Feeding and Breeding Management Practices of Dairy Animals in Muzaffarnagar District of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

The study was conducted to understand farmers’ feeding and breeding practices in the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Eighty farmers were randomly selected from four villages of two blocks. These farmers were grouped into three categories based on their landholding size as marginal (less than 1 ha), small (1-2 ha) and medium (2-10 ha). Using a pre-tested interview schedule, data were collected on existing breeding and feeding management practices followed by different categories of farmers.It is revealed that all farmers offered green fodder to their dairy animals @16.03 ± 0.80, 18.96 ± 0.73, and 23.53 ± 0 kg/animal/day, respectively. The majority of farmers (98%) used cake as a concentrate ingredient.51.25% of farmers used A.I.and 20% used the natural method for breeding of dairy animals. A majority (88.75%) considered bellowing with mucus discharge as the signs of estrous in dairy animals. Across the farmer’s categories, 70% of farmers reported repeat breeding problems in their dairy animals. It can be concluded that feeding and breeding management practices followed by the medium category of farmers were better for dairy animals.