Problems Related to Summer Management in Dairy Cows as Perceived by Farmers of Namakkal District

A study was conducted in Sendamangalam and Rasipuram blocks of Namakkal district to understand the problems perceived by the small and marginal farmers in rearing dairy cows during summer months. Heat stress is of greatest concern in high producing dairy cows in a dry belt like Namakkal in Tamil Nadu. A random sample of 140 farmers was selected from two selected blocks of Namakkal district. Depressed milk production, reduced feed intake, increased water intake, bacterial and viral diseases outbreak and lack of knowledge on housing facilities were the problems perceived as most serious by the farmers. Around 30 per cent reduction in energy utilization in dairy animals due to heat stress was noticed. Thus these problems pertaining to dairy farm operations intend the farmers to follow certain implications or strategies to reduce the economic loss occurring during summer.