Performance of Pabna Cattle Under Subsistence Farming System in The Northern Districts of Bangladesh

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey was conducted during June 2021 to July 2022 in Bhangura upazila, Pabna, Bangladesh to explore the performance of eight different sub-types of Pabna cattle (PC). Results indicated that the mean birth weight, live weight, lactation length (LL), lactation yield (LY), average daily milk yield (ADMY), age at puberty (AP), age at first service (AFS), age at first conception (AFC) and dry period (DP) differed significantly (p<0.01) among the PC sub-types. Mean live weight of the highest milk yielding PC×JS75% was 1.32 times higher than the PC. The LL of PC×JS75% was 305±1.6 d which was 1.16 times higher than PC. The highest LY was recorded in PC×JS75% which was 2.22 times higher than PC. Increased live weight and increased roughage supply through increased fodder area substantially increased milk yield. However, increased dry period, post-partum period and calving interval substantially reduced milk yield. Calving interval, days open and age at 1st conception constituted highest eigenvectors controlling maximum variability in the milk yield. The earliest and most delay AP was recorded for PC×SN and PC×SL genotypes, respectively. The minimum and maximum DP was recorded for PC×JS75% and PC genotypes, respectively. The highest ADMY was recorded in PC×JS75% genotype, which was 1.89 times higher than the PC. Comparatively more milk was produced in parity 2 compared with parity 1 irrespective of genotype. Overall, increased body weight of the sub-types of PC with increased milk yield had the increased probability of lumpy skin disease. However, increased roughage and concentrate supply substantially reduced probability of foot and mouth disease. It was concluded that the PC×JS75% was the best PC sub-type.