Vol. 9, Special Issue 1 (2024)

Author(s): RS Akuskar, BM Thombre and AT Shinde

Abstract: The present study entitled, “Studies on Management Practices Adopted by the Gaushalas in Beed and Osmanabad District” was done during 2022-23 in Beed and Osmanabad districts of Marathwada region of Maharashtra state involving 40 Gaushalas, categorized as small (less than 100 cattle), medium (among 100-150 cattle), large (more than 300 cattle) Gaushalas based on herd size. Thus, the selected 40 Gaushalas were comprised of 14 small sized, 13 medium sized and 13 large sized Gaushalas. In the current study adoption was operationalized as the degree to which the management practices viz., breeding, feeding, healthcare, general management, clean milk production, were adopted in the Gaushalas. In breeding practices, the large gaushalas lead in adopting breeding practices, with highest rates in N.S./A.I. (76.92%), veterinarian pregnancy diagnosis (71.42%), and external sign pregnancy detection (69.23%). Conversely, Small gaushalas consistently have the lowest adoption rates, notably in heat detection (35.71%) and external sign pregnancy detection (30.76%). In feeding practices the small, medium and large sized Gaushalas adopted stall feeding and semi stall feeding were 85.71 per cent, 76.92 per cent and 84.61 per cent respectively. The non-adoption percentage was observed mainly for preparation and feeding of silage in all categories of Gaushalas. In healthcare practices vaccination against diseases is highly adopted in small, medium and large sized Gaushalas were 78.57 per cent, 69.23 per cent and 92.30 per cent respectively. In healthcare practices the non-adoption is mostly observed for deworming of cattle. The general management practices are mostly adopted by all Gaushalas. In Clean milk production practices, practicing full hand method of milking is adopted by small, medium and large sized Gaushalas were 85.71 per cent, 84.61 per cent, 100 per cent respectively.