Abstract
A survey study supported by Endowment Fund Secretariate University of Agriculture Faisalabad was conducted
in rural areas (375 Chawan, 376 Bassi old, 376 Bassi new and 377 Massetain J.B) of Toba Tek Singh to
investigate the ongoing practices at dairy farmers' level. For this purpose, thirty dairy farmers from each village
were selected at random and personally interviewed by using the pre-tested interview schedule. Survey findings
indicated that almost all the farmers were following the traditional practices for raising/managing their dairy
animals. The awareness and adoption of recommended technologies was very limited. Majority of the farmers
were depending on livestock for their livelihood. In time colostrum feeding and the practice about navel cord care
were lacking. All the farmers had lay man idea and firm belief that colostrum feeding before dam placenta
expulsion is injurious. The adoption trend for deworming and dipping of calves was only 33 and 31 %,
respectively. Due to raising calves on traditional lines, up to 50% mortality was found. The adoption of
recommended feeding management techniques (high yielding fodder varieties, silage making, balanced ration,
urea treated wheat straw, urea molasses blocks) was nil. All the farmers were using cottonseed cake as a
concentrate, and only 46.66 and 39.16 % farmers were adopting the practice of vaccination against (hemorrhagic
septicemia & foot and mouth disease) and parasite control. The practice of mastitis detection and teat dipping did
not exist. Milk letdown was done through calf (70 %), oxytocin injection (25 %) and concentrate feedings (5%).
Majority of the animals were milked by females through folded thumb. Only 45 % respondents were washing the
teat /udder of cow /buffalo before milking and 65 % were using the milk foam on teats. In brief, farmers were
totally ignorant about recommended techniques hence the result high calf mortality, delayed age at maturity, low
milk production, high cost of feeding and low profitability.
