Constraints and Management Practices of Dairy Farming during COVID-19 Pandemic Situation

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown have created unprecedented emergency and sudden distress on all sectors in India including the livestock sector. Among livestock sectors, dairy farming is more sensitive due to the handling of an essential and perishable commodity of milk.Methods: Under this pandemic situation, the aim of the study to know the constraints confronted and management practices followed by dairy farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The study was conducted in July 2020 in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. Thirty dairy farmers were selected randomly and data were collected by a personal interview method through a well-structured interview schedule. Socio-economic data were analyzed by statistical methods viz. percentage, mean and standard deviation. Constraints of dairy farming were analyzed and ranked by Mean Weighed Score method and percentage analysis was used for analyzing and ranking management practices.Result: Socio-economic characterstics revealed that more than 86.66 per cent of dairy farmers were belonged low to medium groups and utilized different mass media tools for retrieving information. The constraints analysis revealed that high cost of concentrate feed foremost constraint with Mean Weighed Score of 50.00 were ranked first. Dairy farmers expressed difficultly in the procurement of concentrate, shortage of wheat bran supply and elevated wheat bran cost (MWS 44.44) second important constraints. Dairy farmer’s made alterations in the concentrate feed composition, consulted veterinary doctors over the phone and direct selling of milk as management practices to manage the pandemic situation.