A Study on Husbandry Practices of Dairy Farms at Chattogram Area of Bangladesh

Abstract

The study was executed to explore the present husbandry practices of the dairy farms in Chattogram areas of Bangladesh. A total 20 farm were selected using simple random sampling technique from the Chattogram districts. Data were collected through well-developed, pre-tested objective-based questionnaire and on-farm face to face direct interview. Data were analyzed using MS Excel and SPSS-20 software with descriptive statistics. It was revealed that 47.2% face in, 42.50% face out, 7.60% mixed and 2.70% others (scattered) housing were practicing among the studied dairy farms at Chittagong out of which 83.96% farms have separate calf shed. About 24.12% farms not offered year round green grass to their animals while 38.20% were supplied. The crude protein (CP) contents were about 15-16% of supplied concentrate which were almost similar to the recommended level. The farmers does not maintained breeding policy for breed their cows in the studied farm. About 95.85% farms used artificial insemination (AI) and 4.15% farms practiced both AI and natural mating). Sub-clinical mastitis was common to all farms out of which 49.54% clinical form. Calf scour was detected to around 14.85% dairy farm. Merely 95.78% dairy farms practiced hand milking whereas 4.22% farm practice machine milking .About 95.85% dairy farms keep AI record. Finally, the study proved that the improper husbandry practices of dairy farms may lead to less profit. Therefore, we need to improve the overall husbandry practices in the dairy farms at Chattogram to get optimum production and profit.