Breeding, Calf and Health Management Practices Opted by Buffalo Owners in Junagadh and Porbandar Districts of Gujarat: A Comparative Study

Abstract

India is leading the world in terms of milk production since 1998 and produced 165.4 million tonnes milk with per capita availability of milk 335g during 2016-17. Buffalo shared about 49.2% of the total milk produced in India (Anonyms, 2018). Buffaloes not only contributed significantly to national milk pail of the country but also have great demand for The study was conducted in Junagadh and Porbandar districts of Gujarat to compare breeding, calf and health management practices opted by buffalo owners (n=300). Majority of farmers practiced natural service (59%), late heat for insemination (76.34%), pregnancy diagnosis (90%) and treatment of anoestrous/repeaters buffaloes (90.33%). Most of respondents attended calving and took care of calves after parturition (98%) and cleaned calves (93.67%). However, few farmers practiced ligation/ cutting and disinfection of navel cord (14.33%) and feeding colostrum to calf (33.33%). Such above managemental practices varied between Junagadh and Porbandar districts (P\uf0a30.05). Majority of owners dewormed their calves (71.67%), allowed to suckle (77%) one teat (91.33%) and offered greens (96.67%) or concentrate (94.67%) to calves at 3 months of age. Majority of respondents practiced vaccination (84.67%) particularly F.M.D. (68.67%), but few farmers dewormed their animals (11%). Buffalo owners cleaned water trough/ manger on every day in most cases (59.67%), but cleaned the shed on every alternate day (47.67%). Cleaning practices of waterer/ manger and shed differed statistically between the two districts (P\uf0a30.05).Majority of owners isolate sick buffaloes (87.67%), used medicine for ectoparasites (80.67%), washed hind quarter after placenta expulsion (93%) and called livestock inspector to treat their buffaloes (55.33%). Calling livestock inspector or veterinary doctors for treatment of buffaloes varied in both districts (P\uf0a30.05). Metabolic disorder was major problem in buffaloes (50.33%). Comparatively more number of owners in Porbandar reported reproductive problems but in less instance metabolic disorder than Junagadh district (P\uf0a30.05).Above results indicated that farmers were aware about different breeding, calf and health care management practices. Further, certain managerial practices also differed markedly between Junagadh and Porbandar districts. K e y w o r d s