A study has been conducted in Haryana to analyze the various constraints faced by animal husbandry officials in implementation of "Integrated Murrah Development Scheme" (IMDS). Data were collected from 40 animal husbandry officials from four districts namely Kurukshetra, Mahendragarh, Bhiwani and Jhajjar. Garett's ranking technique was used to prioritize the different sets of constraints. "Heavy work-load due to multidimensional activities of the project during peak season" and "Inadequacy of staff in the scheme" were the major administrative constraints in order of severity. Under technical constraints "lack of mass media approach" followed by "No provision for the refresher courses for the programme functionaries" were the most severe. "Inadequate number of staff at field level and large area of operation under a single supervisor" followed by "lack of involvement of NGO and PRIs in enhancing community participation" were important infrastructural and operational constraints. Untimely release of fund by the parent department and misguidance of farmers by the middlemen/ Brokers were the economic and socio-psychological constraints, respectively. Lack of technical expertise in the field of extension, lack of emphasis on educating the dairy farmers were other important miscellaneous constraints faced by animal husbandry officials. Removal of these constraints should receive priority over the considerable focus on the implementation of such scheme.

Nutritional programme of pregnant cows have a significant effect on occurrence of lameness in later lactation. Highly productive lactating cows have much greater needs for minerals and vitamins. Blood biotin and zinc, that are important nutrients in the formation and integrity of the keratinized tissues, often decreases around calving and extra supplementation is recommended, particularly in lame cows during peri-parturient period . The present study was carried out on 40 high yielding lame crossbred KF cows maintained at Livestock Research Centre (LRC), NDRI Karnal, which were distributed into control and three treatment groups and supplemented with 10, 20 and 30 mg/d biotin and 2g of ZnSO 4 during periparturient period. The results of the study suggested that, transition diet with biotin and Zn supplementation significantly increased the concentrations of plasma biotin and Zn levels in supplemental groups compare to control. The overall biotin values were 344. 23±11.38, 637.42±24.78, 672.75±29.40 and 709.01±22.77 ng/L and Zn values were 0.40±0.01, 1.12±0.05, 1.22±0.05 and 1.18±0.05 ppm in control, T-1, T-2 and T-3 groups respectively. Thus, by feeding supplemental nutrients (biotin and zinc) lameness can be minimize in high yielding dairy cows during peri-parturient period.

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The present study was purposively conducted in native tract of Gangatiri cattle in Uttar Pradesh. The information were collected from 108 respondents, who were rearing Gangatiri cattle for their livelihood. It was observed that most (53.70%) of the respondents practicing 6-10 hrs grazing of their Gangatiri herd. All the farmers were providing natural service to cows in estrus, maximum number of them (54.63%) between 12 to 16 hrs after detection of estrus and 53.70 per cent of them with bulls available in village surroundings. Maximum number of respondents (35.20%) initially used indigenous knowledge for disease treatment and after that consulted with veterinary doctor/ stockman. Major diseases prevelant in the area include FMD, HS, BQ and mastitis. Gangatiri cows were found to be more resistance to the diseases and heat tolerant as compared to crossbred cattle. Majority (81.48%) of respondents kept their cattle on kachcha floor in good sanitary conditions. About 70.37% respondents made cattle shed as a part of their houses. Majority (59.25 %) of the cattle owners were using knuckling method of milking, which may be a cause of mastitis in animals. It can be concluded that there is need of awareness programmes on scientific cattle rearing practices and interventions like supply of semen of bulls of high genetic merit under AI programme or bulls of good genetic merit for natural breeding, adequate grazing land and inputs for health management practices are needed to make the Gangatiri cattle rearing more beneficial.