Effect of Urea-molasses Multinutrient Block Supplementation on Productive and Reproductive Performance of Rural Buffalo Farms

Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) have an immense importance in agriculture by virtue of their high production potential as a triple purpose animal that provides milk, meat and mechanical power to mankind (Sidikki et al., 2015). Though the world population of 200 million buffaloes has been distributed over 40 countries, 97% population is confined to Asia and India with 109 million buffaloes hosts 57 per cent of the total population. (Qureshi et al., 2002; Sahoo et al., 2004; Wynn et al., 2009). Poor breeding ability in buffaloes as compared to cattle, is characterized by late maturity, poor and irregular expression of oestrous symptoms, silent heat, poor conception rate, early embryonic mortality and prolonged inter-calving interval (Phogat et al., 2016). During recent years, buffalo milk is regaining its popularity with better awareness about the quality of milk and available technologies to reduce the fat content without changing other qualities. Better awareness and application of modern science and technologies can result into significant productivity enhancement in buffaloes The economy of buffalo can surpass cattle in all aspects (Hegde, 2019), however low milk yield, poor reproductive performance and low growth rate have been reported in buffaloes.

Supplementation of nutrients can improve buffalo productivity by the proper utilization of poor-quality roughages and fulfill the deficiency of nutrients (Sampath et al., 1995). Urea-molasses multinutrient blocks (UMMB), also known as Uromin-lick (UML), Urea-molasses Mineral Blocks (UMMB), are multi nutrient blocks acting as a blend of energy, protein and minerals which act as an important feed supplement and life saver in ruminants. The results of previous UMMB supplementation studies in buffaloes showed rise in growth, supported moderate milk production and hence animal productivity (Prasad et al., 2001; Sahoo et al., 2004, Tanwar et al., 2013). Results regarding animal response and economic benefits of using UMMB have been reported by a number of on station trials in India (Patel 2002; Misra and Reddy 2004). Feeding of UMMB supported 30 to 40% reduction in concentrate allowances without any loss of milk production (Singh and Singh 2003; Misra and Reddy 2004). The adoption of UMMB technology is carried out over 60 countries of the world including India where it was introduced first in 1983 by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Anand (Kunju, 1986a, b). On farm and large-scale field trials of the technology were conducted on replacement heifers and lactating crossbred cattle and buffaloes and revealed improvement in animal performance (Tanwar et al., 2013).

However, the adoption of UMMB supplementation at buffalo farms is rare and only scanty information is available on its effect on animal productivity at farmer’s field under routine management conditions in India. Hence, the study was aimed to investigate the socio-economic characteristics of buffalo farmers along with the adoption and effect of UMMB supplementation on productive and reproductive performance at their farms maintained under rural management practices. The study was conducted in state of Punjab, India as buffalo is native animal of the state and is well adapted to the local climatic conditions of the area.

Locale of the study
 
The study was conducted in an agrarian state of India i.e. Punjab, which is located at the northwest end of India between 29"30’N to 32"32’N latitude and 73"55’E to 76"50’E longitude.
 
Research design and data collection
 
An expost-facto research design was used to study the adoption of UMMB technology as described by Wadhawa and Bakshi (2010). The study population was the buffalo farms belonging to 24 selected villages from six districts of the state. Multi-stage random sampling technique was followed to achieve a sample size of 501 buffalo farms calculated as per procedure given by Dhand and Khatkar (2014) for the proposed study. An interview schedule as a research instrument was designed for the purpose of collecting data and piloted on owners of buffalo farms having similar characteristics in proportion of 5% of sample size. The questions comprised both open and closed ended type regarding socio-economic and communication-profile of buffalo farmers. Technology adoption part of the questionnaire dealt with use, source and duration of adoption. The quantitative data focusing on productive and reproductive parameters were also recorded.  The interview was followed in local language after receiving the buffalo farmer’s participatory consent for the study. The study was conducted from June 2018 to May 2019 and data for the preceding one year was recorded during this study.
 
Operationalisation of variables and data analysis
 
A dictomous response in form of Yes (Score-1) or No (Score-0) was recorded for adoption of technology. Based on the response of farmers, the farms were categorized as technology adopter (TAF) and non-adopter farms (TNAF). The effect of UMMB supplementation on productivity of buffalo farms was evaluated by considering various productive and reproductive parameters. Services per conception was measured as the average number of natural services or artificial insemination required by the animal to get conceived or become pregnant.

The data were compiled by Microsoft Excel and analysis was done by using SPSS Statistic software for Windows, Version 20 developed by IBM company, USA.

Descriptive statistics were run for continuous/categorical variables. Chi-square analysis was performed to study the association between the adoption and socio-economic factors of respondent. Independent ‘t’ test was performed to analyze subgroup differences in relation to outcome variables i.e. to compare means for productive and reproductive parameters of buffaloes between TAF (n = 185) and TNAF (n = 316).  All results were considered statistically significant when P≤0.05.

Socio-economic characteristics of buffalo farmers and technology adoption
 
Socio-economic characteristics of buffalo farmers presented in Table 1, revealed that most of the respondents belonged to middle age (44.90%), medium size family (53.50%) and had education up to high school level (32.30 %). The findings regarding education level are partially similar with buffalo owners of previous studies. (Amin et al., 2015; Singh et al., 2011; Singh et al., 2012). About 32.30% farmers were small land holders followed by medium (21.60%), marginal (19.80%), semi-medium (14.20%), land less (9.00%) and large farmers (3.20%). Almost half of the farmers were dependent on dairy as a primary source of income and majority (59.70) owned medium herd size (between 6 - 15 animals). Around 3/4th of buffalo owners possessed more than 10 years of dairy farming experience.



The data regarding adoption of UMMB supplementation, indicates that an additional supplementation with UMMB were followed at 36.93% (185/501) buffalo farms. Rest of the farms (63.07%, 316/501) were considered as Technology Non-Adopter Farms (TNAF). Chi-square statistics indicated that most of the socio-economic characteristics of buffalo farmers were significantly associated (p< 0.05) with technology adoption except family size, agricultural land holding and dairy as a primary source of income. The findings are also supported by earlier studies (Quidus 2012; Nimbalkar et al., 2020). 

The communication and social profile of respondents presented in Table 2, depicted that majority of farmers had medium level of extension contacts (70.50%) and mass media exposure (68.50%). Few of them had social participation (36.50%), training about dairy farming (12.20) and involvement in dairy projects (9.40%). All the characteristics studied as communication and social profile were found significantly associated with technology adoption. The adoption was found to be increased with more social participation as well as after attending the training on dairy farming. The finding corroborates with the study conducted by Kaaya et al., (2005) and Dehinenet et al., (2014).


 
Management practices followed at buffalo farms in India
 
Majority (311/501, 62.10%) buffalo farmers were also rearing cattle to boost their income, while rest (190/501, 37.90%) were owing buffaloes only. The total population of buffaloes in the study area was 2960 with average holding of 3.5 breedable buffaloes (Range: 1-23). Various management practices followed at buffalo farms in study area are presented in Table 3. Almost 4/5th of farmers owned Murrah buffaloes followed by Nili-Ravi (4.80%) and non-descript buffaloes (14.57%). Permanent housing was provided at 2/3rd of buffalo farms and majority were feeding green fodder regularly except few (11.78%). Wheat straw (Locally known as tudi) was mainly used as dry fodder. Mere feeding (0.60) of paddy straw was noticed along with regular silage feeding (8.98%). Concentrate feeding is followed at almost every buffalo farm, where majority of them were using commercial feed. As 37.72% farmers were using home-made feed, efforts must be done to train them in making balanced feed. Similar feeding practices were observed in villages of Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh (Yadav et al., 2020).  Around 3/4th of farmers have adopted mineral mixture supplementation in buffaloes. In case of breeding in buffaloes, around 90.00% farms have adopted Artificial insemination (AI). Two third of the farmers followed herd replacement by both raising their own calves or by purchasing from outside farm.



Effect of UMMB technology adoption on productive and reproductive performance of buffaloes
 
From the results presented in Table 4, significant difference (P<0.05) was found in mean values of daily milk production per animal, fat percentage and lactation yield except in peak yield among TAF and TNAF. The average daily milk yield per animal was found higher by 0. 69 liters at TAF.



The mean values of all reproductive parameters in buffaloes (Table 5) were found significantly better (P<0.01) in TAF than TNAF indicating that UMMB feeding plays important role in improving the reproductive performance of buffaloes. The TAF observed reduction in maturity age, first calving age, service period, dry period, calving interval and lactation length than TNAF. The number of services per conception were also reduced at TAF. This could be observed because dietary supplementation of UMMB might have improved the voluntary dry matter intake and nutrient utilization, checked mineral deficiency and improved the productive and reproductive performance of buffaloes. The findings of the study were supported by Wadhawa and Bakshi (2010 and 2011), who had indicated that UMMB supplementation played pivotal role in productivity enhancement in buffaloes reared under rural management conditions.

The study concluded that majority of socio-economic characteristics and communication profile of buffalo farmers had major influence on adoption of UMMB supplementation. The feeding of these multi-nutrient blocks had beneficial effects in improving productivity of dairy buffalo by increasing daily milk production per animal and improving reproductive efficiency by means of lowering age at maturity, first calving age and calving interval with a smaller number of services. Thus, UMMB played valuable role in improving overall productivity of buffalo farms maintained under rural management practices. The study has also proved the viability of technology among buffalo farmers and further suggested that UMMB technology can be widely proposed for productivity enhancement of buffalo farms and consequently economic welfare of farmers. There is also an intense need to recommend the technology to the government for propagating it through vigorous activities at grass-root level to improve adoption.

Authors are highly thankful to GADVASU, Ludhiana for permitting, supporting and facilitating this study. Further authors are highly thankful to farmers for spared their valuable time for this study.

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.