Characterization of buffalo milk production system in Bangladesh

Abstract

This survey study was conducted in Tangail, Jamalpur, Bogra, Sirajganj, Pabna and Thakurgaon districts for household farming, and in Bhola, Noakhali, Lakshmipur and Patuakhali districts for to undertake an assessment on the management factors in household and identifying the potentiality and constraints in milk production questionnaire was used for data collection by direct interviewing of buffalo farmers. From this study, it was revealed that 82% of the farmers have 1 to 3 buffalo per household and 73% of the farmers have 51 to 200 buffalo per bathan. Buffaloes were raised in homestead and approximately 5 grazes per day in household farming. Small quantity of concentrate feeds were offered to buffalo by the rich farmers during dry season. On the other hand, in buffalo on grazing at public land. In household, the average daily milk production was 3 to 8 liters and total milk yield was 799 liters in a lactation length of 270 days. In production was 1 to 2 liters and total milk yield was 435 liters in a lactation length of 215 days. The average age of first calving, service per conception, gestation period and calving interval were 39 months, 1.9 numbers, 310 days and 490 days, respectively in hou first calving, service per conception, gestation period and calving interval were 40 months, 2.1 numbers, 315 days and 530 days, respectively in the buffalo nutrition in the bathan

Dairy buffalo production scenario in Bangladesh: a review

“…The reproductive characteristics of buffaloes in Bangladesh are presented in Table 8. Most of the respondents reported that the average age at first heat was between 39 and 40 months in both household and bathan farming (Uddin et al, 2016). Nahar et al (2012) also found similar findings of age of first heat in Mymensingh and Laximpur district.…”

“…The comparison of milk production of different buffalo breeds are shown in Table 4 and milk production characteristics of buffalo in BD is shown in Table 5. The lactation yield in semi-extensive and extensive farming were 799 and 435 liters, respectively (Uddin et al, 2016), which are much lower than the Nili-Ravi buffaloes reported by Mudgal (1989), Khan (1995) andICAR (2000). This result of this study coincides with the result of Faruque et al (1990) who reported that the lactation yield was 712 kg for buffaloes in Mymensingh district.…”

“…In the evening, calves were enclaved in an area locally called "kella" to protect from wild animals. Any extra feed was not provided to buffalo in bathan farming (Uddin et al, 2016).…”

“…On the other hand, 70% buffaloes were female and the remaining 30% was male dominantly growing bull and bullock in that farming system. Among the total female animals, the ratios between milch and dry buffalo were about 2:1 and heifer and adult cow 1:1 in both household and bathan farming (Uddin et al, 2016). …”

Dairy buffalo production system under semi-intensive management in the coastal area of Bangladesh

“…However, buffaloes are low producers in Bangladesh, because of poor genetic potentialities, poor nutrition, longer puberty age, seasonality of breeding, longer calving interval, high calf mortality and poor management practices (Nahar, 2015;Amin et al,2015;Sarker et al, 2013;Faruque and Amin, 1995;Shamsuddin et al, 2001). Faruque and Amin (1995), Uddin et al, (2016) and Amin et al, (2017) reported the management and production performances of buffaloes of Noakhali district of Bangladesh. However, there is no report on the management and production performances of buffaloes of Bhola district in Bangladesh which possesses the highest number of buffaloes of the country.…”