Status of feed resources for cattle rearing in Batticaloa district representing urban, village and remote areas

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the availability of feed resources for cattle rearing, their distribution and utilization in urban, village and remote areas of Batticaloa district. Eravur, Vantharumoolai and Karadiyanaru were selected for urban, village and remote areas respectively. Fifty farmers were interviewed in each DS division. Stratified random sampling method was used to select the farmers and totally 150 farmers were interviewed. Majority of the farmers in urban area were small holders but majority of village and remote area farmers were medium holders. Most of the farmers in whole study area were practicing extensive or semi intensive rearing system. Most of the farmers reported that major constraints were high cost for concentrate feeds and lack of grasses and grazing land. Paddy straw, rice bran, fodders, grasses kitchen wastes and crop residues were the major available feeds in whole study area. Paddy straw was used by more than 70% of the farmers in each study area. Suitable conditions for feed production and high availability of feeds in the region were the acceptable merits to the cattle rearing. Lack of pasture and fodder production, increasing cost for concentrate feeds, lack of knowledge about preparation of conserved feed materials (urea treated straw, urea molasses multi-nutrient block and silage), less adoption of improved management practices and non-utilization of non-leguminous tree leaves were the major limitations prevailing in the study area.