Traditional livestock feeding practices in Northern Karnataka

Abstract

A study was conducted in four villages of Dharwad district of Karnataka to elicit information on traditional livestock feeding practices followed by the farmers. Focused PRA tools coupled with personal interview technique were used to document the traditional practices. The study revealed that farmers preferred to feed cotton seed cake, hay of mixed crop and they did not prefer to feed dry maize stover and paddy straw. They have an established daily feeding pattern for bullocks and milch animals. Strong association was found between farmers’ practices and scientists responses. Calculated contingency coefficient indicated 64 % of traditional practices as scientific.