. The average horsepower generated by non-descript bullock were 0.59 to 0.63, 0.57 to 0.61 and 0.50 to 0.52 HP for harrowing, sowing and hoeing operations, respectively. The overall mean total area covered by non-descript bullock during harrowing, sowing and hoeing operation were 1107.00 to 1153.65, 1201.77 to 1302.43 and 1154.25 to 1203.31 m²/hr, respectively. There was a negatively significant (p<0.01) increases in all the three physiological parameters (respiration rate, pulse rate and body temperature) as compared to their pre-work values. It was concluded that the non-descript bullocks of Latur district are strong powerful in performing of draught characters and they perform as good as the recognized breeds of Deoni and Red Kandhari found in Latur district.