Study on raising of imported dairy cows by small holders in Udornthai province

Present research was conducted in 3 phases from 1991-1996. The first phase (1991-1992) focused on the use of milk progesterone profiles for the study of fertility in imported postpartum dairy cows. This phase focused on the onset of ovarian function and expression of oestrus during the postpartum period in 30 cows raised by small holders in Udornthani Province. These animals were imported from Australia in May 1991. They calved from October 1991 to December 1991. Milk samples were collected every three or four days (twice a week) starting from day 60 postpartum until four months later. The samples were analyzed for progesterone content by Radioimmunoassay technique. The second phase (1993-1994) involved studies on the use of cooperative group work and inquiry training model to teach small holders in Udornthani province on raising imported dairy cow management. The studies sought to measure differences in the achievement and attitude toward the management of raising imported dairy cows among the small holders who were taught cooperative group work, and inquiry training model and those who were taught by traditional lecture method using achievement test and attitude test. The sample included 77 small holders who raised imported dairy cows in Udornthani province. The control group was 25 small holders. The two experimental groups (cooperative group work and inquiry training model) were 28 and 24 small holders, respectively. The instruments for the study were an achievement test for pre-test/post-test, an attitude test and interviewed semi-structured questions. The methods of the statistical analysis conducted were t-test, an analysis of variance and an analysis of co-variance. The third phase (1995-1996) studied on the effects of raising imported dairy cows on socio-economics of small holders in Udornthani province. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of raising imported dairy cows on socio-economics of small holders in Udornthani province. Both qualitative and quantitative research were conducted. For the qualitative research, the semi-structured interview was used along with observations of small holders on Nikhom Thahanphansuk village in March 1995 and the group interviews from April to May 1995. The groups were classified by farm location. They were groups in Nonsung, Thahanphansuk, Soknamkhao, Kumphawapi and Nongsaeng. For the quantitative research, 90 agriculturists were interviewed. The findings of the research were as follow: The first phase (1991-1992), according to milk progesterone profiles, these cows could be classified into four groups, cows with normal oestrus cycle (17 percent, n=5), cows without ovarian activity (53 percent, n=16), cows with pregnancy (27 percent, n=8) and cows with embryonic death (3 percent, n=1). The second phase (1993-1994), it was found that teaching with cooperative group work (CGW) was significantly different (P LT 0.01) from inquiry training model (ITM) and traditional lecture method (TLM) with regard to achievement in the management of raising imported dairy cows. There was no significant difference between teaching with inquiry training model and traditional lecture method with regard to achievement in raising imported dairy cow management. With regard to the attitude of small holders towards raising imported dairy cow management, it appeared that the CGW group, ITM group and TLM group were not significantly different in the areas of enjoyment, perceived values, social activities in raising imported dairy cow management and their overall attitude. The third phase (1995-1996), research was conducted to find out the economic and social status as well as problems and needs of the small dairy cow holders in Udornthani.