Impact of technology disseminated through dairy cooperative societies on adoption level of milk producers of visakhapatnam.DT, A.P

The study reveals that the adoption of concentrate feeding practice is 100% in members and 32.5% in non- members. This was most probably due to supply of concentrate cattle feed to the members of Dairy cooperatives by Sri Visakha dairy at subsidized rates. In case non-members low adoption is due to non availability of concentrate feed and due to its high cost of concentrate feed. Since paddy being main crop grown in the area of study, 100% of milk producers are adopting straw feeding practices to their animals. More adoption of urea treated straw was observed among the member milk producers due to demonstrations and trainings conducted by the dairy staff compared to non members. A large chunk of non-members (62.5%) were allowing their animals to graze less than 5 hours without dry fodder and concentrates, this shows improper maintenance of dairy animals by non-members. To study the balanced feeding practices adopted by the milk producers reveals that 91.66 percent of the members were adopting balanced feeding practices, (i e green fodder + dry roughages + concentrates). and 8.33 percent of members were adopting dry roughages + concentrate for their animals. In case of non-members 10% of farmers adopting dry roughages + concentrates for their animals and 90% of the farmers are not adopting any balanced feeding practice to their animals. The reason may be inadequate land holding to grow sufficient green fodder for their animals and apart from these reasons there is lack of good knowledge about balanced feeding practices for dairy animals among non members compared to member milk producers. The study infers that 93.33 percent of members were adopting a feeding practices compared to 52.4 percent among non members for growing female calves. Out of which 63.33 percent adopting balanced feeding in recommended quantity to 7.5 percent among non members and 20 percent adopt balanced feeding in less quantity among both members and non members, where as adopt balanced feeding occasionally is 10 percent among members and 25 percent among non members. The study infers that 100 percent of members and non-members were adopting disease treatment practices. But the mode of disease treatment varies from members to non-members. Among the members 100 percent of milk producers receive suggestions from veterinary surgeons, Whereas 40 percent of non-members adopt prescribed medicines and among non members 52.5 percent adopt local medicine for disease treatment and 7.5 percent left to natural cure. The table.7 reveals that all the members and non-members of the society were adoption Precautionary measures against contagious diseases. But the practices they are adopting were varies from members to non-members. Among the members 100 percent were adopting prescribed vaccination against contagious diseases. Apart from this 28.33 percent adopt regular testing of animals for diseases by veterinary surgeon and 21.66 percent adopt sanitary measures. But among non-members 45 percent were adopting prescribed vaccination, 35 percent adopt culling of diseased animals, 15 percent adopt sanitary measures and 5 percent adopt regular testing of animals for diseases. The study infers that 13.3 percent of members were adoption Dairy records for cross bred animals and 100 percent of non-members are not adopting any dairy records for their Dairy animals. The study Reveals that 41.66 percent of members adoption folded palm milking with fore finger surrounding the teat and 58.33 percent of members adopt index finger thumb milking method where as 15 percent of non-members adoption folded palm milking with force fingers surrounding the teat 85 percent adoption index finger thumb milking method. The study on hosing method reveals that 33.33 percent of members adoption cow house system, 58.33 percent adoption milking house system and 8.33 percent of members adoption open air system for their cattle, Where as 55 percent of non-members adopted cow house system , 27.5 percent adopted milk house system , and 17.5 percent adoption open air system for their cattle.