Economic analysis of milk production of selected dairy breeds in central region of Bihar

Abstract

Dairying is being practiced among the farmers in India since ages and is also enriched with several breeds of cattle and buffalo. An attempt was made to study the costs and returns of milk production over different lactations among selected dairy breeds in central region of Bihar. Primary data was collected of 180 animals of the selected dairy breeds of different age group through a pre-tested structured schedule. Snowball sampling technique was used to collect information from the respondents. Budgetary analysis was used to estimate the costs and returns from milk production. The key findings were that the per litre cost of milk production increased by 1.12 times, 1.24 times and 1.03 times in Graded Sahiwal, crossbred and Graded Murrah, respectively during ≥7^th lactation as compared during 1^st to 3^rd lactation. The net return per litre declined by 50 per cent, 65 per cent and 21 per cent in Graded Sahiwal, crossbred and Graded Murrah, respectively during ≥7^th lactation as compared during 1^st to 3^rd lactation. It can be concluded that, indigenous breeds, comprised of Graded Sahiwal and Graded Murrah, were having more consistency in return throughout the lactation period as compared to crossbred. It is suggested for the conservation of indigenous breeds along with required genetic improvement in the reproductive characteristics of the breeds for longtime profitability.