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MILKING AND MARKETING PRACTICES OF BUFFALO FARMERS IN

KARNATAKA

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Indian J. Anim. Hlth. (2017), 56(1) : 43-52 Research Article

MILKING AND MARKETING PRACTICES OF

BUFFALO FARMERS IN KARNATAKA
R. VRANDA, K. SATYANARAYAN, V. JAGADEESWARY AND J. SHILPA SHREE*

Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education

Veterinary College
Karnataka Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
Bangalore – 560024, Karnataka

Dairy farming is one of the important activities among the rural farmers. It provides sustainable income
and reduces unemployment to a large number of the rural poor. The study on milking and marketing
practices of buffalo farmers was purposively conducted in Bidar district of Karnataka with a total
sample of 180 buffalo farmers selected randomly. The study revealed that majority of the farmers carried
out hand milking using full hand milking method inside the shed after cleaning the shed, hands, udder
and milking utensils but they did not discard first few strippings/stripping of milk from each quarter.
None of the farmers practiced dry hand milking and wiping of udder and teat after milking. All the
farmers carried out milking twice in a day, at regular time interval of day and the milking was carried
out for more than 5 minutes in one buffalo. Majority of the farmers were not changing milkers from
time to time and offered concentrates during milking in the absence of calf. Most (49.45%) of the farmers
did not practice any method for drying their buffaloes and the dry period allowed was less than 3 months
(82.77%). The milking record was not maintained by majority (97.73%) of the farmers. Majority
(78.79%) of the farmers retained milk for home consumption and rest sold at the market, in liquid state
(98.88%) to milk co-operative society. Majority of the farmers used dung and urine in the form of
manure and it was sold at the rate of Rs. 1,100 - 1,500/tractor. Low milk production was the major
(61.67%) reason for disposal of buffaloes from the farm. High cost of milking machine was expressed as
a major milking constraint (18.88%) and low price of liquid milk (63.88%) was expressed as their
major marketing constraint by farmers. These findings indicated a considerable gap between
recommended milking and marketing practices and the existing milking and marketing practices. The
results of the study will help in understanding the different milking and marketing practices adopted by
farmers and also to educate them the strengths and weaknesses in the milking and marketing management
and to formulate suitable scientific milking and marketing regime for the animals.

Key words: Buffaloes, Constraints, Management, Marketing, Milking

India is endowed with the largest livestock is helpful in generating gainful employment
population in the world. Animal husbandry in the rural sector, particularly among the
*
Corresponding Author
44 Indian Journal of Animal Health, June, 2017
landless labourers, small and marginal
farmers and women by supplementing their
family incomes. Livestock farming requires
less capital and the management and
production expenses are low compared to
agriculture. Hence animal husbandry is
carried out by all farmers regardless of their
economic status and development of
livestock sector would be more inclusive
(Planning Commission, 2012). India
continues to be the largest producer of milk
in the World. Karnataka stands 6 th in
livestock population and 11 th in milk
production in India producing 4.3 per cent
to the India’s total milk production. Hence,
dairying has become an important source
of income for millions of rural families and
has assumed an important role in providing
employment and income generating
opportunities (Basic Animal Husbandry
Statistics, 2014). India has more buffaloes
than any other country of the world. As per
19th Livestock census, 2012 (GOI, 2014)
India’s livestock sector is one of the largest
in the world with a holding of 11.6% of
world livestock population which consists
of 57.83% of world buffalo population. In
India, contribution of buffalo in total
livestock population is 21.23% which
increased at the rate of 3.19% during the
last inter-censual period. Buffalo
contributes 19% of total meat production
in India (Basic Animal Husbandry
Statistics, 2014). Buffalo has inherent
ability to produce milk with high milk fat
content ranging from 6 to 8.5 per cent.
Because of its higher milk fat contents,
buffalo milk is preferred over cow milk and
it fetches better price in the market (Khan
et al., 2010). In Bidar district, buffalo dairy
farming is more predominant hence the
study was conducted to explore the different
milking and marketing practices for
buffaloes and also to identify their
constraints in buffalo rearing in Bidar.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study was conducted in the state of
Karnataka which is having high density of
livestock population and Bidar district
purposively selected for the study since it
has got predominant buffalo based dairy
production system. Two taluks viz; Bidar
and Humnabad were randomly selected for
the study. Ninety buffalo farmers were
selected randomly from each of the two
taluks under study, thus, a total of 180
buffalo farmers were selected. The study
adopted an exploratory research design and
multistage random sampling technique was
used for selection of respondents. The
interview schedule for the livestock farmers
on milking and marketing practices and its
constraints was developed and pre tested
before administering in the main sample
area. Keeping this in view prior to the
collection of data rapport building was done
and the information was collected. Data
was collected through informal and friendly
visits to the farmers’ homes and farms in
the early hours of the day. The data
 Milking and marketing practices of buffalo farmers
collected on milking and marketing
practices of buffaloes were subjected to
statistical analyses to know the distribution
of respondents according to selected
variable of the study.
RESULTS
Milking practices in buffaloes: The
distribution of buffalo rearing farmers
based on milking management was depicted
in the Table 1. The data furnished in the
table revealed that, majority of the farmers
(68.89%) carried milking inside the shed
after cleaning it and majority of the farmers
(97.23%) were practicing hand milking in
buffaloes. The study also observed that, full
hand milking was practiced by most of the
farmers (43.34%). High percentage of the
farmers (43.88%) practiced to carry milking
of the healthy animals first, which indicates
their knowledge on clean milk production.
Majority of the farmers (77.22%) were not
practicing to discard milk from sick
buffaloes and majority of the farmers were
not practicing to discard milk from each
quarter. None of the farmers practiced dry
hand milking. Table 1 showed that, none
of farmers practiced wiping of udder and
teat after milking. Majority of the farmers
did not change milkers from time to time
and followed a regular time interval of the
day. Most of the farmers (52.77%) carried
milking for more than 5 minutes and all
the farmers carried milking twice in a day.
Majority of the farmers (72.22%) offered
45
concentrates during milking in the absence
of calf. About 49.45 per cent of the farmers
did not practice any drying method and
buffaloes got self dried. Majority of the
farmers dried their buffaloes for less than
three months (82.77%) and did not maintain
milking record (97.73%).
Marketing practices in buffaloes: The
distribution of buffalo rearing farmers
based on disposal pattern was depicted in
the Table 2. The results revealed that,
majority of the farmers (78.89%) were
using a portion of milk for home
consumption and rest of it was sold in the
market. About 49.40 per cent of the farmers
sold milk to dairy co-operative society.
Majority of the farmers (98.88%) sold milk
in liquid state and only 1.12 per cent of the
farmers prepared the milk products (curd,
ghee, butter milk and khoa) and sold at the
market. The dung and urine was used in
the form of manure by majority of the
farmers (87.22%) as found in Table 2. It
was observed that, substantial number of
the farmers sold the manure produced from
their farm at the rate of Rs 1,200 - 1,500/
tractor. The information presented in Table
2 revealed that, majority of the farmers
(61.67%) disposed their buffaloes due to
low production of milk, because they were
not economically viable.
Milking and Marketing constraints: The
distribution of buffalo farmers based on
milking constraints was depicted in the
Table 3. From the table, it indicated that
46 Indian Journal of Animal Health, June, 2017

majority of the farmers (18.33%) expressed depicted in the Table 4. The data found that,
as high cost of milking machine as the major low price of liquid milk was expressed as
constraint. The distribution of buffalo the major constraint by majority of the
farmers based on marketing constraints was farmers (63.88%).

Table 1. Distribution of buffalo farmers based on milking practices

Sl No Disposal pattern Farmers
Small Medium Large Overall
(n=60) (n=60) (n=60) (T=180)
F % F % F % F %
 Milking and marketing practices of buffalo farmers 47

Sl No Milking management Farmers

Small Medium Large Overall
(n = 60) (n = 60) (n = 60) (T = 180)
F % F % F % F %
48 Indian Journal of Animal Health, June, 2017

Sl No Milking management Farmers

Small Medium Large Overall
(n = 60) (n = 60) (n = 60) (T = 180)
F % F % F % F %

Table 2. Distribution of buffalo farmers based on marketing practices

Sl No Disposal pattern Farmers
Small Medium Large Overall
(n = 60) (n = 60) (n = 60) (T = 180)
F % F % F % F %
I Disposal pattern of milk
i Milk produced from farm
a. Retained milk for 5 8.33 8 13.33 3 5.00 16 8.89
house for home
consumption

b. Sold 55 81.67 52 86.67 57 95.00 164 91.11

b. i. Only sold 12 20.00 8 13.33 2 3.33 22 12.22
b. ii. Retained milk for 43 61.67 44 73.34 55 91.67 142 78.89
home consumption +Sold
 Milking and marketing practices of buffalo farmers 49

Sl No Disposal pattern Farmers

Small Medium Large Overall
(n = 60) (n = 60) (n = 60) (T = 180)
F % F % F % F %
ii Marketing pattern of milk
a. Sold directly to 4 7.27 10 19.24 18 31.58 32 19.85
consumer
i. Restaurants 0 0.00 0 0.00 3 5.27 3 1.82
ii. Sweet makers 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 3.50 2 1.22
iii. Hotels 0 0.00 2 3.85 3 5.27 5 3.04
iv. Households 4 7.27 8 15.39 10 17.54 22 13.42

b. To dairy co-operative 20 36.37 26 49.99 35 61.40 81 49.40

society
c. To milk vendors 31 56.36 16 30.77 4 7.02 51 31.10
iii Form of milk sold
a. Liquid state 60 100.0 60 100.0 58 96.67 178 98.88
b. Processed state (Curd 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 3.33 2 1.12
+ Ghee + Butter milk + Khoa)
II Disposal pattern of dung and urine
i) Dung and urine produced
from farm used as
a. As manure 48 80.00 55 91.67 54 90.00 157 87.22
b. As manure + As dung 12 20.00 5 8.33 6 10.00 23 12.78
cake
ii Usage of manure
a.Used for own farming 12 20.00 18 30.00 20 33.33 50 27.77
b. Sold 33 55.00 32 53.33 18 30.00 83 46.12
c.Used for own farming 15 25.00 10 16.67 22 36.67 47 26.11
+ Sold to others\
iii Cost of manure
a. Rs. 800 - 1,100/ 15 25.00 10 16.67 8 13.33 33 18.33
Tractor
b. Rs. 1,101 -15,00/ 32 53.33 35 58.33 28 46.67 95 52.78
Tractor
c. > than 1500/Tractor 13 21.67 15 25.00 24 40.00 52 28.89
50 Indian Journal of Animal Health, June, 2017

Sl No Disposal pattern Farmers

Small Medium Large Overall
(n = 60) (n = 60) (n = 60) (T = 180)
F % F % F % F %

III Disposal pattern of buffaloes

i Low milk production 46 76.67 35 58.33 30 50.00 111 61.67
ii Reproductive problems
a. Prolapse 0 0.00 3 5.00 1 1.67 4 2.22
b.Metritis 0 0.00 1 1.66 2 3.33 3 1.67
c. Repeat breeder 12 20.00 15 25.00 18 30.00 45 25.00
iii Weak general body 0 0.00 1 1.66 0 0.00 1 0.55
condition
iv Old age 0 0.00 2 3.33 6 10.00 8 4.45
v Infectious diseases 0 0.00 0 1.66 1 1.67 1 0.55
vi Male calf 2 3.33 3 5.00 2 3.33 7 3.89

Table 3. Distribution of buffalo farmers based on the milking constraints

Sl No Disposal pattern Farmers
Small Medium Large Overall Ranking
(n = 60) (n = 60) (n = 60) (T = 180)
F % F % F % F %
III Disposal pattern of buffaloes
1 High cost of milking machine 0 0.00 12 20.00 22 36.66 34 18.88 I
2 Lack of knowledge about 0 0.00 2 3.33 7 11.66 9 5.00 II
clean milk production

Table 4. Distribution of buffalo farmers based on marketing constraints

Sl No Disposal pattern Farmers
Small Medium Large Overall Ranking
(n = 60) (n = 60) (n = 60) (T = 180)
F % F % F % F %
1 Low price of liquid milk 44 73.33 42 70.00 29 48.33 115 63.88 I
2 Delay in pay by 16 26.66 9 15.00 4 6.66 29 16.11 II
Milk co operative society
3 Distant located milk 2 3.33 5 8.33 0 0.00 7 3.88 III
collection center
4 Lack of transport 2 3.33 6 10.00 0 0.00 8 4.44 IV
 Milking and marketing practices of buffalo farmers
DISCUSSION
Majority of the farmers carried milking
inside the shed after cleaning it, which
indicates the awareness of farmers on clean
milk production. Similar findings were
observed by Gupta et al. (2008) and Rathore
et al. (2010). All the farmers practiced to
wash their hands, udder and milking
utensils before milking (Rathore et al., 2010
and Kalyanker et al., 2008). Majority of
the farmers were practicing hand milking
in buffaloes due to improper knowledge,
lack of confidence and high cost of milking
machine. Full hand milking was practiced
by most of the farmers (Sasane et al., 2012)
whereas contrary with the findings that
majority of the farmers carried knuckling
method of milking (Vijay et al., 2008).
High percentage of the farmers practiced
to carry milking of the healthy animals first,
which indicates their knowledge on clean
milk production. None of farmers practiced
wiping of udder and teat after milking.
Majority of them did not change milkers
from time to time and followed a regular
time interval of the day. Most of the farmers
carried milking for more than 5 minutes and
cent per cent of the farmers carried milking
twice in a day. Majority of the farmers dried
their buffaloes for less than three months
and did not maintain milking record which
indicated the unawareness of importance of
keeping milking record.
Majority of the farmers were using a portion
of milk for home consumption and rest of
51
it was sold in the market which indicated
the awareness on nutritive value of milk.
Most of the farmers sold their milk and had
not retained for home consumption (Sangu
et al., 2006 and Vijay et al., 2008). Most
of the farmers sold milk to dairy co-
operative society (Sangu et al., 2006 and
Gupta et al., 2008). Majority of the farmers
sold milk in liquid state and sold at the
market. The dung and urine was used in
the form of manure by majority of the
farmers. Majority of the farmers disposed
their buffaloes due to low production of
milk, because they were not economically
viable (El-Arian and Tripathi, 1992).
Majority of the farmers expressed as high
cost of milking machine as the major
constraint (Sabapara et al., 2012). Low
price of liquid milk was expressed as the
major constraint by majority of the farmers
(Mahendra and Anil, 2006 and Meganathan
et al., 2010).
The present study conducted on milking and
marketing practices of buffalo farmers
indicated a considerable gap between
recommended milking and marketing
practices and the existing milking and
marketing practices. To minimise this gap,
younger generation farmers have to take
interest in dairy activity especially in case
of scientific milking and marketing
practices, for which suitable extension
strategies should be developed. Training
programmes on clean milk production and
marketing practices will help the farmers
 52 Indian Journal of Animal Health, June, 2017
to overcome the certain marketing
problems. Adoption of suitable and
scientific milking and marketing strategies
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Article received on 14.02.2017 and accepted for publication on 16.03.2017
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