Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(8): 1195-1202 International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 08 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.708.134 Survey on Housing and Feeding Practices of Buffaloes Owners in Junagadh and Porbandar District of Gujarat, India B.A. Pata, M.D. Odedra, A.R. Ahlawat*, H.H. Savsani and T.K. Patbandha College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh - 362001, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT The present investigation was carried out to study the feeding and housing patterns K e yw or ds adopted by buffaloes keepers in Junagadh and Porbandar districts of Gujarat State. A random sample of 300 buffalo owners were selected from three talukas of Junagadh and Housing , Feeding, two talukas of Porbandar district. Majority of buffalo owners (55.67%) had animal shed Buffaloes , located inside dwelling house with kuccha slopped floor (83.67%). Most of buffalo owners Cottonseed cake reduced heat stress in buffaloes by splashing of water and 71% farmers adopted both stall feeding and grazing to their buffalo. In study area, 80% buffalo owners cultivated green Article Info fodder, 92.67% and 91% respondents did not feed salt and mineral mixture to their Accepted: buffaloes, respectively. Most common green fodder used were maize and lucerne in the study area, 51.33% and 40% respondents fed maize and lucerne to their buffaloes 08 July 2018 Available Online: respectively. Sorghum straw (33.33%) and groundnut gotar (61.67%) were fed as dry fodder to their buffaloes. Majority of buffalo owners (95.33%) did not offer bypass 10 August 2018 fat/protein to their buffaloes and 71.67% buffalo owners fed cottonseed cake to their buffaloes. Introduction availability of milk was around 355 grams per day in 2016-17 (Anon., 2017). Livestock sector of India is one of the largest sectors in the world, comprising of 11.6 per The buffalo holds an important place in cent of total livestock population of the world. Indian rural economy. Buffalo is the premier Livestock plays an important role in Indian animal in Indian dairy industry contributing economy and provides livelihood to two-third about 60% of total milk production in the of rural community. It also provides country. Buffaloes are preferred over cattle in employment to about 8.8 per cent of the India because of their distinctive qualities human population in India. India continues to such as better feed conversion efficiency, be the largest producer of milk in the world. more resistance to diseases and higher milk Total milk production during 2016-17 was fat percentage than in cows (Bandyopadhyay 165.4 million tones. The per capita et al., 2003). Feeding, housing and health 1195 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(8): 1195-1202 management plays a very significant role in representative of animal management exploiting the full potential of dairy animals. practices prevailing in the area the selected The management practices constitute about respondents were interviewed personally and 75-80 per cent of total cost incurred on milk information was collected with the help of production in dairy business (Verma and predesigned questionnaire The variables Sastry, 1994). Insufficient feeding results in under study were selected on the basis of poor growth, delayed maturity, late extensive review of literature related to the conception and poor production. Provision of topic of research and consultation with comfortable and proper spacing is helpful in experts. The data with regards housing and reducing the energy in maintaining thermo- feeding management, milking management neutral zone and also provides ideal, and health management as well as the comfortable and hygienic conditions, which constraints in adoption of management reduce the incidence of diseases, lower the practices involved were also collected. All the pathogenic load, reduces the ecto and endo data were classified and tabulated carefully parasites and provides good environment for while compiling the information. optimum milk production. The performance and productivity of buffaloes in the region Statistical analysis of the data appears to be at low level and the factors responsible need greater attention. Collected data were compiled, tabulated and Productivity of an animal is primarily the analyzed using appropriate statistical tools product of interaction of its genetic makeup and techniques like percentage, mean, and the environment in which it develops. frequency and standard deviation were The findings of the present study will provide calculated. a physical and relevant package of buffalo husbandry practices adopted by the farmers of Results and Discussion this region, so that the farmers of the other region in the country are also benefited. Housing management practices Materials and Methods The data on the housing pattern adopted by the farmers of the two districts has been The present study was carried out in villages shown in table 1. of Junagadh and Porbandar districts of Gujarat state. It was selected due to presence Housing takes care of the comfort of animals of large number of buffaloes, buffalo rearing as well as economics. Housing in most of the farmers, familiarity of researcher with the rural areas is not proper and the dairy sheds area and local language and his ability to should be widely located, properly oriented, cover larger area within stipulated time. Two constructed, spaced out and grouped. talukas from Porbandar viz Porbandar and Kutiyana and three talukas from Junagadh viz Studies revealed that majority of respondents Keshod, Mangrol and Manavadar were (55.67 per cent) had buffalo shed located selected and from each selected taluka 6 inside dwelling house while 44.33 per cent villages were chosen randomly. Thus samples had separate shed outside their house. These of 300 buffalo owners were selected for the findings are contrary to Pundir et al., (2000) study. While selecting respondents due care who found that in about 75 per cent of cases, was taken to ensure that they were evenly the farmer and animal houses were separate. distributed in the village and were a true There were no significant differences found 1196 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(8): 1195-1202 between the Junagadh and Porbandar district respondents who did not provide proper light for location of buffalo shed. in buffalo shed. These results are supported by Vranda et al., (2017). There was a Majority of respondents (55.67 per cent) had significant difference found between the kuccha floor pattern followed by 44.33 per Junagadh and Porbandar district for provision cent pucca floor pattern. These findings are of proper light to animal shed. supported by Kalyankar et al., (2008) who found that the kuccha flooring was most It was also inferred that 76.67 per cent common (91.56 per cent) in animal houses. respondents had buffalo shed containing Present findings were also supported by single slope roof and 23.33 per cent buffalo Sabapara et al., (2010) who also reported shed had double slope roof. These results are kaccha flooring to be most common type of supported by Ghuge (2014) and Atakare et flooring in his study area. al., (2016). There was no significant difference found between the Junagadh and Observations in Table 1 indicated that 83.67 Porbandar district for roof patterns. per cent buffalo sheds had slope in floor however very few (16.33 per cent) sheds did About 78 per cent owners splashed water on not contain slope. These findings are buffaloes to reduce heat stress followed by 22 supported by Kumar et al., (2017) who per cent buffalo owners who practiced revealed that 54.17 per cent houses have slope wallowing in their buffaloes. These results are for proper drainage of urine and faeces. There contrary to Kishore et al., (2013) who was no significant difference found between reported that as a part of summer the Junagadh and Porbandar district for slope management, 51% farmers allowed their in floor in buffalo shed. buffaloes to wallow in the village tanks during the hotter parts of the day and 49.16% It was found that 21.67 per cent of the dairy farmers washed their animals by splashing animal owners used sheds with drainage water manually. There was no significant channel/pit while 78.33 per cent respondents difference found between the Junagadh and used sheds that did not contain drainage Porbandar district related to summer channel/pit. These findings are supported by management practices followed by buffalo Ghuge (2014) and Atakare et al., (2016). owners. Significant differences were found between the Junagadh and Porbandar district. Also Feeding management practices 87.33 per cent respondents practiced manger feeding followed by 12.67 per cent who did The data on the feeding patterns adopted by not practice manger feeding. These findings the farmers of the two districts has been are in contrary to Vranda et al., (2017) who shown in table 2. found that the manger was not provided by majority of the farmers in her study area. Feeding is one of the most important aspect of There was no significant difference found milk production. For optimum milk between the Junagadh and Porbandar district production, balanced and adequate feeding is with regard to manger feeding pattern. important. Data are collected and presented in table 2. The majority of respondents (87.33 per cent) provided proper light and ventilation to From the present investigation it was buffalo shed followed by 12.67 per cent observed that 71 per cent practiced of 1197 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(8): 1195-1202 respondents fed both (stall+ grazing) followed of mineral mixture to buffaloes. Observations by 16.67 per cent who practiced stall feeding suggested that 51.33 per cent respondents and 12.33 per cent who practiced grazing offered maize, 40 respondents offered alone.