Production status of cross bred cattle and its contribution to livelihood security of dairy farmers in Karnataka

D.V. KOLEKAR; V. VENKATASUBRAMANIAN; N. YAMUNA

D.V. KOLEKAR Department of Veterinary Extension Education, ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute MRS, H A Farm Post, Hebbal, Bengaluru - 560 024, India
V. VENKATASUBRAMANIAN Department of Veterinary Extension Education, ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute MRS, H A Farm Post, Hebbal, Bengaluru - 560 024, India
N. YAMUNA Department of Agril. Economics ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute MRS, H A Farm Post, Hebbal, Bengaluru - 560 024, India

Keywords: Crossbred cattle, Dairy farming, Livelihood, Production

Abstract

Cross bred cattle have major contribution in fulfilling the demand of milk by the growing population of India. Among various categories of dairy animals, the productivity was higher in crossbred cattle. The present study was carried out in eight KVK jurisdiction area four each from south and north in Karnataka. From each KVK jurisdiction area 30 dairy farmers were selected randomly, making the total sample size of 240 farm households. Data were collected through interviews schedule and analysed. The study revealed that the sample households had more number of milking cross bred cattle (2.08) in south Karnataka as compared to north (1.96). Total feed cost and expenditure per animal was more in case of north Karnataka (`116.83 and 161.92, respectively) than south (`111.86 and 156.93 respectively). South Karnataka dairy animals were producing more milk (9.64 L/anim./day) as compared to north (9.48 L/day). Net return/day per animal (`111.73) was more in case of south Karnataka as compared to north (`103.34). Net return/day per litre (`11.09) and per farm (`236.186) was more in south Karnataka as compared to north (` 9.83 and 210.13, respectively).