Production and reproduction performance of buffalo, crossbred and indigenous cows in different agro-climatic zones of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to assess the production and reproduction performance of dairy animals among the farmers using mKisan services in different agro-climatic zones of Uttar Pradesh. A total of 225 farmers (45 each from five agro-climatic zones of UP) with their 301 buffaloes, 235 crossbred cows and 304 indigenous cows were considered. The study revealed that average daily milk yield, lactation length, lactation milk yield, peak milk yield, dry period, age at first calving, service period, services/ conception and calving interval for buffaloes were 5.7±0.6 L/day, 298±20 days, 1746.4±94 L, 8.7±0.5 L, 215±21 days, 1295±104 days, 174±15 days, 2.1±0.3 and 446±42 days, respectively, for crossbred cows, 7.2±0.5 L/day, 280±21 days, 2200.4±104 L, 11.0±0.4 L, 232±20 days, 1175±111 days, 179±18 days, 2.6±0.4 and 439±53 days, respectively and for indigenous cows, 3.8±0.4 L/ day, 193±18 days, 1180.8±83 L, 5.9±0.3 L, 165±15 days, 1548±94 days, 261±14 days, 2.5±0.5 and 314±43 days, respectively. The production and reproduction performance of dairy animals of Western zone and Mid-Western zone was significantly higher than Central Plain zone, North Eastern zone and Bundelkhand zone. Experience in livestock farming, accessibility of information sources, social relation & participation and herd size were positively and significantly correlated (0.167–0.359) with performance of dairy animals at household level. Whereas knowledge about dairy farming and message utilization index were having highly significant and positive relation (0.548, 0.511) with performance of dairy animals at household level.