Use of Cell Phone in Delivery of Livestock services in Puducherry

This document is on Usage of cell phone among the livestock owners and veterinarians with reference to delivery of livestock services. The study was conducted in Puducherry region of the UT of Puducherry. List of livestock owners who have contacted each veterinarian through cell phone was collected. From each list, 10 livestock owner respondents were selected by using systematic random sampling method. Data relevant to the study were collected from livestock owners through personal interview and questionnaire method from veterinarians. Almost all livestock rearing families owned cell phone and used to avail livestock services irrespective of their socio-economic status. Livestock owners used cell phones mainly to receive advisory service and call veterinarians in emergency cases such as dystocia, bloat, milk fever in addition to clinical and breeding services.Cell phones saved veterinarians time, money by planning their route, medicines to carry, prioirtise the case and even depute their para-veterinarian to attend certain cases.This is a clear indicator that the cell phone is a powerful tool which could be used to provide reliable and timely information.