Feeding practices followed by sheep farmers in sub-tropical zone of Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

A study was conducted to find out the sheep feeding practices and extent of adoption of scientific feeding practices by the sheep owners in the sub-tropical zone of Jammu and Kashmir. From 12 villages (belonging to two districts), 120 respondents were selected for the study. Majority of the respondents (68.33%) followed sole grazing system. Creep ration was provided to lambs by only 16.67% of the respondents. Majority (83.33%) of the respondents allowed lambs suckling on dam's milk for more than six weeks. Concentrate mixture to sheep was offered by 35.00% of respondents. Flushing ration to the breeding ewes was provided by 35.00% of the respondents. Mineral mixture and vitamin supplementation to sheep was practiced by only 10% of the respondents. The feeding of cultivated green fodder to sheep was always practised by 31.67% of the respondents. Majority of the respondents (55.83%) had low adoption of scientific feeding practices. There is a great need to improve the adoption of scientific practices by increasing and strengthening the extension activities in the area.