The chemical and bacteriological qualities of popular Dahi collected from six areas of Bangladesh were evaluated. The areas were Dhaka (Savar), Rajshahi (Bogra), Khulna, Barishal (Gauronadi), Chittagong (Comilla) and Sylhet. Traditionally made 24 Dahi samples, 4 in each area, were collected and analyzed for chemical and bacteriological qualities. Acidity, pH, ash and protein content of Dahi were found insignificant difference among the samples of different areas. However, significance differences in chemical parameters (fat and sugar) were observed. The higher total viable bacteria and coliform count were found in Bogra region. An overall analysis of the results of this study revealed that the Dahi collected from selected areas were of acceptable quality. However, their sugar and ash content were very high.http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v41i1.11977

The present study was designed to obtain existing baseline information on feeding and management practices of Red Chittagong (RC) cattle in two Upazilas of Chittagong district. The results showed that among 42 cattle owners, agriculture was the main occupation (52.38%). The percentage of RC cattle was about 70% and concentration was higher in Anowara than that of Chandanaish upazila. Farmers of the study area supplied on an average 4.93, 8.35, 2.25, 1.54 (kg/d) of rice straw, green grass, rice polish and wheat bran respectively. About 45.24%, 21.43%, 30.95% and 2.38% farmers supplied whole and dry straw, chopped and dry straw, chopped straw soaked with water and straw with green grass respectively. About 55%, 14.3% and 13% of the farmers followed stall feeding (cut and carry system), grazing and stall feeding with grazing respectively for feeding green grasses. The average daily grazing period of cattle was 7.25 hours with highest and lowest 9 and 5 hours respectively daily. About 26.19% of the respondents made cattle house using tin and chatai. 81% of the cattle house had sufficient ventilation and light. The major disease outbreak in the area was FMD, which was 45% of the total disease incidence. About 36% respondents used vaccine and 95% took help from village doctor for treatment of their cattle. Cattle rearing contributed more (about 57%) to income generation of low income group than medium (6.89%) and high (8.25%) income groups. 35% respondents showed their interest to grow fodder crops and 65% of farmers were reluctant to grow fodder crops due to limitation of crop land.http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v41i1.11974

An experiment was conducted to hatch chicken eggs in two different types of brooding boxes made of clay and bamboo basket by using broody hen. Three different size boxes were used under each type which were large(48 × 33 × 18 cm), medium (43 × 28 × 18 cm) and small (38 × 23 × 18 cm) (i.e. diameter of upper portion × diameter of lower portion × height of brooding boxes). The objective was to identify the optimum size of the brooding box used for natural hatching and to identify the appropriate material for brooding box used for incubation of eggs under rural condition. The fertility was not significantly affected by the type and size of boxes. Hatchability, Chicks not pipped and dead in germ were not significantly affected by types of boxes made of clay and bamboo basket but significantly affected by the size of boxes (p<0.05). The dead in shell was significantly affected by types and sizes of brooding box made of clay and bamboo basket (p<0.05). The percentage of dead in shell increased with the decreasing size of brooding box. Finally, it was concluded that hatchability of Deshi chicken eggs incubated by broody hen can be affected by both materials and size of brooding box. The study has shown that hatchability increased with increased size of the box up to a certain level. On the other hand, clay box gives more hatchability than bamboo basket.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v18i2.18168 Progress. Agric. 18(2): 123 - 133, 2007

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