Socio-economic Landscape of Backyard Goat Farmers and their Husbandry Approaches in Zanjira Upazila, Shariatpur

Abstract

A study was conducted Zanjira Upazila at Shariatpur district in Bangladesh to determine the socio-economic landscape of Backyard goat farming owners and their husbandry approaches. From eight distinct unions in the Zanjira upazila in the Shariatpur district, 50 goat-raising farmers were selected at random for the study. Based on the result, a significant portion of farmers in the study area reared Black Bengal Goat (BBG) (70%) in a semi-intensive system (82%). Most of the goat owners (68%) built tin roofed shed supported by local bamboo neglecting sufficient ventilation (82%) and without Macha (86%) while 90% goat keepers regularly clean their shed. The goat owners within the study area exhibited a prevailing trend of landless (58%), middle aged (62%), male (54%), house wife (42%), primary educated (52%) and start goat rearing without any initial training (84%) with their own capital (50%). Majority goat owners using bedding materials (80%) during winter, only small portion (36%) practice summer bath and night shelter in goathouse (64%), cattle house (22%) and household (14%). Most of the farmers (98%) supplied green grass along with concentrate while half of the farmers (54%) supplied cultivated fodder and remaining (46%) relied on roadside grass and crop weed supplementation. A significant portion (82%) use particular feeder for concentrate mixture supplied. Tube well is major source (82%) of water. Most of farmers (84%) have no access of grazing their herd. Without exceptional, all (100%) used Natural breeding with hired breeding buck (98%). Very few numbers (14%) follow regular vaccination while significant number (68%) regularly used anthelmintic. In this surveyed area, highly prevalent disease & disease conditions are Myiasis (30%), PPR (28%), Dog bite (22%) and Abscess (20%). This study also reviled that goat owners have some major problems, if this issues can be mitigated then goat owners can make money significantly which help our national economy.