A REPORT ON Problems faced by the small scale Dairy Owners In receiving Animal Health Services

Abstract

The study was conducted at some selected areas of Patiya, Sitakunda and Chittagong Metropolitan areas with the view to investigate the constraints faced by dairy owners in receiving animal health services during dairy farming. In total 45 samples farm were selected randomly. It was found that almost all of the respondents were received some sorts of animal health services in respect of treatment and availability of medicines. Results indicated that: unavailability of veterinary doctors in time, high cost of treatment in terms of medicines and vaccines, cost for VS/ULO/Specialist veterinarians during visiting and consultation, insufficient services from veterinary hospitals (including not supply of medicines and vaccines), distance from the veterinary hospitals, unavailability of doctors in the locality and lack of awareness of the farmers in receiving animal health services were the major constraints. The other mentionable problems included ineffectiveness of supplied vaccines, lack of understanding of the severity of problems and ineffective treatment from the doctors or local practitioners. Moreover, problems related to rearing dairy cows mentioned by the farm owners: High price of feeds and fodders, scarcity of quality feeds and fodders, distance of AI centre, lack of technology and media contact. Appropriate measures should be initiated to solve these problems. The major needs for ensuring effective veterinary services are: provide treatment by veterinarians in locality, availability of veterinary clinics at union level, reduce expensiveness in consultations, supply of medicine at free of cost or at reduced price, introducing community based services by the local practitioners and training on preliminary health management and hygiene. Other needs are: doorstep service for insemination and other reproductive needs, training on fodder production and feeding, and technical services on general production aspects.