ATTRIBUTES OF BATHAN CATTLE IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICTS OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The objective of the study was to clarify attributes of ‘bathan’ cattle production in the northern districts of Bangladesh. A cross sectional survey was conducted on 245 crossbred dairy cattle (CDC) from 17 bathans in Shahjadpur upazila, Sirajganj, Bangladesh for a period of 12 months from July 2021 to June 2022. Results indicated that the average herd size of the bathan was 112.5±4.5 cattle. Mean birth weight and live weight of the bathan CDC was 29.5±0.6 kg and 331.3±3.5 kg, respectively. Mean body condition score was 2.8±0.0, 3.1±0.0, 3.4±0.0, 3.4±0.0, 3.1±0.0 and 2.9±0.0 for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th parities, respectively. Mean lactation length 248.0±0.8 d and milk yield per lactation was 2831.9±41.5 l. The milk yield was strongly influenced by the genotype, live weight, body condition score, grazing area and the amount of concentrate supplied. Overall, the L×HF75% genotype produced 45.4%, 38.2%, 26.3%, 22.4%, 12.5%, 2.9% and 2.8% more milk per lactation compared with PC×HF25%, L×HF25%, PC×SL×HF50%, PC×J×HF50%, L×HF50%, L×SL×HF50% and L×J×HF50% genotypes, respectively which was 29.7% higher in parity 4 compared with parity 1. Mean age at puberty of the bathan CDC was 576.0±0.3 d, age at first service 579.0±0.3 d, age at 1st conception 597.0±0.3 d, number of services per conception 1.4±0.0, gestation period 276.8±0.3 d, dry period 67.1±0.6 d, post-partum period 67.6±1.9 d, days open 101.0±2.2 d and calving interval was 354.8±2.2 d. The age at puberty, age at first conception and calving interval constituted the highest eigenvectors controlling maximum variability for the milk yield. An increased grazing time significantly reduced age at puberty (P=0.024), post-partum period (p=0.018), days open (p=0.002) and calving interval (p=0.0036) of the CDC. An increased probability of mastitis, udder edema and infertility were associated with increased milk yield, live weight, dry period and calving interval.