Indigenous livestock feeding protocols and associated socio-economic profile of dairy farmers in South Kashmir: a study from district Shopian

Abstract

A comprehensive survey was conducted in district Shopian of South Kashmir to assess the socio-economic profile of dairy farmers, their indigenous feeding practices and the chemical composition of available feedstuffs. Using a pre-tested approved schedule, 145 farmers from villages across six tehsils in two veterinary blocks were randomly interviewed. Samples of feeds and fodders most commonly offered to the dairy cattle were collected separately, pooled tehsil wise and analysed. Most of the farmers in the district were having horticulture as primary occupation (28.40%) followed by animal husbandry (22.22%) predominantly dairying (55.56%), with 29.01% having middle school level of education. The majority (64.81%) of famers had monthly income level of 10000-20000/- from dairy sector and average land holdings per household ranged between <1 acre (68.52%) and 1-5 acre (30.86%). Complete stall feeding was practised during winters when livestock were offered only dry fodders, while during summers 83.33% of the farmers offered mixed feed (green + dry). Only 14.81% of the respondents reported usage of silage in diets of dairy cattle. 93.21% of the dairy farmers fed un-chaffed fodders to their animals across all the studied areas in the district. Concentrate feeding to the dairy animals was practised by majority (84.57%) of the farmers among which 75.31% were offering commercial compound feed. Majority (83.33%) of the farmers supplemented the diet of animals with mineral mixture. These available feedstuffs for dairy cattle were adequate in all the nutrients and within prescribed normal ranges. It is concluded that dairy farmers in Shopian despite having small land holdings and reliance on traditional feeding practices, ensured nutritionally adequate diets through concentrates and mineral mixtures; however, minimal technological awareness highlights the need for scientific interventions in dairy farming to improve productivity in the region.