Vol. 11, Special Issue 4 (2022)

Author(s):
D Anandha Prakash Singh and PN Richard Jagatheesan

Abstract:
Dairying supports millions of small and marginal farmers and landless labourers for their subsistence. Dairying has the potential to bring about socio-economic transformations in the rural sector. But the dairy farmers rearing crossbred cows are very often facing mastitis and other health related problems causing economic loss to the farmers. Hence, the present study was taken to assess the milking management practices, incidence of mastitis and other health management practices followed by the dairy farmers of Namakkal district. A survey was conducted in Namakkal district by selecting 50 dairy co-operative society farmers per block, totaling 150 farmers by personal contact using pre-tested schedule. The survey results showed an overall average of 3.01 cows per farmer. A sizeable percentage of farmers (18 per cent) had both Jersey and Holstein Friesian crossbreds. Calf suckling method for milk let-down was practiced by 97.33 per cent farmers. Most of the farmers practiced wet hand milking (98.67 per cent). Among the hand milking methods stripping was commonly practiced either singly (60 per cent) or coupled with full hand (18.67) or knuckling method (16 per cent). Mastitis incidence was encountered by only 28 per cent of the farmers mostly during winter season in early lactation cows. Deworming was practiced by 94 per cent of the farmers whereas, four per cent of the farmers practiced deticking. Foot and mouth disease was encountered by considerable number of farmers (26.67 per cent) followed by enteritis (18 per cent) problem.