Assessment of Feeding and Housing Management Practices Adopted by the Local Cattle Farmers from the Bastar Region of Chhattisgarh, India

Livestock farming plays a vital role in the rural economy of Chhattisgarh State. This investigation was conducted to evaluate the existing feeding and housing management practices adopted by local cattle farmers of Bastar, Narayanpur and Dantewada districts from the Bastar Plateau zone of Chhattisgarh. The study revealed that all respondents adopted an extensive system of cattle farming, with feeding primarily dependent on grazing, crop residues, and grasses. Only 19.5% of respondents offer concentrate ratios, whereas very few supplied mineral mixtures to the animals. All the farmers constructed sheds for their animals using locally available low-cost materials, such as polypropylene or thatched roofs, and earthen flooring. Most of the sheds lack electricity, although cleanliness and ventilation facilities are maintained. The investigation highlights that the cattle farmers followed traditional low-input rearing with limited scientific management practices. Therefore, it reveals the urgent need for strengthened extension services and farmer,s training programme to promote scientific management practices among farmers.