Study of Socio-economic Status of Farmers Management Practices at Selected Dairy Farms

Abstract

Current data indicated that the population of the cattle in Imo State, Nigeria drastically increased in few years and their contribution in the total milk production was remarkable. Generally, the small and marginal farmer who maintains bulk of the livestock in Imo State, Nigeria are the targeted group in this study. The sector also provided additional employment opportunities to the people in the rural areas especially to the female population who manage the livestock in the household, thereby empowering rural women with livestock in the household, proving as a source of economic empowerment. The present paper studied the type of farm ownership, existing animal pattern on the farm, percentage of animal on different categories on the farm, housing pattern, feeding pattern, breeding pattern, labour pattern, milking pattern, health care pattern and source of water available at the farm as a whole and to the farmer in individual, which plays a vital role in the production of milk and farm management. It was found that the socio-economic status indirectly influence the milk production of the dairy farms.