Present status on the milk production with special references to influence of environmental factors and management practices in cattle and buffalo population in Eravur Pattu, Batticaloa district in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Dairying is an important enterprise for many countries of the world and especially important source of income generation for rural families in the agricultural countries. Milk yield and environmental adaptability of cattle population is a factor of major concern under different types of climatic conditions. However, the consumption and demand for cattle production is still in increasing trend in local and international level. According to the secondary data which are collected from Divisional veterinary office in Illuppadichenai and Chenkalady, average total production is 120,000 litter per month in this area. Furthermore, special interview with veterinary hospital doctors and livestock farmers were arranged to identify the major problems for the decrease in the milk production and death of livestock during this period between beginning of 2018 and up to now. Based on the discussion with above people, they suggested that the reasons for sudden drop in milk production by 50% compared with past years and increase in death of cattle and buffalo were due to drought and lack of awareness on livestock management practices. Therefore, the present study was aimed to determine the correlation between environmental conditions such as atmospheric temperature and rainfall on milk production, influence of management factors on cattle and buffalos with special reference to Eravur Pattu, Batticaloa District in Sri Lanka by using descriptive analysis. This paper recommended that, farmers should consider the proper management practices to decrease the death of animals while increasing the production based on environmental conditions and government should organized more awareness programs related to current issues among famers in this study area.