Studies on optimizing manpower utilization in various operations of dairy farm

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive quantitative assessment of manpower allocation across diverse livestock categories and management operations in an organized dairy farm. Statistical analysis reveals that while the actual milking duration is consistent across species, buffaloes necessitate significantly more man-minutes for pre-milking preparation (p< 0.001). Beyond milking, the study identifies a hierarchical manpower demand in nutritional management; milch animals (both cows and buffaloes) require the highest feeding investment (> 9 minutes/Animal), while calves required less man-minutes (3.25 minutes). ?Furthermore, the investigation extends to periodic health and maintenance tasks, identifying dehorning (14.25 ± 0.82 min) and hoof trimming (11.30 ± 0.68 min) as the most manpower-intensive miscellaneous activities. Significant variances were also noted in watering routines and reproductive management tasks like Artificial Insemination. The results underscore that labor intensity is a function of both the physiological stage of the animal and specific management requirements. These findings provide a data-driven framework for optimizing dairy workforce efficiency and streamlining routine husbandry practices.