Nutrient Availability and Strategy to Enhance the Productivity of Animals in Ambedkar Nagar District of Uttar Pradesh

Abenchmark survey was conducted through common questionnaires in order to collect the information pertaining to the existing crop-livestock production system, macro and micro nutrients status in feed and fodder and feeding practices of cattle and buffaloes, farmers, family size, land holding, cropping pattern and irrigation facilities as well as livestock population, milk yield, feeding pattern and reproductive status of the animals. Landholding, livestock holding and family size were the main factors influencing the nutritional status of animals. Fifteen farmers under three major categories on land holding basis i.e. landless small (2-3 acres) and large (above 5 acres) from each village were selected. Cattle and buffaloes of the study area were found 17.89% anestrus and 28.52%, repeat breeding reproductive problems. Animals of surveyed area exhibited a deficiency in DM, DCPand TDN intake. Main crops cultivated during Kharif season are paddy, sorghum pigeon pea, maize, cowpea, etc. while during Rabi wheat, sugarcane, lentil chickpea, mustard berseem, etc. are the major crops. On-farm trails conducted on farmer's dairy animals in the surveyed area on balance feeding with minerals mixture and regular de-worming. It was found that conception rate increased from 75 to 97.67%, milk yield increased 51.03%, benefit-cost ratio was found 1:1.46 and 1:1.71 in farmers practice and experimental balance feeding dairy animals.