Technological Gap in the Adoption of Scientific Management Practices in Livestock Rearing by Farmers in Hamirpur District of Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Livestock plays a vital role in the Indian rural economy by contributing to household income, employment, and nutritional security. However, adoption of scientific livestock management practices remains inconsistent across different regions. The study was conducted in the Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh to assess the adoption of scientific livestock management practices. From the Sarila block, Indarpura village was purposively selected, and 80 livestock owners were randomly chosen. Primary data for 2024–25 were collected through personal interviews and analysed using frequency and percentage methods. Results showed that (65.00%) of respondents practised regular washing of animals and (55.00%) washed the udder before milking. Preventive health measures were less consistent: (62.50%) adopted vaccination, but only 31.25% practiced deworming, while 60.00% controlled ectoparasites. In breeding management, bellowing (35.00%) and mucus discharge (28.75%) were the most recognised signs of heat. Most farmers (62.50%) mated animals within 12 hours of heat observation. Natural service (58.75%) remained more common than artificial insemination (41.25%). Overall, the study highlights the presence of technological and knowledge gaps in scientific livestock management. It underscores the need for strengthened extension services, improved access to veterinary inputs such as vaccines and dewormers, and enhanced infrastructure for artificial insemination. Promoting clean milk production, preventive health practices, and scientific breeding methods is essential for improving livestock productivity, increasing farmer income, and ensuring sustainable development of the livestock sector.