Imparting scientific knowledge of animal rearing for better production through technology transfer to livestock owners

Goal

Major goals of the project:

1. To disseminate scientific knowledge regarding the improvement of milk production through technology transfer to livestock owners and dairy producers. 
2. Optimization of animal husbandry practices and enhancing the socio-economic status of the livestock owners.

Description

The project entitled “Imparting scientific knowledge of animal rearing for better production through technology transfer to livestock owner” is casting around 19614.00 € for a 3 years' duration (2015-17). Under this project eight villages have been selected and 20 livestock owners and dairy producers from each village were identified. An expert panel of five persons (one from Animal Nutrition, from Veterinary Parasitology, from Veterinary Gynaecology, from Veterinary Clinical Medicine and from Livestock Production Management) goes to the identified villages to impart scientific knowledge to targeted livestock owners and dairy producers for the improvement of milk production. Visits have been organized for targeted audience to see and learn from the standard dairy practices followed at University Instructional Livestock Farm Complex, DUVASU, Mathura (India). Mineral mixture and medicines have been provided to targeted livestock owners and dairy producers free of cost. For further improvement, a feedback form has been collected from participating livestock owners and dairy producers.

Results

Livestock owners and dairy producers were selected on the basis of the number of dairy animals (cows and buffaloes) and daily milk production. Before the start of the project, livestock owners and dairy producers were surveyed for their knowledge regarding to feeding, breeding and disease control and profits earned from sale of milk and milk products. Around 90% livestock owners and dairy producers were not aware about balance feeding. Around 70% targeted audience were not aware about proper breeding and disease control policies. The project is half way but about 65% targeted livestock owners and dairy producers now started feeding balanced feed either by formulating it them selves by use of locally available feed ingredients or started purchasing feed from feed manufacturers. Some of them started following the practice of silage making and improvement of crop residues (urea treatment). Now, they are regularly using mineral mixture and are also much aware about management of metabolic disorder by dietary alteration, breeding and disease control. They start gaining more profit from milk and milk products.