Dairying provides millions of small and marginal farmers and landless labourers means of their subsistence. Most of the rural farmers, who keep dairy animals, do not follow modern dairy management practices. There is an urgent need to sensitize the dairy farmers about the modern technologies and scientific interventions in dairy production, in order to enhance milk yield and milk quality from dairy animals. The present study was taken up in Matar taluka of Kheda district of middle Gujarat with the specific objectives to study the knowledge and socio-economic status of the dairy farmers in adoption of some improved animal husbandry practices. Majority of the dairy farmers belonged to middle age group, obtained secondary education, had membership of social organizations, had marginal land holdings and depended upon canal irrigation. Majority had big size family with more than five members, one earning member and engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. Most of the dairy farmers had high level of knowledge regarding breed improvement, nutritional management, water management, improved animal husbandry practices of milking management and disease control practices. The study showed that dairy farmers of the Matar taluka possessed medium to high level of knowledge regarding improved animal husbandry practices.
Knowledge, improved animal husbandry practices, socio-economic status, dairy farmers
