Year: 2026 | Month: March | Volume 71 | Issue 1
Feeding the Herd: Challenges and Interventions Perceived by Cattle Farmers in Eastern part of Bihar
Sushma Priya
S.M. Rahaman*
M.K. Wadhwani
Nishat Anjum
Aditya Sinha
Fozia Homa and T.N. Goswami
DOI:10.46852/0424-2513.1.2026.20
Abstract:
The study examined the perceptions of cattle farmers regarding feed accessibility and feeding-related adaptation strategies across four districts of Eastern Bihar—Bhagalpur, Banka, Khagaria, and Katihar. The results revealed significant variation in farmers’ perceived accessibility of feed resources. Dry fodder, primarily in the form of crop residues, was considered readily available and widely used. However, green fodder, concentrate feeds, and access to communal grazing lands were perceived to be limited due to seasonal variability, land scarcity, and declining common property resources. Traditional adaptation strategies—such as feeding crop residues, reducing feed to non-productive animals, and peer-to-peer sharing—were common, whereas scientifically recommended practices, including mineral supplementation and fodder crop cultivation, showed low adoption. These findings indicate a critical knowledge and resource gap between awareness and adoption of improved feeding practices. The study emphasized the need for targeted interventions such as decentralized fodder banks, strengthened extension delivery systems, and sustainable feeding strategies to enhance livestock productivity and resilience in flood- and drought-prone regions of Bihar.
Highlights
- Limited access to quality feed and scientific practices constrains livestock productivity in Eastern Bihar, demanding climate-resilient and locally adapted feeding solutions.
- Traditional, low-cost feeding remains prevalent, indicating significant gaps in farmer awareness, resource access, and veterinary-extension outreach.
- Green fodder and grazing scarcity—particularly in Banka—calls for integrated land-use planning and year-round fodder development strategies.
- Low adoption of mineral mixtures and fodder cultivation signals the need for targeted subsidies, training, and infrastructure to modernise cattle feeding practices.
© This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
Print This Article Email This Article to Your Friend
