Animal Health and extension services: perceived effectiveness by livestock farmers under special livestock protection scheme

The study was conducted to measure the motivational characteristics of livestock farmers to participate and utilize the animal health services, technical inputs and extension services under the special livestock protection scheme i.e. animal husbandry programme of Tamil Nadu. The study was carried out in four villages, two each from plain and hilly blocks of Erode district. A structured interview schedule was used to investigate the factors which motivated the farmers to avail and utilize the services of the scheme. Free vaccination and deworming at doorstep, accessibility of veterinary and extension services free of cost and ease in transport of animals and birds to camps under the scheme were perceived as major motivating factors to utilize the services of the scheme by the livestock farmers. All beneficiaries invariably utilized the vaccination against the contagious diseases among the animal health services. Majority of them also utilized the services like deworming, treatment of their animals and input facilities like fodder seed, dewormers, mineral mixtures and leaflets regarding livestock farming. Services under the scheme were perceived highly effective by 25% of the beneficiaries followed by medium level of effectiveness revealed by 52% dairy farmers.