Vol. 10, Special Issue 6 (2021)

Author(s):
R Dhinesh Kumar, R Sangameswaran, M Selvaraju, K Arunachalam, M Periyannan and M Gopi

Abstract:
Small ruminants play an important role in the livelihood security of the rural resource poor people with the scope of income generating option and poverty alleviation. The productivity of sheep and goats under the traditional extensive production system is low mainly due to feed scarcity, lack of adoption of improved technologies and scientific management practices. This paper presents the management practices of goat and sheep farmers of Karur district of Tamil Nadu. A total of thirty farmers from three taluks of Karur district were interviewed with the pre-tested interview schedule to ascertain the general management and feeding practices followed. The results revealed that majority of the farmers were allowing their animals for grazing and not following balanced feeding practices. Interestingly, all the farmers surveyed were rearing region specific goat breed (Salem black) and sheep breed (Mecheri). Further, the results revealed that high proportion of farmers surveyed were not practicing prophylactic measures for minimizing morbidity and mortality of the animals due to infectious and contagious diseases. Besides, the farmers perceived that depletion of grazing area, less marketing price for the goat and sheep, morbidity and mortality of sheep and goats by diseases were the major constraints. This paper conclude that there is in need of creating awareness about the recommended feeding and health care management practices among the sheep and goat farmer to reap maximum benefit from the venture.