Impact of estrous induction on inter-calving period and economic returns to farmers aiming poverty alleviation in two districts of uttar pradesh, India

India is the largest milk producer in the world. The dairy enterprise is inherent activity in rural India, encompassing all the agro-system. The prolonged inter-calving period due to anestrous / endometritis or repeat breeding in general term, results in lesser lactation number, less milk yield and lower number of calf / breedable heifer production. Any improvement in inter-calving period resulting in higher economic return will help in reducing the poverty level as well as improving the nutritional security. The present study was conducted to assess the impact of estrous induction on inter-calving period as well as net return to farmers during 2009-12 in the Barabanki and Raebareli districts of Uttar Pradesh. The interventions covered 62 villages in 4 clusters. A base line survey on various aspects was conducted covering 15% of families in 42 villages at the beginning of 2009. Survey on conception rate by artificial insemination (AI) from different sources and natural service was conducted. All the oviparous bovines in the study were given patented estrous induction formulation orally (between 90-120 days of calving) for 10 days to initiate normal estrous cycle through development of corpus luteum and follicles. Animals exhibiting estrous were inseminated either naturally or artificially. The base live survey data indicated prolonged inter-calving period of 27.7 months (pooled data). The inter-calving period of the buffaloes which showed very poor estrous and conception percentage during peak hot and humid months of June-July was reduced to 17.8 ± 0.4 months and 15.2 ± 0.7 months in cows. The reluctance of many farmers to get their animals pregnant before 4 months of calving increased the inter-calving period though the estrous induction, the rate was above 86% in cows and above 74% in buffaloes. The average cost of milch animals in the localities varied during the period from Rs. 3000-4000 / lit milk production for cows and Rs. 4000-5500 / lit for buffaloes. The present formulation not only induced the estrous through corpus luteum and follicular development but probably helped in checking the rejection of pregnancies during first month. Timely insemination, care and observing estrous improved the inter-calving period compared to baseline data. The total cost of estrous induction in 3 subsequent pregnancies, averaged around Rs. 80/- per animal per pregnancy that enhances the number of lactations (around 55-60%) and make the existing low producing animals also a profitable venture.