Assessment of Constraints Associated with Sheep Production Practices in Hassan District of Karnataka, India

Abstract

The present study explores constraints associated with sheep production practices in Hassan District of Karnataka, India. Sheep farming has been facing dynamic shortcomings of varied nature and is still on the positive front. In order to document such constraints of sheep production in Hassan district of Karnataka, a study was undertaken. A pre-tested structured interview schedule method was adopted to collect information from 150 sheep farmers selected by stratified multistage random sampling method. These constraints were analyzed using Garrett’s ranking and Likert’s scale technique, which revealed that the major constraint faced by sheep farmers was feeding of sheep and it ranked at the top of constraints with a mean score of 65.06 followed by production-related constraints with a mean score of 54.23, marketing (41.67), general constraints (41.50) and healthcare-related constraints ranked the bottom of the list with a mean score of 36.96 as per the Garrett’s ranking scores. Each major constraint was analyzed by Likert’s Scale technique and the component constraint within the major five constraints were listed in order of severity. The disinterest in sheep farming was another major constraint wherein the younger generation perceived other less labour intensive livelihood activities more remunerative rather than the labour intensive sheep farming owing to many of the above constraints. Decline/non-availability of productive grazing land due to utilization of land for other commercial purposes, high cost of labor, feed ingredients, mortality of lambs, susceptibility to diseases and reproductive problems surfaced as major obstacles in profitable sheep husbandry. Consequent to these facts there was a growing trend of disinterest especially among the younger generation towards sheep farming.