Studies on socio- economic status of donkey owners and reproductive parameters of jennet in Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

The present study was conducted in eight district of Marathwada region, Maharashtra, India. The eighty three donkey owners were selected using pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule and socio-economic variables of donkey owners ware studied. The parameters for the study consist of age at puberty (AP), age at first service (AFS), age at first estrus (AFE), estrus cycle duration (ECD), estrus duration (ED), age at first covering (AFC), age at first conception (AFCO), no. of services/conception (NS), age at first foaling (AFF), service period (SP), foaling interval (FI), gestation period (GP), lifetime no. of foaling (LNF) were2.70±0.02 yrs., 2.79±0.02 yrs., 2.77±0.03 yrs., 6.86±0.084 days, 23.80±0.55days, 2.96±0.01yrs, 5.9±0.07yrs., 1.82±0.06, 4.44±0.01 yrs., 1.14±0.01 yrs., 2.25±0.01 yrs., 340.8±0.27 days and 5.98±0.07, respectively. At the end of the study it is concluded that the efforts are needed to improve socio-economic condition of the farmers along with systematically eliminating identified constraints. Hence sincere efforts should be made to increase awareness of the donkey owners for health care, Vaccination and regular medication and Scientific rearing practices.