A study on existing management practices of household and commercial dairy farms in Bhanga Upazilla, Faridpur

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the current status including general information, feeding, rearing, housing, milking, health management, and milk production in different dairy farms. With this view, the empirical data were collected through direct contact with farmers. The study was conducted at Bhanga Upazilla in Faridpur district, and two months-long survey was carried out on 20 farms (smallholdings to commercial).Results show that 65% of farm owners rear crossbred and 35% rear indigenous cattle. The average body weight per animal was 175± 3.5 kg in the study area. Daily milk yield/cow/farm was 5.5±0.11liter for a crossbred animal and 2.38±0.09 liters for an indigenous dairy cow. The average amount of concentrate provided 1.92± 0.07kg per cow.It was observed that the average roughage amount was 10.18± 0.14kg per cow. The housing management was not good. There were no different sheds for different ages of anmals. The animals of all ages were reared in the same house. There were no weaning system, calves were along with their mother