Knowledge and Adoption Level of Organic Animal Feeding Practices by Livestock Owners in Arid Region of Rajasthan

The present paper highlighted knowledge and adoption level of livestock owners about organic animal husbandry feeding practices in arid region of Rajasthan. The study was conducted in purposively selected Barmer and Bikaner district of Rajasthan. A total of 120 livestock owners were selected from 8 selected villages of 4 tehsils namely Sheo, Chohtan, Lunkaransar and Kolayat. The final decision of livestock owners to use a new practice like organic animal husbandry practices are usually the result of their knowledge of the practices as well as their perception. The findings of the study show that livestock owners had highest knowledge and ranked first were found collectively in ample access to fresh water and feed to animals, adequate access for grazing, daily access to roughage and colostrum feeding to new born (mean score 1.00 for each). While the highest adoption was found for adequate feeding of animals, adequate access for grazing, provision of daily roughage, provide extra ration during pregnancy, colostrum feeding to new born and provision of clean and fresh drinking water with adoption index 100 ranked first collectively.