CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Information gained through observation, experience and experimentation

enabled the progress of the humankind since ancient times. Information or processed data

transformed into knowledge through intellectualization since the beginning of

civilizations. Primitive man tamed wild animals, domesticated them and selectively bred

them to increase their value. Assets so gained were passed on to successive generations

and this accumulated as their animal wealth. Knowledge so gained formed the intellectual

capital in this field of human activity. Unprecedented growth and diversification of

information is a problem in veterinary and animal science also. The complexities in

information requirements coupled with information explosion and globalization

necessitates reorganization, and repackaging of the information according to the needs of

veterinarians.

1.1 Relevance Of The Study

Livestock especially cattle form an important component of Indian

agriculture and can contribute directly to man's sustenance and progress. The role of

livestock for mankind are the provision of income, food (milk, meat and eggs), wool,

hides and skins, draught power, transport, fuel, serve as a capital reserve for bad times

and provide esthetic pleasure and social benefits like sports. Viewed as part of and as

contributors to the agro-ecosystem domestic animals provide ecosystem services like

manure for soil fertility, food and shelter for mankind, grazing and seed dispersal to

maintain and restore nature, consumption of crop residues and by-products from

processing crops (waste converters) preventing pollution. Cattle and buffaloes are the

main assets of rural people, which they can trade off for cash in times of emergency. 1

Draught animals provide energy required for land preparation, which is a

vital factor for agricultural productivity. They are recognized by the UN' as one of the 14

sources of renewable energy. India depends on draught animal power (DAP) for land

preparation to the extent of 66% of area cultivated. Due to a variety of reasons, use of

DAP is inevitable or appropriate in certain areas and conditions, such as farms of small

size, water logged fields, narrow terraced fields, low resource level of poor farmers, etc.

About 75 million draught animals (bullocks and buffaloes) are engaged in land

preparation and small-scale rural transportation. It may be noted that DAP saves six

million tonnes of petroleum per year, valued at 4,000 crorys. Advocating DAP as a

source of appropriate technology for agriculture does not necessarily mean an anti­

mechanization stand. In fact, mechanism can be adopted wherever it is technically

feasible, economically viable and ecologically desirable?

India, with about 2 per cent of land area in the world, is maintaining nearly

17 per cent of the world's human population and about 20 per cent of the livestock.

Livestock-man ratio is 1:2 in India, and is less in all other countries. There is not enough

pastureland to carry such a huge population of livestock. Due to lack of adequate feed,

nutrition and health care, we are not able to tap the full potential of livestock. The

massive demand of milk from the urban population has compelled the government to

launch the operation flood program through the National Dairy Development Board

(NDDB). Repeated breeding results in ill health, fertility and susceptibility to diseases in

cattle. Indian cattle are really a draught variety, with milk being given a by-product

status. It is apprehended that the overwhelming enthusiasm for milk production has lead

to the neglect of the draught characteristics in the breeding programme. According to Dr.

Balain former Head of the Animal Genetic Resources, the Ongole breed of cattle has

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already disappeared in India and is reportedly found only in Brazil, where it was

imported from India. Dual purpose breeding retaining draught characteristic has to be

encouraged. This requires a review of the existing programmes for investment and

management of the cattle sector in order to achieve a proper mix of milk and work from

India's cattle.3 The above grave situation calls for urgent measures to rectify the

imbalance and inadequacies utilizing recent Information technology tools. Veterinary and

health care systems should be strengthened by providing adequate field-based services,

using scientific methods for breeding, health care, castrating, dehorning etc.

Information technology is important resource input in the process of

gradual and orderly change in the development of traditional bound rural areas. India's

program of reforms and economic liberalization coupled with launching of decentralized

planning opens a significant market led opportunities for livestock sector. India has now

emerged as the largest milk producer in the world with 74 million tones per annum. Such

rapid progress was made possible by the pioneering work of National Dairy Development

Board (NDDB) under the leadership of Dr.V.Kurian. The operation flood programmes

and milk cooperatives have changed the face of India's milk sector. Between 1985 and

1992 value of livestock output grew by six per cent a year in real terms, from Rs.196

billion to RsJ02 billion. Major share of this growth is attributed to dairy and poultry

sectors. Country's livestock population continues to grow steadily especially among goats

and poultry. Of the total households in the rural areas, about the 73 per cent own

livestock. Income from livestock sector accounts for 15-40 per cent of total farm

household incomes. Small and marginal farmers account for three fourth of this

household raising 56 per cent of Bovine population.

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Kerala occupying just 1.18 per cent of the total geographic area of the

country accommodates over 110 crops and the entire livestock population is spread over

60 lakh small holdings. Milk production in Kerala has increased from 2.2 lakh tones

during 1963-64 to around 264 lakh tones in 1998-1999 due to extensive cross breeding

programmes on the cattle development. The percent of crossbred females has reached 68

in the state, the highest in the country. 4 Dairy and poultry sections are gradually attaining

the status of sustainability in the State. They provide lucrative, subsidiary and self­

employment ventures to many unemployed youths. More than 75 per cent of the total egg

production in the state is from backyard sector since commercial layer farming is not at

all feasible due to high feed cost. Recently the state exhibits marked growth in the broiler

sector.

Veterinary SCIence deals with anatomy, physiology and pathology of

animals other than man. It includes diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment of diseases and

infirmities, their relation to man with regard to intercommunicable diseases and use of

their milk, flesh and other products and their scientific breeding and handling.s

Veterinarians undeliake the duties of maintaining and improving the animal wealth, carry

out fundamental and applied research, generate new information and disseminate the

most relevant scientific knowledge to the farming community. This has become vital in

the changed atmosphere of globalization where agriculture has metamorphosed into

agribusiness and animal genetics into gene business. Our 'farming sector has changed a

lot. Slogans like "Small is beautiful" coexist with the new dictum "Big is bountiful"

characteristic of structural adjustments in the changing economic scenario. Veterinary

scientists working in the laboratories and carrying out extension activities should receive

the services of information professionals to equip themselves to discharge their duties.

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Veterinarians require nascent information in diverse fields of knowledge

such as animal anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, parasitology, bacteriology, virology,

pathology, pharmacology, therapeutics, animal breeding and genetics, fermentation

technology, faml management, marketing, nutrition, preventive medicine, zoonoses,

conservation of breeds, dairy science, genetic engineering, biotechnology, various

reproductive technologies and many other interdisciplinary areas including environmental

science and wild life management and Information technology. New strategies for

increasing productivity and investment policies of transnational corporations also should

be properly reviewed in this age of globalization because any breakthrough in any area of

life science may have an impact on our economy in the farm sector. Some new trends for

increasing productivity via processing includes hydrolyzed milk for lactose intolerant

market, development of whey residues for various industrial uses, improved cheese

production and development of transgenic cows functioning as bioreactors for secretion

of industrial and pharmaceutical products etc. Similar strategies in animal genetics

. include attempts to reduce gestation period, cloning of various bulls and cows, increasing

milk production using somatotrophin (growth hormone) and production of high quality

etc. Recombinant DNA technology has facilitated the develoR.efficient varieties of breeds resistant to animal diseases.

and animal husbandry. From artificial insemination (AI) the scenano 18 changing

gradually to embryo transfer (ET). Bovine fertility hormones are increasingly employed

to multiply overproduction and rescue ovaries of dead ones as sources of ova. Embryo

transfer technology has even facilitated use of surrogate mothers to build herds of

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desirable qualities and to save any breeds or species from extinction. Other reproductive

teclmologies such as GIFT (Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer), ZIFT (Zygote Intra

Fallopian Transfer), PROST (Pronuclear Stage Transfer), TET (Tubal Embryo Transfer),

EF (Embryo Freezing) etc have revolutionized the field of animal husbandry.6

The veterinarians should also browse literature in many interdisciplinary

areas such as leather technology, rural development, tranquilizer gun .technology,

anaesthetology and even plant genetics. For instance development of new plant varieties

to increase milk yield, selection of new feed sources (e.g. single cell protein, processed

wood chips with cellulose digested into glucose), preparation of feed pellets containing

biological agents to increase feed efficiency, use of plant growth regulators to raise

production of roughage and other techniques to improve nutritional value of feeds

ensuring cost reduction. Even occupational hazards of farm labourers and employees of

zoos coming under the purview of veterinarians form an important area of concern. Any

emergency situation be it an epidemic of Leptospirosis, Rabies, Hydrophobia or Japanese

Encephalitis or sporadic incidence of BSE (Boveine Spongiform Encephalopathy) or

Creutzfeldz Jacob disease or reports of contamination of prions in human blood and

blood products alerts veterinary scientists as common man with anxieties approaches him

for valuable information to protect his cattle wealth and himself. Even defense studies

form an area of concern. Recombinant technology enables development of weapons in

biological warfare containing spores virulent microbes resistant to all known drugs and

targeted against animal wealth are being developed by several countries.

Farm animal management is both an art and a science. The primary

objective of any livestock enterprise is to achieve maximum productivity and

profitability.7 This involves sound application of basic' scientific principles to suit the

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·"situation to pc'r!cction so that it becomes an art. India's national economy and well being

is so closely knit with her livestock, that it is of great importance for India to introduce

proper managerial practices of livestock, protect them against diseases and parasites and

provide adequate' hygiene and housing. 8 The well being of animals is the prime

responsibility of veterinarians. They are called on to oversee and treat animal diseases,

develop programs of preventive medicine and administer a variety of regulations related

to hygiene and epidemic control.9 They should also help owners/operators uphold ethical

standards in the industry or at home.

Information is power. Readily available information alone could help

veterinarians to function effectively in their interaction with the farming community or

general public. The veterinarians should be provided with recent developments at their

fingertip. For this a well-equipped information system is essential. To the best of the

knowledge of the investigator no study has been conducted in the field in order to

understand the information needs of veterinary scientists. Considering all these facts the

investigator believes that it is appropriate to conduct an investigation on Information

needs and use pattem of veterinary scientists in the IT environment.

1.2 Title Of The Study

The study is entitled: Information needs and use pattem of veterinarians in

the IT envirollment.

1.3 Definition Of Key Terms

The terms, which are not self-explanatOlY in the title, are given below.

1.3.1 Information Needs

Maurice B. Line has defined information need as "what an individualil : ', ..

ought to have for his work, his research, his edificati~n, his recreation etc".lO\

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According to Brenda Dervin "an information need is an impediment

preventing an individual from moving forward in cognitive time and space. The person is

faced with a gap that must be bridged by 'asking questions, creating ideas and/or

obtaining resources'. Such gaps do not occur in the abstract but arise out of particular

critical events and situations".ll Hence information needs may be described as the actual

and potential needs of users for documents/information /any other services.

1.3.2 Use Pattern

Use pattern may be defined as the preference indicated by the information

users to docwnents in respect of their bibliographic form, language and country of origin,

age etc and information services either through citations in their own works or through

requests or demands made to various information systems and services. 12

1.3.3 Veterinarian

A veterinarian is a person who not only treats animals but also helps

animals to remain in good health. Veterinary profession is suitable for those who love

. animals and has a compassionate predisposition for animals. Primary object of a

veterinarian is to render service to the community by facilitating health care of animals

ensuring veterinary public health, caring for sick animals and alleviating their

sufferings. 13 According to the living Webster encyclopaedic dictionary of the English

language, veterinarian is one who practices veterinary medicine or surgery. 14

1.3.4 Information Technology (IT)

UNESCO consider Information Teclmology as scientific technological

and engineering disciplines and the management teclmiques used in the information

handling and processing, their application, computers and their interaction with men and

machines and associated social economic and cultural matters. 15

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Darton and Giacoletto (1992) defines IT as systematic study of artifacts

that can be used to give form or description to facts in order to provide meaning or

support for decision making, and artifacts that can be used the organisation, processing,

communication and application of information. 16

OECD treats Information Technology as "a term - used to cover

technologies used in collection, processing and transmission of information. It includes

micro-electronic and info-electronic based technologies incorporated in many products

and production processes and increasingly affecting the service sector. It covers inter

alias computers, electronic office equipment, telecommtmication, industrial robots and

computer controlled machine, electronic components and software products". 17

1.4 Objectives

1. To examine the information requirements of users viz. teachers, scientists and

researchers of the veterinary colleges, veterinarians of the Kerala State Veterinary

Council, District Veterinary Centres, Veterinary Hospitals, Polyclinics, Dispensaries

and other various Livestock Sectors in Kerala.

2. To study the user's approach to information in different types of information sources.

3. To assess the existing facilities and drawbacks in acquiring information.

4. To design and develop a veterinary information system for Kerala.

1.5 Hypothesis I

The present infrastructure facilities in veterinary colleges, hospitals and

dispensaries in respect of information in the field of veterinary science are not adequate

to meet the requirements of the veterinarians in the IT environment.

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1.6 Hypothesis II

The existing IT tools are not adequate and the available tools not fully

utilized.

1.7 Sample And Methodology

Data from 2 Veterinary Colleges, 14 District Veterinary Centres, selected

Veterinary Hospitals And Dispensaries were collected for the study. The following

methodol.ogies are used for data collection.

The methodologies used for collecting data' are Questionnaire and

Interview.

1.7.1 Questionnaire

A properly designed questionnaire is capable of yielding valuable and

highly revealing data. Under this study a well-structured and pretested questionnaire is

intended to be distributed to scientists and teachers of two veterinary colleges and

veterinary surgeons of various district veterinary centres and selected veterinary hospitals

and dispensaries.Data from 2 veterinary colleges, Animal Husbandry Department, Dairy

Development DepaIiment, Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB), Kerala

Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (Milma), Meat Products of India (MPI), Kerala

State Poultry Development Corporation, Kerala Feeds Ltd. etc. were taken for the study.

Questionnaires were distributed to 109 teachers, 31 scientists, 535 field

veterinaI'iaI1s aI1d 435 Administrative/Executives. Of this 71 (65.1 %) teachers, 27

(87.1 %) reseaI'chers, 401 (75%) Field VeterinaI'ians, 267 (61.4%) Administrative /

Executives responded the questionnaire. The total response is 766 (69%) out of 1110.

ApaIi from these, 24 teachers, 10 researchers 168 field veterinarians and 125

Administrative / Executives were interviewed to corroborate infom1ation revealed

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/

through Questionnaires. Status-wise, institution-wise and region-wi e analysis were made

to infer into the users actual information needs and to design the Kerala Veterinary

Information System (KVIS) to satisfy the needs of various categories of Veterinarians.

Based on status and nature of work Veterinarians were grouped into four categories such

as Teachers, Researchers, Field Veterinarians, Administrative / Executives. For

institution wise analysis the respondents in various institutions were grouped into four

heads such as Veterinarians working in Animal Husbandry Department, Kerala Livestock

Development Board (KLDB), Colleges of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and Allied

group. Allied group is constituted by clustering institutions engaged in production and

marketing, such as Kerala State Poultry Development Corporation, Kerala Cooperative

Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF/Milma), Kerala Feeds Ltd. and Meat Products of

India (MPI) for convenience of the study.

1.7.2 Interview

Unstructured interview was conducted. The selected scientists and

veterinaIy surgeons of various district veterinary centres and veterinary hospitals and

dispensaries were interviewed to ascertain their information needs and use pattern.

1.8 Significance Of The Study

The study will be helpful in designing need based information network

systems, which can be used for disseminating information pinpointedly, exhaustively and

expeditiously. Such a network system, which enables global technology transfer, can

definitely contribute to the strengthening of the information infrastructure to support

practice aI1d research aI1d thereby economic prosperity of our country. On the basis of

this study a detailed study can be further undertaken to develop INVIS (Indian National

Veterinary Information System).

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1.9 Organization Of The Study

'The study is organized under the following chapters.

1. Introduction.

2. Review of Literature - gives a background as well as a broad over view of research

methods and procedures used by earlier workers in the field of study and points out

briefly the findings of related studies.

3. Genesis and Development of Veterinary Science at Global and National Level- gives

an account of the origin of veterinary practices in Europe, its evolution in middle ages

and growth in the modern age with special reference to the IT era. It also traces

Veterinary and Animal Husbandry approaches in India since Pre-Vedic period to

developments after in~ependence and the scope of modern veterinary science.

4. Institutional Infrastructure of Veterinary Science and Livestock Centres in Kerala ­

gives a summary of Veterinary Colleges in India and discusses in detail the

institutional infrastructure of various institutions in Kerala such as the two Veterinary

Colleges, Animal Husbandry Department, Dairy Development Department, Kerala

Livestock Development Board (KLDB), Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing

Federation (KCMMF/Milma), Meat Products of India (MPI), Kerala State Poultry

Development Corporation, Kerala Feeds Ltd. etc.

5. Analytical Study of Collected data - Status-wise, institution-wise and region-wise

analysis were made as and were necessary to infer into the users' actual information

needs. Certain statistical tests were carried out on the data relating to some major

areas.

6. Findings, Recommendations and proposal for Kerala Veterinary Information System

(KVIS) - The study clearly indicates that the present InfOlmation infrastructure

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available for veterinary science in Kerala is inadequate to meet the information needs

of various categories of users. Further the existing IT infrastructure is not properly

utilized in the cCJse of A.H dept., which is mainly due to lack of proper training in IT.

So a Kerala Veterinary Information System (KVIS) is proposed.

References

1. Zijpp, A. J. Van der. Role of Global Animal Agriculture in the 21 51 Century. Asian­

AusJAnim.Sci., 13 (S) 2000, p.l.

2. Ramaswamy, N.S. Livestock and Environment for Sustainable Development.

Bangalore: Centre for Action Research and Technology for Man Animal and Nature,

1998, p.3-14.

3. Ibid. Ramaswamy, N.S.p.3.

4. Sethumadhavan.T.P. Analysis of Animal Husbandry Information in the Farm Feature

Pages of Leading Malayalam Dailies (Thesis), Thrissur: College of Veterinary &

Animal Sciences, 2000, p.1-3.

5. Encyclopaedia Britannica. London: Encyclopaedia Britannica Ltd., 1962, V23, p.116.

6. Fowler, Cary et.a!. The Laws of Life: another Development and the New

Biotechnologies. Development Dialogue (1-2) 1988, p.127-140.

7. ICAR. Handbook of Animal Husbandry.2nd rev.ed., New Delhi: ICAR, 1990.

8. Sastry, N.S.R et.a!' Livestock Production Management, 3rd ed., New Delhi: Kalyan

Publishers, 1991, p.l.

9. The Merck Veterinary Manual, i h ed., New Jersey: Merck & Co., Inc., p.928.

10. Lane, Maurice B. Draft definitions: information and library needs, want, demand and

. uses. Aslib proceedings. 26, 1974, p.87.

11. Dervin, B. Audience as listener and learner, teacher and confidante: the sense-making

approach //1 Public Communication Campaigns, ed. by R.E.Rice and C.Whitmey,

California: Sage, p.67-85.

12. Kawatra, P. S. Library User Studies: a manual for librarian and information scientists.

Bombay: Jaico publishing house, 1992, p.19-34.

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13. Veterinary Council ofIndia. http://www.nic.in/dahd/vci.htm

14. The Living Webster Encyclopaedic Dictionary of the English Language. 6th ed. New

York: Delair Publishing Company, Inc., 1980, p.l1 03.

15. William, James. Information technology: a state of the art report, In Information

Technology, ed. by Allent Kent and T. 1. Galwin. New york: Marcel Dekker, 1982, p.

342-458.

16. Darton, Geoffrey and Giacolctto. Information in the Enterprise: it's more than

technology. New Delhi: Prentice Hall ofIndia Pvt. Ltd., 1992.

17. Sasanwal, D. N. Information Technology and Higher Education. University News

3B(46) 2000, p.1-6.

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