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Socio- Economic Status of Buffalo Farmers and the Performances of Buffaloes at Lalpur Upozila of Natore District in Bangladesh

M. A. Siddiki
Department of Animal Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.

M. R. Amin
Department of Animal Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.

A. K. M. A. Kabir
Department of Animal Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.

M.O. Faruque
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.

Z. H Khandaker
Department of Animal Nutrition, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The aim of the study was designed to investigate the socio-economic status of buffalo farmers, productive and reproductive performances and management practices of buffaloes at different villages of Lalpur Upozila of Natore district in Bangladesh. For this investigation total one hundred twenty buffalo farmers were selected from twelve villages. Ten farmers who have at least five buffaloes were randomly selected from each village. The investigation revealed that majority of the buffalo farmers was below 30 years of age. Fifty five percent farmers were educated and remarkable number of farmer (40%) were reared only livestock. More than 80 % of the farmer holding 2 to 5 acres of land, and maximum farmers belonged to medium income categories. Sixty eight percent of the farmers took bank loan and/ or NGO loan for rearing buffaloes. Most of the farmers practiced buffalo rearing as their family profession. The buffalo of this area was mostly crossbred types. The highest numbers of buffaloes found were heifer. More than 80% of the farmer kept their female buffaloes above five years. In this study area the average milk production of buffalo was 3.32L/d. Birth weight of crossbred buffalo calves was 30.5 kg, weaning and slaughter age of buffaloes in selected areas were 16 and 57 months respectively. The average age at first heat was 3.47 years. The gestation period, number of service per conception, post partum hear period and inter calving period was 10 months, 3.42 times, 5.31 and 13.5 months, respectively. Most of the farmers maintain their buffaloes mainly in extensive system, and availability of the feeds and fodder was the major problem for buffalo rearing. Most of the farmers were fully depend on river bed (char) grasses and grazing their buffaloes 5-7 hours. Out of locally available feeds and fodders rice straw, river bed grasses and sugarcane top were the main source of feeds for buffaloes. The CP content of baghata grass was found higher compared to other unconventional grasses. Incidence of diseases, foot and mouth diseases was high and farmers did not follow any vaccination and de-warming programme. The annual cost of production per buffalo was Tk. 8741.50 while a gross return per buffalo was Tk. 25028.50. The annual educational capacity increased of the buffalo farmers was 63% but other parameters were also increased through buffalo rearing. Considering all this parameters related to livelihood, it was clearly found that the socio-economic status of the buffalo farmers was improved through buffalo rearing.

Keywords: Socio-economic status, Farmer, Buffalo, Productive, Reproductive performances

Location: Natore district.

Start Date: 00-07-2011

End Date: 00-09-2011

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Buffalo

Objectives:

i. To estimate the costs and returns associated with the cultivation of important fodder crops.

ii. To determine the income coefficient of various fodder farm households.

iii. To study the fodder production, processing and marketing in different locations.

iv. To explore the constrains to productions to production, marketing and processing of fodder.

Methodology:

The study was conducted at Lalpur Upozila of Natore district in Bangladesh during the months of July to September, 2011. A total of one hundred buffalo farmers were selected from ten villages. Ten farmers each having at least five heads of buffaloes were randomly selected of the research site. The primary information was collected on pre -tested questionnaires through personal interview on socio -economic characteristics of buffalo farmers (age, education, occupation, land holding, source of capital), buffalo stock size (types of buffaloes, duration of rearing). Production (birth weight, weaning weight, weaning age, slaughter age, milk production) and reproduction status (age at first heat, first pregnancy, first calving; gestation period, number of service per conception, post partum heat period, inter calving period). Health care practices (incidence of diseases and health care), and feeding system (feeds and fodder availability, sources of feed, feeding methods). Cost benefit of buffalo rearing, impact and livelihood improvement of farmers towards buffalo husbandry were also investigated. Some locally available feeds and fodders fed to buffaloes were collected to investigate their nutritional contents such as organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), nitrogen free extract (NFE) and ash. Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were estimated by fibretec systems. Samples of feeds & fodder were collected from the selected area, mixed thoroughly, sun dried and ground at the size of 0.5 mm for chemical analysis according to the methods of AOAC. All the collected data were checked and cross checked before transferring to master sheets. The data were analyzed with the help of SPSS -v-20 computer package program.

Source of Information: Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2015. 44 (3):157-165, 0003-3588

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v44i3.26366

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Considering all the studied parameters, buffalo rearing was a profitable practice in the selected areas and improve the socio -economic status of buffalo farmers.

Knowledge Management: Journal