A benchmark study on reproductive management assessment of dairy animals under rural smallholder conditions

About 200 rural smallholder dairy farmers completed a questionnaire that was designed to assess the practices adopted by them for the reproductive management of cattle and buffaloes. Repeat breeding, retention of placenta and anestrus were the commonly encountered problems in cattle and buffaloes, whereas silent estrus was an additional reproductive issue in buffaloes. Estrus detection procedures were faulty. The frequency of estrous detection was twice a day and the duration was <5 min. Moreover, 73% persons engaged in estrous detection were ‘multitasking’ during the period of estrous detection. For taking a decision regarding breeding of animal, ‘Doka’ (partial let down of milk without any stimulation about 2 days prior onset of estrus) was ranked as the most prominent estrus sign in buffaloes, whereas ‘standing to be mounted’ was ranked as the least important estrus sign in cattle. The techniques of semen tank management, handling of semen within the tank, thawing of semen and semen motility check were not carried out appropriately (p<.05). In summary, the present survey provided a benchmark of commonly used reproductive management practices in cattle and buffaloes under rural smallholder conditions.