FINANCIAL PROFITABILITY AND RESOURCE USE EFFICIENCY OF BEEF FATTENING IN SOME SELECTED AREAS OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The present study was designed to measure the financial profitability of beef fattening farmers and to estimate the resource use efficiency of beef fattening production in some selected areas of Jhenidah district in Bangladesh. Primary data were collected from 50 farmers in two upazilas of Jhenidah district following random sampling method. Both tabular and statistical analyses were applied in this study. The major findings of the study revealed that beef fattening was profitable. Total cost of production was Tk. 1,41,558.9 per cow. Gross returns was Tk. 1,73,797.7 and net returns was Tk. 32,238.8. Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) was found to be 1.23. Production function analysis suggested that, among the variables included in the model, feed cost had negative and significant effect, purchasing cost of calf and medicine and vaccination cost had a positive and significant effect on profitability. On the other hand, electricity cost had negative and insignificant effect , water cost and labour cost had positive but insignificant effect on the gross return of beef fattening production. This study also identified some of the problems and constraints associated with beef fattening production. High price of feed was the main problem of beef fattening. The problems and constraints, of course, are interrelated with one another and hence, need to be removed comprehensively through an integrated programme for the overall development of beef fattening.