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A study was under taken to analyse the productivity of resources in milk production in the state of Tamil Nadu. From the four sample districts (Kanchipuram, Erode, Nagappattinam and Thoothukudi), 120 dairy farmers from 12 villages (10 farmers from each village) were selected by simple random sampling technique. In all, a total sample size of 480 dairy farmers was selected for the study. Information relating to various aspects of dairy farming was collected from the selected farmers by survey method with a well-designed and pre-tested interview schedule. The data collected were tabulated and analysed with a view to achieve the objectives of the study. The results of the Cobb- Douglas milk production functions showed that the co-efficients of all the resources viz.,concentrate, green fodder, dry fodder and veterinary charges except labour were positive for all the function, while the labour variable had a negative sign for all the functions.The efficiency of allocation of the resources involved in milk production was studied by comparing the MVP (Marginal value product) with the MFC (Marginal Factor Cost) of each factor of production. The MVP-MFC ratio was more than unity for concentrate (1.59), dry fodder (1.96) and veterinary care (37.24), indicating that these resources were under utilized, and there was scope for enhancing the use of these resources in the study area. The results also showed that the ratio was less than unity for green fodder (0.93). The resource wise results indicated that the resource concentrate was more than unity and this resource was under utilized in all the four districts. The variable veterinary care showed a higher MVP-MFC ratio for all the four district which means that this resource was under utilized in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was under taken to analyse the technical efficiency of milk production in the state of Tamil Nadu. By applying multidimensional scaling method, the state of Tamilnadu was segmented into four homogenous milk zones based on the resource endowment of the districts, favourable for dairy development. From the four zones, four districts viz., Kanchipuram, Erode, Nagappattinam and Thoothukudi were selected to represent each zone based on the factor scores obtained by these districts in each zone. A total sample size of 480 dairy farmers were selected for the present study. To estimate the level of efficiency in milk production, stochastic frontier production function was used. The farm specific technical efficiencies revealed that the distribution of most efficient elite group (Technical efficiency more than 90 per cent) of dairy farmers was the highest in Erode district (42.5 per cent) followed by Kanchipuram district (39.17 per cent) and Nagapattinam district. The mean technical efficiency was 85.5 per cent, 85.8 per cent, 82.7 per cent and 77.4 per cent respectively for Kanchipuram, Erode, Nagapattinam and Thoothukudi district indicating that on an average the sample farmers tended to realise 77.4 to 85.8 per cent of their technical abilities and the remaining per cent of their technical abilities were not realized [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was carried out to estimate the cost of production of milk in crossbred cows farms of Tamil Nadu. The data was collected from 150 dairy farmers of Salem district. Conventional analysis in the form of percentages and averages were used to analyse the data. The results revealed that among the different categories of farmers the cost of production per litre of milk was the lowest in small farmers' category (Rs.8.73) and was the highest in large farmers' category (Rs.9.86). Among the components of total return from rearing crossbred cows, sale of milk was the significant factor with its contribution ranging from 95 to 98 per cent with the overall figure of 97.69 per cent. The return from sale of calves formed 1.12 cent of the total returns. The return from sale of manure and gunny bags contributed less significantly to the total returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was designed to prioritise the constraints in milk production in Tamil Nadu and to analyse the socio-economic factors associated with the intensity of these constraints. The results revealed that lower price for milk was the fore most constraint in milk production. Farmers rearing cross-bred cow perceived that higher feed cost was the second important constraint followed by high investment requirement as their third constraint. Farmers rearing local and buffalo farmers perceived low productivity as their second and fourth important constraint respectively. The results of the study to analyse the factors associated with constraint intensity showed that out of the eleven variables taken for analysis, only six variables age of the farmer, level of extension agency contact, family size, ways of marketing through MPCS, private dairies and cross-bred cattle rearing were found to be associated negatively at a significant level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]