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Socio-economic status of Equine owners, Shelter Management Practices and Morphometry of Equines in District Ganderbal of Kashmir Valley

Mudasir Ahmad Bhat Abdul Majeed Ganai Dasish Masood Mir Gowher Gul Sheikh Javaid Farooq Zulfiqarul Haq
Vol 10(4), 92-97
DOI- http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/ijlr.20190608051223

To fill the paucity of data and information on equines in Kashmir, which ranks second in India for population of equines, a field study was conducted to fill the void. In the study a cross sectional face to face survey was carried out in the district Ganderbal of Kashmir valley to ascertain the socio-economic status of equine owners, shelter management practices and morphometry of equines. The average land holding capacity of farmers in the district was 3.67±0.35 kanal/family and livestock strength/family averaged 5.15±0.69. Family size ranged from +4 to +5 members/ family indicating existence of small families with an average of 5.21±0.16 members/ family. The average literacy percentage among equine owners was 2.21±0.15 highest in Ganderbal followed by Lar and Kangan. The average of pucca house was 26.03% while kucha house was 73.97%. Proportion of shared shelters was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Kangan, Lar and Ganderbal respectively. Average age of the adult horses and lactating mares was 12.73±0.66 and 8.94±0.68 years. Mean age of the foals was 1.230±0.11, 1.56±0.13 and 1.50±0.11 years respectively, in Ganderbal, Kangan and Lar. Mean BCS of adult equines, foals and lactating mare was 4.39±0.22, 4.23±0.19 and 5.63±0.29 respectively. Adult equines, foals and lactating mare were found to carry a body weight between 231.05±4.42 kg, 165.99±8.83 and 250.17±8.58 kg, respectively in the district. From the present study it was concluded that the equine owners were socioeconomically weak and reared equines in order to add to their earnings. Since equines provide material avenues to the farmers and play an important role in socio economic upliftment of both rural and sub urban society, careful and scientific practices must be ensured to maintain healthy and vigorous equine.

Keywords : Equines Kashmir Morphometry Socio-economic Status

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