The study was carried out to ascertain attributes (variables) influencing adoption of health care scientific dairy management practices among the tribal and non-tribal dairy farmers of Assam. Descriptive (survey method) was used as the study design. The study was conducted in the tribal and non-tribal villages of Sonitpur, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji district of Assam for a duration of 6 months during October, 2019 to March, 2020. A total of 240 (120 each tribal and non-tribal dairy farmers) numbers of respondents were selected for the study. Data were personally collected by interviewing the respondents with a interview schedule. It was observed that experience in dairy farming, extension contact, dairy farming attitude and aspiration level were identified as crucial in their contribution to total adoption and explained about 71 percent variations in the total adoption in case of tribal dairy farmers. On the other hand, in case of non- tribal dairy farmers, variables like age, herd size, land size, experience in dairy farming, livestock income, extension contact, knowledge and dairy farming attitude were found to be crucial in their contribution towards total adoption, which explained about 67 percent variation in total adoption. Therefore, a proper focus needs to be given in the common area of experience on dairy farming, extension contact and dairy farming attitude by the veterinary officials and government in those areas for improved health care of the dairy cattle.

Highlights

• Scientific health care in dairy management is an essential practice for sustainable dairy farming.
• In order to improve the health care management, attributes like experience on dairy farming, extension contact and dairy farming needs to be improved.
• A proper focus is needed to be given in these areas by veterinary officials and government for development of the dairy sector.