Vol. 10, Special Issue 6 (2021)

Author(s):
SS Dhindsa, SS Sodhi, Bilawal Singh and Prahlad Singh

Abstract:
The present study was conducted in village Jarg of Ludhiana district of Punjab. The data was collected from 50 smallholder dairy farmers owning 115 milch animals (Buffaloes = 65; Cows = 50) through an interview. The incidence of various reproductive disorders viz. anestrus, repeat breeding, prolapse of genitalia, dystocia, retention of fetal membranes, metritis, difficult detection of estrus and abortion was 30.7 & 20.0, 15.38 & 24.0, 7.69 & 2.0, 12.30 & 8.0, 13.84 & 10.0, 9.27 & 12.0, 3.07 & 0.0 and 3.07 & 6.0 percent in buffaloes and cows, respectively. All the farmers believed that high cost of concentrate feed, problem of disposal of old/disabled cows and male calves are major issues in dairy farming. Around 96, 92, 88 and 86 percent dairy farmers believed low cow milk fat content, low crossbred cow milk price, high male calf mortality and inadequate balanced feeding knowledge, respectively, as major constraints. Other constraints were low availability of quality green fodder (52%), low productivity in local cows and buffaloes (50%), low dry fodder availability (48%), non-availability of land for fodder cultivation (46%), lack of green fodder round the year (44%), improper housing facilities (40%), poor quality of bull (30%), lack of veterinary services (20%), lack of organized milk marketing (10%) and poor estrus detection (4%). In conclusion, small dairy farmers should be encouraged to rear high yielding animals and appropriate strategies may be formulated to optimize reproductive efficiency of the animals in the area.