MILKING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES BY SMALL-SCALE DAIRY FARMERS OF TRASHIYANGTSE DISTRICT IN BHUTAN

Abstract

This study was conducted to draw baseline information on milking management practices adopted by small-scale dairy farmers of Yangtse and Boomdeling gewogs under Trashiyangtse dzongkhag, Bhutan. The study sites and respondents were selected using multi-stage   random sampling, whereas data were gathered using pre-tested structured questionnaires through face-to-face interviews with dairy farmers and field observations in December 2019. The data gathered from 131 dairy farmers were cleaned and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results show that person milking animals are mostly female and illiterate. Dairy farmers predominantly rear jersey cross and native cattle. Most farmers manually milk using hands, milk letdown by allowing calves to suck before milking, practice straining of milk, and breed cattle by bulls. However, the majority of farmers use stripping or knuckling milking methods, follow irregular milking intervals, milking in the byre, do not practice teat dip, do not test for mastitis, maintain wide calving intervals, and keep drying periods longer than two months. The findings from the study show a lack of scientific knowledge and skills in milking practices. Accordingly, this study recommends concern stakeholders to educate dairy farmers of rural Bhutan on scientific milking management practices.