12-Title: Awareness and knowledge level of dairy farmers on balanced feeding practices and its association with socio-economic variables
Authors: Abhijeet Purohit, Sanjeev Kumar Singh, Amit Singh and Pratikshya Panda
Source: Ruminant Science (2025)-14(2):171-176.

Abstract

How to cite this manuscript: Purohit Abhijeet, Singh Sanjeev Kumar, Singh Amit and Panda Pratikshya (2025). Awareness and knowledge level of dairy farmers on balanced feeding practices and its association with socio-economic variables. Ruminant Science 14(2):171-176.
Abstract
Balanced feeding plays a crucial role in maintaining the health, productivity, and reproductive efficiency of dairy animals. The present study was conducted to assess the awareness and knowledge level of dairy farmers regarding balanced ration feeding practices and to examine its relationship with selected socio-economic variables. Data were collected from 150 respondents through a structured interview schedule comprising 23 key questions. The results revealed that 50% of respondents had a low level of knowledge, 44% had a medium level, and only 6% had a high level of knowledge. Major misconceptions were noted regarding the components of balanced rations, energy and protein sources, seasonal feeding, and mineral supplementation. Only 28% of farmers were aware of the government digital advisory platform, the PashuPoshan App. Correlation analysis showed that family size had a significant positive association with knowledge level (r=0.252, p<0.01), while age had a negative but significant correlation (r=-0.162, p<0.05). Other variables like landholding, herd size, experience, and milk production showed no significant correlation. Furthermore, regression analysis identified family size as a significant predictor of total knowledge score (R²=0.064, p=0.002), suggesting that larger households may facilitate better information sharing and labour availability for livestock care. The study concludes that a majority of dairy farmers lack sufficient knowledge of balanced feeding, highlighting the urgent need for targeted awareness programs and farmer training to bridge existing gaps in understanding and practice. References Bloch RK, Savasani HH and Vekariya SJ (2022). 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