International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
S Payeng, L Bora, JR Bora, J Shyam, JD Mahanta, M Johari and L Sanathoi Khuman

abstract
The present study was undertaken in two purposively selected districts of Assam namely Lakhimpur and Dhemaji from North bank plan agro-climatic zone. The area was purposively selected based on criteria like high prevalence of traditional practices among farmers in livestock and animal husbandry rearing practices, tribal domination and high cultural and ritualistic values among the people of both the districts. From each districts, four numbers of developmental blocks (two development blocks from each district) were considered as the location for the current research work. From each Block 5 villages were selected for the study making the total number of villages 20. Finally, from each village 20 farmers were considered as respondents making the total sample size 400. Only those farmers having at least 2-3 numbers of livestock and few poultry birds in their backyard was considered to be a part of the sample. Based on this criterion the farmers were selected applying snow ball sampling technique. Most of the farmers have been rearing their livestock and poultry in traditional system except in piggery where a few farmers had taken up intensive system of farming in the study area. In buffalo farming cent per cent in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji district followed “khuti” system or scavenging system of rearing. Cattle, buffalo and goat were allowed for open grazing in both the district ans similarly poultry birds were reared in backyard system for which there was no use feeding trough for feeding purpose in both the districts. Whereas in pig farming, although pigs were reared in scavenging and tethering system the farmers provided feed daily at regular time intervals. Only 6.12 per cent of the repondents practised artificial insemination and rest preferred natural breeding. Majority of the farmers were not aware of the biosecurity measures to be adopted in thier farms with only 9.96 per cent piggery farmers constructing boundary walls in thier farms.