A Study on Marginal Backyard Dairy Farmers of Semi-Urban Area in Chittagong

Abstract

A study was designed to determine the present status including general information, feeding breeding housing milking etc. and costs & returns of small dairy farms, to compare the productive and reproductive performance of crossbred and indigenous cows and to make recommendation for development of small scales dairy farm. In this view, the required data were collected by using organized questionnaire. The study was conducted in Chittagong district, and eleven months-long survey was diminished on ten medium and large scale dairy owners. It appeared from the study that 40% farm owners belong to business class. Twenty per cent took dairying as a side-business whereas 80 percent took it as a main business enterprise. Major percentage of farm owner education level was Secondary level (40%). It was observed that farm owners had 76.99% crossbred (like Friesian cross and Jersey cross) and was 23.01% indigenous cattle. It was estimated that the rearing cost of dairy cow was Tk. 384.45/cow/day. The net return was Tk. 105.55tk/cow/day from crossbred in the study area and cost benefit ratio was 1: 1.27. The study showed that there was differences within the dry period, service per conception, calving to first service, highest and lowest milk production and lactation period of crossbred and indigenous dairy cows. The study also showed differences within calving interval. In case of small dairy farming, the farms were facing a lot of problems such as scarcity of feeds and fodder, high price of concentrate and lack of technical knowledge. Although the dairy cow owners face problems, the study observed that there were potentials particularly for the small dairy farmers. The small farmers by keeping 8-10 crossbred cows could earn a modest living by adopting small dairy farming as a profession.