Problems and Prospects of Small-Scale Beef Cattle Fattening Program in Selected Areas of Jhenaidah District

Abstract: The experiment was conducted with a view to search the problems associated with small-scale beef cattle fattening program in Jhenaidah district of Bangladesh through field survey using a pretested questionnaire. The result reveals that 46.7% farmers used artificial insemination (AI) where 40% of the farmers used natural insemination and 13.3% farmers used both artificial and natural insemination method. All of the farmers used male cattle for their fattening program. Highest percentage of the farmers (58.3%) used cattle of less than 1 year, 40% farmers used cattle of 1 to 2 years and only 1.7% farmers used cattle of 2 to 3 years for the fattening purpose and 76.7% farmers didn’t choose color of the cattle. No farmers practiced urea molasses straw (UMS) and silage feeding and 13.3% of the farmers purchased feed and 1.7% farmers produced the feed and 85% farmers used both of these, 58.3% farmers used cultivated fodder and compound feed. No farmers used growth hormone in the fattening program. Around one fourth (26.7%) of the farmers practiced vaccination and 65% used vitamin and minerals, 81.7% farmers practiced deworming in the fattening program. Majority (73.3%) of the farmers faced no disease problem of their cattle. 10 % farmers used to treat diseases of their cattle by veterinarian and 90 % farmers used to treat diseases of their cattle by local doctors. Most of the farmers (98%) didn’t separate disease infected cattle from other healthy cattle and 88.3% farmers didn’t separate male cattle from the female cattle, 38.3% farmers used to access their cattle to outdoor and 31.7% farmers used to access their cattle in pasture. About 36.7% cattle house was permanent, 36.7% semi-permanent 23.3% Tin Shade & Bamboo Structure and 3.3% house of earthen wall was used by the farmers for their beef cattle. Only 3.3% farmers used to keep records regularly. Majority (66.6%) of the farmers were middle aged and 33.3% farmers were young and old. About 36.7% farmers were illiterate, 26.7% farmers passed primary and rest of them passed more than primary. Majority (60%) of the farmers had small, 33.3% had medium and 6.7% farmers had large sized family, 38.3% farmer’s belonged to landless, about 30% farmers had small land size, about 28.3% farmer’s belonged to marginal and only 3.3% farmers belonged to medium category. About 31.7% farmer’s income is below1 lakh, 58.3% farmer’s income is 1 to lakhs and 10% farmer’s income is more than 2 lakhs. In agriculture 78.3% farmers, in livestock & business 11.7% farmers, in livestock & job 1.7% farmers and others 8.3% farmers occupy occupations, 53.3% farmers used own source, 40% farmers used purchased cattle and 6.7% farmers used both. All the farmers in the selected area used their own capital for beef cattle production but 93.3% farmers did not get any training on beef cattle fattening and 41.7% farmers had 5 to 10 years of experience, 35% farmers had below 5 years experiences, 15% farmers had 16 to 20 years of experiences, 3.3% farmers had 21 to 25 years, 3.3% farmers had 26 to 30 years of experiences and 1.7% farmers had 11 to 15 years of experiences. Majority (48.3%) of the farmers used crossbred, 45.0% used indigenous breed and 6.7% farmers used both of the crossbred and indigenous breed, 63.3% farmers purchased cattle anytime of the year and 36.7% farmers purchased cattle occasionally while, 90% farmers sell their cattle occasionally, 91.7% farmers fattened cattle for more than one year, 63.3% farmers never went to upazila livestock office and 33.3% farmers made 30 to 40 thousands taka per head. Lack of training opportunity, high cost of vaccine, limitation of knowledge were the top three problems to the farmers in small scale beef cattle fattening program although they are already improving but at a slow rate.

• Supervision