An Exploratory study on Existing Bovine Breeding and Management Practices in Jharkhand State

Abstract

Breeding is an important consideration in the economics of dairy farming. The contemporary study was conducted in three districts of Jharkhand to know the existing bovine breeding and management practices. The data was collected from 204 respondents (180 farmers and 24 service professionals) with the help of pre structured interview schedule. It was found in the study that the majority of the respondents from all the three districts i.e., 80 percent from Ranchi, 63.33 percent from Saraikela-Kharsawan and 58.33 percent from Ramgarh agreed that they serve their animals through artificial insemination. Overall, 92.22 percent of the respondents identified heat in their cattle through bellowing and in buffalo 73.68 percent of the respondents identified heat by observing frequent urination. Animals were checked twice by 67.78 percent of the respondents and 66.46 percent of the respondents inseminate their animals in between 12 hours to 16 hours after the onset of heat. Missing heat was considered as a sign of pregnancy by 92.22 percent of farmers. Only 11.11 percent of the respondents diagnosed pregnancy through rectal palpation with the help of professionals. Animals were served after six months of calving by 57.59 percent of respondents.