Constraints Perceived by Dairy Farmers in Adoption of Animal Welfare Management Practices

Present study was conducted in the three selected regions viz. Majha, Malwa and Doaba of Punjab to assess constraints perceived by the dairy farmers in adoption of animal welfare management practices. The data were collected from total 240 respondents through personal interview method on various constraints perceived by the respondents namely; infrastructural, technical, economic, communicational and miscellaneous constraints and these constraints were analysed by using Garrett’s ranking technique. The results made from collected data revealed that “concerned veterinary staff not taking interest in imparting awareness training camps about the animal welfare practices (mean score: 67.84); “lack of trained, field-oriented and experienced veterinary personnel in the research locale” (mean score: 60.74); were perceived as more severe infrastructural constraints. Under the category of technical constraints; “A.H. officials do not visit the area regularly” (mean score: 68.93); and lack of awareness about general animal welfare practices” (mean score: 63.60); was perceived as most important constraints. Among the economic constraints; “low economic gain from dairy enterprise” (mean score: 75.30); and “sale price of dairy animal is very low” (mean score: 65.16); were major constraints in terms of severity. “Lack of training centres and institutes in the research locale” (mean score: 72.95); and “difficulty in approach to various veterinary services at field level” (mean score: 65.91); were perceived most important communicational constraints. “Difficulty in disposing-off the unproductive cattle and dead animals” (mean score: 69.30); “inadequate veterinary services and facilities for treatment of sick animals at farmer’s doorstep” (mean score: 64.77); were major miscellaneous constraints perceived by the dairy farmers. These constraints faced by the dairy farmers will be of great help for, training organizations, policy makers and research institutes, animal husbandry officials to plan future activities more effectively for the welfare of dairy animals as well as their owners.