Constraints perceived by sheep and goat farmers under intensive rearing system in Telangana state

Introduction

Telangana is one of the prominent states in sheep and goat farming, contributing significantly to the rural economy and livestock sector. With increasing pressure on grazing resources, changing land-use patterns, and rising demand for meat, intensive sheep and goat farming is emerging as an important production system in the state. Intensive rearing involves controlled management, improved feeding, and better health care practices, offering potential for higher productivity and profitability. However, there is limited region-specific information on management practices, feeding strategies, disease control measures, and production constraints under intensive systems across different agro-climatic zones of Telangana. Therefore, a focused study on intensive sheep and goat farming is essential to identify key challenges and opportunities, support informed policy-making, and promote sustainable and economically viable small ruminant production in the region.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted across six districts of Telangana representing the northern, central, and southern agro-climatic zones. From each district, four mandals were selected, resulting in a total of 24 mandals. From each mandal, two intensive farmers-one sheep farmer and one goat farmer-were randomly selected. Thus, a total of 48 intensive farmers comprising 24 sheep farmers and 24 goat farmers participated in the study. Primary data were collected using a pre-tested and structured questionnaire. The selection of districts, mandals, and respondents was facilitated by the Telangana State Animal Husbandry Department. The collected data were systematically tabulated and analysed using appropriate statistical tools to draw valid conclusions.

Results and Discussion

Constraints Perceived by Sheep and Goat Farmers under Intensive Rearing System

The data presented in Table 1 reveal the major and minor constraints perceived by sheep and goat farmers practicing intensive rearing systems. Based on the severity and ranking of constraints, they are discussed under the following categories:

1. Institutional and Financial Constraints Among all constraints, lack of insurance protection (66.66%) emerged as the most severe and was ranked first by the respondents. This indicates the high vulnerability of intensive sheep and goat farmers to unforeseen risks such as disease outbreaks, mortality, and climatic uncertainties, which can result in substantial economic losses. The absence of livestock insurance leaves farmers without financial security or recovery mechanisms. The lack of government subsidy (62.50%) ranked second, highlighting the need for policy support to offset high production costs associated with intensive systems. Subsidies play a crucial role in sustaining farm operations, particularly for small and marginal farmers. Further, nonavailability of institutional credit (47.91%), ranked third, restricts farmers' ability to invest in quality feed, housing, breeding stock, and health care, thereby limiting productivity and expansion. Similar constraints related to inadequate subsidy and institutional support were also reported by Das et al. (2024) [2] , who identified lack of government support, poor access to quality breeding stock, limited exposure to successful farms, and marketing difficulties as major constraints among tribal goat farmers in Odisha.

Feed and Input Constraints

The non-availability of feed (39.58%) was ranked fourth among the major constraints. In intensive rearing systems, where animals depend entirely on stall feeding, uninterrupted access to balanced and nutritious feed is essential for optimal growth and productivity. Any disruption in feed supply directly affects animal performance and farm profitability. Interestingly, lack of grazing land (0%) was ranked last, indicating that grazing scarcity is not perceived as a constraint under intensive systems, as farmers rely primarily on controlled feeding and indoor management practices.

Labour Constraints

Labour scarcity (37.50%), ranked fifth, was identified as a significant operational constraint. Intensive systems require regular labour for feeding, cleaning, health monitoring, and overall management. Shortage of skilled and affordable labour affects efficiency and increases operational costs, ultimately reducing profitability.

Animal Health and Veterinary Constraints

Inadequate veterinary services (33.33%) ranked sixth among major constraints, underscoring gaps in timely access to veterinary care, disease diagnosis, and preventive health services. Additionally, incidence of disease (27.08%) ranked eighth, further emphasizing health-related challenges in intensive systems where disease spread can be rapid due to higher stocking density.

These findings are in conformity with earlier studies by Rauniyar et al. (2000) [7] , Kuldeep et al. (2006) [4] , Misra et al. (2007) [5] , and Tanwar (2011) [8] , who also reported health care and veterinary service limitations as major constraints in small ruminant production.

Infrastructure and Housing Constraints

The higher cost of lambs/kids (31.25%), ranked seventh, affects the initial investment required to establish or expand intensive farms. Further, inadequate space for shelter (18.75%), ranked ninth, impacts animal welfare, hygiene, and productivity, particularly in confined production systems.

Marketing and Economic Constraints

Marketing-related issues such as involvement of a large number of middlemen (16.66%) and high price fluctuations (14.58%), ranked tenth and eleventh respectively, reduce farmers' profit margins and income stability. Limited direct market access forces farmers to depend on intermediaries, often resulting in distress sales. Supporting evidence for these findings was reported by Tilahun et al. (2006) [9] , Virojirao et al. (2008) [10] , Jana et al. (2014) [3] , Poornima et al. (2015) [6] , and Abdallah (2024) [1] , who highlighted marketing inefficiencies and price instability as key challenges in small ruminant farming.

Miscellaneous Constraints

Other constraints perceived as moderate to minor included wild animal menace (12.50%), lack of transportation facilities (10.41%), lack of market information (8.33%), and lack of water availability (6.25%). Although ranked lower, these factors still influence the overall efficiency and sustainability of intensive sheep and goat farming operations.

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