Abstract
The objective of this study was to identify and compare different dairy cattle management systems in vegetable based farming system in Welimada division in Badulla district (up country wet and intermediate zones) with respect to their production and economic characteristics. Data were collected from 92 randomly selected vegetable based dairy farmers using a structured questionnaire and milk payment registers of milk collectors. Means of various production and economic parameters of management systems were compared. Intensive and semi-intensive management systems were present in Welimada area. Twenty six % of dairy farmers had primary education and 64.6% had studied up to GCE (O/L) while the rest had completed GCE (A/L). Educational background had no significant effect on the income of farmers from dairying. Mean herd sizes of intensive and semi-intensive management systems were 4.1 and 3.2 animal units (AU), respectively. Compared to semi-intensive system, intensive system was significantly lower (P 0.05) in milk yield per herd, income and labour and other costs (concentrates, drugs and services) per herd leading to non significant (P>0.05) profit differences. Net returns per herd (excluding labour cost) were Rs. 281 and 177 per day for intensive and semi-intensive systems, respectively. When labour cost was not included in profit calculation, the mean net income per day per AU received by the farmers under intensive system was higher (P>0.05) compared to semi-intensive system. Introduction of good manure management practices and establishment of good quality pasture and fodder in the contour lines of the farm as well as a fence line would help to reduce the labour cost for cutting grass and expenses for concentrate feeding while increasing the profit. Upgrading of animals can also lead to higher production in the herd under a semi-intensive system. Key words: Dairy cattle production; management systems; up country wet and intermediate zones. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tar.v22i3.3704 Tropical Agricultural Research 22(3) (2011) 314-323
Highlights
The need for expansion of dairy production in Sri Lanka is a necessity as the country depends largely on imports to fulfil the domestic demand for milk and dairy products
The climatic condition of Badulla district is favourable for dairy farming activities, and 9% of contribution to the total milk production of Sri Lanka is provided by the Badulla district (Progress Review Report, Department of Animal Production and Health, Uva Province, 2008)
The results indicated that a slightly higher percentage of farmers with primary education (81%) had practiced semi-intensive farming than farmers with agricultural operators had passed GCE (A/L) education (75%) but Chisquare analysis conducted between level of education and the management system adopted showed that those minor differences were not significant (P>0.05) indicating no association between level of education and choice of management system by the dairy farmers
Summary
The need for expansion of dairy production in Sri Lanka is a necessity as the country depends largely on imports to fulfil the domestic demand for milk and dairy products. According to Livestock Statistics, 2009 report, amount of milk and milk product imports to Sri Lanka up to the third quarter of 2009 was 95,199,916 kg which was worth Rs. 28352 mn. In the Badulla district, dairy farming is an important traditional economic activity where it is mostly integrated with small-scale vegetable cultivation through utilization of cattle manure. The climatic condition of Badulla district (up country wet and intermediate zones) is favourable for dairy farming activities, and 9% of contribution to the total milk production of Sri Lanka is provided by the Badulla district (Progress Review Report, Department of Animal Production and Health, Uva Province, 2008). Several studies have shown that up country farmer had to spend a higher percentage of total cost of production on labour and concentrates due to intensive/semi-intensive farming and less forage availability in the area (Rathnayake et al, 1992; Mahipala and Gunaratne, 2003; Serasinghe et al, 2003; Mahipala et al, 2006)
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