The present study was conducted in peri-urban and rural localities of Rural Bangalore district of Karnataka. Data were collected personally from 180 dairy owning households hailing equally from peri urban and rural areas. Family education status, herd size, input availability, market facilities, level of knowledge about improved dairy husbandry practices, economic motivation, scientific orientation, achievement motivation, self confidence and innovation proneness were found to have positive and significant relationship with management efficiency of overall sample of respondents, irrespective of the localities. Amongst situational and personal characteristics, family education status had positive and significant relationship with management efficiency among peri-urban respondents. The regression model showed 81.70 per cent variability in management efficiency among rural respondents followed by 76.20 per cent variability in peri-urban areas. The regression model fitted using ten independent variables had accounted for 74.60 per cent of variation in management efficiency among overall sample of respondents, irrespective of the localities. Knowledge level about improved dairy husbandry practices had the maximum direct effect and scientific orientation showed maximum indirect effect on management efficiency of peri-urban respondents. In rural area, scientific orientation and achievement motivation exhibited maximum direct and indirect effects, respectively.

Keyword: Management efficiency; Dairy entrepreneurs;