Survey on Structural Details and Evaluation of Cattle Sheds in Coastal Odisha

A survey of the existing cattle sheds was taken up in three selected villages of Balasore, Khurda and Cuttack districts of coastal Odisha to collect the information on land holdings, structural details along with number and size of animals kept inside it. Considering different ideal characteristics, an evaluation score card for cattle sheds in tropics was developed. Based on the total score, the sheds were classified to four categories like very good (>25 points), good (21-25 points), satisfactory (15-20 points) and improper types (<15 points). It was observed that no particular specifications were followed by the farmers during construction of cattle / bullock sheds in any of the surveyed districts of Odisha. Bullocks were sheltered along with cows and calves in one shed. The size of the shed varied according to the number of animals kept inside. It was found that 85 - 90 per cent of the cattle sheds in coastal Odisha were in the category of improper type and only 10 - 17 per cent were under satisfactory category while no shed came under the category of good or very good type.