DISTINCT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ASSOCIATED WITH INTENSIVE BUFFALO TABELAS OF RAJASTHAN

Abstract

This study was an effort to document the distinct housing and feeding practices being followed by buffalo tabelas of Nagaur, the centrally located district of the desert state of Rajasthan. A cross-sectional survey was carried out on large buffalo farms (having >100 buffaloes), locally known as tabela. Using a pretested questionnaire and by making direct observations, data on housing, hygiene and feeding practices was collected. The results on housing management revealed a uniform adoption of conventional, well-ventilated cemented housing with open paddocks and cemented mangers and troughs. Tin and a combination of tin-plus-sandstone were the predominant roofing materials in the study area. Half-height walls with good ventilation were highly prevalent in the surveyed area. Hygiene measures were regularly practiced with routine cleaning and weekly disinfection, adequate drainage, and systematic dung disposal. Feeding was entirely stall-based and animals were group-fed. Green and dry fodders were provided to productive animals, with lucerne–crowfoot–sorghum mixes (43.3%) offered as primary green fodder and wheat–groundnut–sorghum straw mixes (45%) were the most common dry fodder. Green fodder was typically offered at 16-20 kg/animal and concentrates at 11-14 kg/animal. Mineral mixtures were supplied daily (100-120 g) and water was largely available ad libitum. Feed quality checks were universal and most feed was procured locally. The study highlights consistent, intensive management practices across tabelas in a water-scarce desert environment. This study provides practical baseline data to inform targeted interventions for nutrition, housing design and welfare improvements in large-scale intensive buffalo operations.