Productivity of cattle and buffaloes kept by different

categories of farmers at village level

Manoj Sharma and Gurdeep Singh

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kapurthala
drmanojsh1@gmail.com

The main objective of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (K.V.K) is to transfer the latest

innovations/technologies developed by the research institutes among the rural unemployed

youth, farmers and farm-women for increasing the productivity level and to create job

opportunities through allied agribusinesses. The livestock is the major mainstay in rural

people of Punjab and the milch / draft animals are kept by all the farmers irrespective of their

categories and their number depends upon the size of the farm, location, knowledge about the

technical know-how and above all, about the understanding of its marketing.

An effort was made to conduct a dairy husbandry study in the village Mothanwala. It

is situated on Kapurthala-Sultanpur road at a distance of 25 km. from K.V.K. Kapurthala. A

benchmark survey was planned to assess the status of dairy farming and for formulating a

strategy to bring a sea-change in the milk yield through balanced diet, after fulfilling the

mineral needs of the animals. The study was conducted as under:

Procedure followed

A questionnaire was developed to collect information through interview. A total

number of 67 farmers were interviewed and the farmers were selected randomly. They were

classified into 5 categories on the basis of their size of holdings viz. category, I (landless);

category, II (0-2 ha): category, III (2.1-4.0 ha): category, IV (4.1-6 ha) and category V-

6.0ha). The data regarding number of milch animals (Cows and buffaloes), milk yield

(1t/day), feed and fodder availability/animal/day were recorded. Besides this, information
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about the health of animals, disease control programme and reproductive efficiency of the

herds was also collected.

Inferences on the analysis of data

The data presented in Table 1. revealed that the maximum number of the farmers

were found in category-II (50.7%). The corresponding values for the category I, III, IV, V

were respectively, 6.0, 22.4, 10.4, and 10.4 percent.

Milk yield

The data related to cows revealed that out of total 180 cow, 36.1 percent cows were

kept by V category farmers (>6.0ha). Contrary to this, the cows in milk were found

maximum with II category farmers (0-2 ha), clearly indicating the better management of

cows by the small farmers in comparison to the large farmers (Table 1). Interestingly, the

date further demonstrate that highest value of milk yield/day was obtained with landless

farmers (5.0 1t /day) as compared to 3.9, 4.9, 4.5 and 2.4 1t /day cow in category II, III, IV

and V respectively. The date regarding the wet average (total milk yield/cows in milk)

evinced that the highest wet average (7.4 1t/day cow) was found with category III (farmers

with land holdings between 2.1 to 4.0 ha). The corresponding value for the I, II, IV and V

category was 5.7, 5.3, 5.4 and 6.5 1t/day cow, respectively. The high yield with category III

was probably due to more and ensured supply of green fodder and concentrate during the

month of January (lean period). It was followed by category (V) (> 6.0 ha) further confirmed

the increase in milk yield as result of feeding of more amount of concentrates. It is a known

fact that large farmers usually fed more amount of concentrates due to their better economical

conditions. As per the economics, feed alone contributes 70-75 percent of the total

expenditure involved in milk production.

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Performance of Buffaloes

In contrast to cow, largely the buffaloes are kept by the II category farmers (0-2 ha)

comprising 40.2 percent followed by III, IV, V and I category (Table 2). A similar trend was

observed for the buffaloes in milk. On the other hand, the highest average yields of

milk/buffalo/day was found to be under category I (5.8 lt / day) the lowest under category V

(2.9 1t ). A similar trend was also observed in case of cow’s milk production which revealed

that the rich farmers pay least consistent attention towards dairy farming during the year

round. Moreover, their animals are generally attended by the hired labourers, who are

ignorant about the significance of feeding and management of dairy animals, While the wet

average was found highest in category I (landless) followed by IV, V, II and III farmers

clearly showing the significance of green fodder on buffalo milk production because the

landless labourers manage the green fodder in large quantity owing to their less number of

animals and rather provide better management facilities like number of bathing per day

during hot months and better housing facility like soft floor during winter months which

affect the milk yield. Secondly, the large farmers are having the perception that inbred cows

respond quickly and heavily to concentrate feeding while the buffaloes respond less.

Crucial factors affecting milk yield

- Use of feed considering the kind of animals, age of animals, stage of pregnancy etc.

affect considerably on the milk production.

- Sole dependence on readymade feeds such as VERKA, MARKFED and P-MARKA

feeds. Sometime, poor quality feed shows the adverse effects.

- Less use of mineral mixture, an essential component of the animal diet. Only 10

percent farmers are making the use of these mixture.

- Majority of the farmers keep their animals under-nourished. Rarely, any farmer

informed that he is serving the animals as per P.A.U. recommendation.

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- Imbalance in the use of green fodders and dry roughages also affect the milk yield.

- Use of home made mixture such as wheat bran, oil seed cake, cotton seed cake,

crushed cereals (wheat and maize) without taking into account their nutritive value.

These ingredients can prove very useful if the other essential components are included

for making them relished and nutritious.

- Least attention is given to preserve the green fodder through silage making when the

green fodder is available in surplus during the month of July-August and February-

March for ensuring smooth fodder supply in the lean period, need to be emphasized

among farming community.

Thus, it is now clear and pertinent to mention over here that there is an urgent need to

acquaint the farmer with the latest technology of animal husbandry with regards to

management, nutrition, use of green and dry fodders and above all about the balanced diet

seems a priori for increasing milk yield of each location.

Acknowledgement:

The authors are thankful to S. Baljit Singh, Demonstrator ( Animal Science) working

at KVK Kapurthala for providing help in conducting the survey work.