~ 218 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2019; 8(3): 218-221 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2019; 8(3): 218-221 Received: 19-03-2019 Accepted: 22-04-2019 Sandeep Kour Division of Livestock Production and Management, F.V.Sc & A.H., Sher e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India Asma Khan Division of Livestock Production and Management, F.V.Sc & A.H., Sher e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India Biswajit Brahma Division of Livestock Production and Management, F.V.Sc & A.H., Sher e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India Rizwan Jeelani Division of Livestock Production and Management, F.V.Sc & A.H., Sher e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India Iqra Khursheed Division of Livestock Production and Management, F.V.Sc & A.H., Sher e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India Sourab Dua Division of Livestock Production and Management, F.V.Sc & A.H., Sher e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India Correspondence Sandeep Kour Division of Livestock Production and Management, F.V.Sc & A.H., Sher e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India * Part of PhD thesis of corresponding author A study on buffalo management practices followed by Gujjar tribe of Jammu* Sandeep Kour, Asma Khan, Biswajit Brahma, Rizwan Jeelani, Iqra Khursheed and Sourab Dua Abstract A field survey was conducted in and around R.S. Pura tehsil of Jammu district of Jammu and Kashmir, India and data was collected from 120 respondents belonging to Gujjar community through specially designed questionnaire by random sampling method. The study revealed that majority of respondents preferred semi loose system of housing in the area and were not maintaining any records. It was observed that most of them were not disinfecting animal sheds. Regarding summer and winter management in buffaloes, majority of farmers practiced management practices to protect buffaloes from extreme heat and cold. About 14.16% of the respondents sometimes washed milking utensils before milking and 83.33% always washed their utensils followed by 2.5% who never washed them. About 94.16% and 100% of respondents adopted vaccination against Foot and mouth disease and Hemorrhagic septicemia for their animals respectively. Majority of farmers were poor in certain aspects of scientific management of animals and overall picture was not satisfactory. Keywords: Buffaloes, management, health care, milking practices, Gujjars Introduction Livestock plays an important role in the economy of India. The livestock population of India is 512.05 million. Buffaloes are the backbone of Indian rural communities. India ranks Ist in buffalo population in the world with 51.05 million animals (19 th livestock census). The Jammu and Kashmir state is blessed with rich population of buffaloes (738.99 thousands, 19 th livestock census). These are mainly reared by tribes known as Gujjars. It is a pastoral ethnic group with population in India, Pakistan and a small number in north eastern Afghanistan. They are numerically third largest community of Jammu and Kashmir after Kashmiri Muslims and Dogras. They are mainly dependent on buffaloes which play an important role in their economy and social status. Keeping in view, present study was conducted to access various management practices followed by Gujjar community. Material and Methods A field survey was conducted in and around R.S. Pura tehsil of Jammu district of Jammu and Kashmir, India and data was collected from randomly selected 120 respondents belonging to Gujjar community. The selected buffalo owners were interviewed and desired information was collected regarding management practices of buffaloes with the help of pre-designed questionnaire. The family members of the owners were also involved in collection of data so as to get accurate information as far as possible. The data thus collected were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis. Results and Discussion General observations It was observed that animal husbandry was main occupation among 79.16% of the farmers followed by 20.83% who were practicing animal husbandry and agriculture. Prasad et al., (2001) [8] reported that dairying was the main occupation among 64% of the milk producers and subsidiary occupation for 36% in urban areas of Andhra Pradesh. Similarly 75% farmers had dairying as secondary occupation in north east zone of Tamil Nadu (Balusami et al., 2004) [2] . The present study indicated that majority of farmers depended on animal husbandry as main source of livelihood and maintained livestock especially buffaloes as these enterprises. Most of the respondents were illiterate (69.16%) followed by 12.5% who can only read, 10% who can read and write.