Garrett’s Ranking Analysis of Various Clinical Bovine Mastitis Control Constraints in Villupuram District of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Economic losses due to mastitis are recognized worldwide as a major problem on dairy farms and mastitis limits enhanced milk production efficiency in many dairy herds despite the amount of knowledge available on the subject. This study was conducted with an objective to assess the farmers ranking on various clinical bovine mastitis control constraints in Villupuram District of Tamil Nadu which was randomly selected for the present study. The mastitis control measures practiced in the study area was analysed, in term of frequency or percentage (%) and rank order was given for a particular measure. Garett's ranking technique was followed to analyse the constraints to control mastitis as perceived by the dairy farmers. Out of 1000 dairy farmers contacted, 120 farmers experienced mastitis incidence during the study period indicating overall clinical mastitis incidence of 12 per cent .Washing udder before and after milking, practicing good hygiene, treatment of clinical cases, culling chronic cases, teat dipping and dry cow therapy were found to be the most popular methods used by the farmers to control mastitis in the study area. High treatment costs, shortage of labour and difficulty in diagnosis were the top three constraints ranked by the farmers in the study area. To minimise the avoidable loss due to the mastitis, Planners should take suitable steps to remove the constraints identified