AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF BEEF CATTLE FATTENING IN SELECTED AREAS IN CHITTAGONG DISTRICTS

Abstract

This study examined the profitability of beef cattle fattening in the Chittagong district of Bangladesh. A total of 150 cattle fatteners were randomly selected from this districts from six upazilla who fattened their beef cattle before Eid-Ul-Azha. Socioeconomic data as well as data on beef fattening were collected from the farmers when they came to the Eid cattle market. Descriptive statistics was used to analysis the socioeconomics characteristics of beef producers, the profit function was used to determine the profitability of beef market. In spite of beef cattle production was profitable agribusiness most of the farmers adopt traditional beef fattening system for beef fattening target the cattle marketing during the Muslim festival “Eid-ul-Azha”. Profitability margin equals BDT 33191.49 per cattle. The benefit cost ratio of the entire enterprise was 0.51 that means cattle fattening enterprise is profitable and feasible business enterprise. The major problems facing the farmers include high cost of feeds, inadequate credit facilities, disease attack, price fluctuation and inadequate extension services. A policy and research emphasis should be geared toward feeds production at affordable price to the fatteners and fatteners should be educated on how to formulate local feeds to reduce cost and access to feeds for better efficiency and discourage to use human drugs, tablets and injection for cattle fattening. These findings can be used by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development extension agents to promote beef cattle fattening in Chittagong district.