Feeding and housing management practices of dairy animals in Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

A field survey was conducted to acquire the first hand information on bovine herd management in rural, semi-urban and urban areas of Bareilly Tahsil of Bareilly district. The information on feeding and housing management practices was collected using structured schedule from 90 households rearing cattle and buffalo each from rural, semi-urban and urban area. Wheat straw was used as dry fodder by 86 to 98% of farmers in rural, semi-urban and urban areas. In urban areas 97.8% farmers fed concentrate round the year but in rural and semi-urban areas, only 66.7 and 75.6% farmers followed this practice. None of the farmers used silage, hay making or urea treated straw. Results revealed that 63.3% of the rural farmers shared their residence with the animals; this percentage was higher in semi-urban areas (83.3%). Brick floor was observed in 85.6, 72.2 and 80% houses respectively in rural, semi-urban and urban areas. Size and height of the houses were optimum in more than 75, 65 and 90%, of the farmers in rural, semi-urban and urban areas.