M. Al-Amin
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh -2202, Bangladesh.
A. Nahar
Department of Dairy Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh -2202, Bangladesh.
A.K.F.H. Bhuiyan
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh -2202, Bangladesh.
M.O. Faruque
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh -2202, Bangladesh.
Genetic resource, Physical characteristics, North Bengal Grey cattle, Production, Reproduction, Measurements.
Bogra Sadar, Shibgonj and Kahalu under Bogra district
Variety and Species
The three Upazilas (sub-districts) namely Bogra Sadar, Shibgonj and Kahalu under Bogra district were selected as the study area. These three selected Upazilas are situated on the Northern side of the Bogra district in Bangladesh. These areas were also chosen for the reason that most of the NBG cattle are found in that area, therefore the area was considered suitable to conduct field survey. The questionnaire was carefully designed keeping the purposes of the study in mind. The questionnaire contained both open and closed form questions. Most easy, simple and direct questions were used to obtain information from the respondent farmers. The questionnaire was pre-tested in order to judge its suitability for the respondents then finalized, necessary modifications having been made. Simple and direct questions were included in the questionnaire for the purposes of collecting information relating to the farmers such as age, education, occupation, family size, farm size, and for information relating to the cattle such as feeding management, production potential, reproductive characteristics, disease incidence, control measures and management of North Bengal Grey cattle. In this study, a total number of 100 animals were selected from three Upazilas, 40 from Shibgonj, 30 from Bogra Sadar and 30 from Kahalu. Animals were selected randomly as milking cows, dry cows, heifers, bulls, bullocks and calves. In order to collect relevant information an interview technique was used focusing on issues such as the farmers’ socio-economic status, livestock population and genetic status, feeding regime, production potential, reproductive performance, physical characteristics, morphometric characteristics, disease control and management. In general, most farmers are not used to keeping any written information (records) on their livestock, so the researchers had to depend on the memory of the respondent for obtaining information. The information gathered in relation to the farmer himself was age, education, family size, occupation, and farm size. The livestock population referred to the total number of livestock, mainly cattle, reared by the farmer such as numbers of milking cows, pregnant cows, bulls, heifers, bullocks and calves of either sex. The genetic status of the livestock was determined on the basis of information provided by the farmers. The genetic status was mainly that of indigenous cattle, NBG Cattle and crossbred cattle. Birth weights were taken directly with a balance. Adult body weight measurements were taken indirectly using Shaffer’s method with the help of a measuring tape, i.e., body weight in kg = (L × G2 × 2.2)/300, where L is length (inch) from shoulder point to buttock and G is heart girth (inch).
AGRI 2007, 40: 55-64
Journal