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Prospects and Problems of Sheep Farming in Southwestern Coastal Region of Bangladesh

ABSTRACT: Sheep production is popular in Bangladesh due to their high prolificacy, early maturity, better disease resistance and wide range of adaptability under adverse agro-climatic conditions. The availability of feeds and grazing lands are decreasing in southwestern coastal region due to indiscriminate expansion of shrimp farming. The popularity of sheep farming is increasing in this region as it requires less feeds and grazing lands compared to the large animals. Therefore, the researchers conducted the study to observe the prospects and problems of sheep farming in southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh. The selected locations were Dacope upazila of Khulna, Mongla upazila of Bagerhat and Shaymnagar upazila of Satkhira district. Data were collected from 90 respondents of these localities who were chosen randomly. An interview schedule was formulated and used to collect data from the respondents in a view to fulfill the objectives. The duration of data collection was June to September, 2019. Socio-economic characteristics of the respondent sheep farmers were studied. The average farming experience of the respondents of Dacope upazila was higher than other upazilas studied (about 17 years). The average sheep farming experience of the respondents of Shyamnagar upazila was higher than others (about 8 years). Around half (51.1%) of the respondents had short term experience in sheep farming. The average number of sheep per respondent in Mongla upazila was about 7.17. In case of Dacope upazila that was about 6.50. In Shyamnagar upazila the average number of sheep was about 5.83. Majority (94.4%) of the respondents had no training on sheep farming. Around 91.1% of the respondents had low media contact. The income was increased in case of 94.44% of the respondents after starting sheep farming and about 5.6% of the respondents did not sell their sheep yet. The average annual income from sheep was 7932.22 tk. Majority (81.1%) of the respondents follow only livestock farming system. Majority (87.8%) of the respondents called local doctor, 3.3% called veterinarian for treatment of sick sheep.  Rests 8.9% of the respondents did not take any treatment procedure. Age at puberty did not differ significantly among the locations. Age at puberty of sheep at Mongla, Dacope and Shyamnagar was 226.17±9.62, 223.17±11.10 and 225.00±11.37 days, respectively. Age at first lambing (days) did not differ significantly among the locations but higher in Dacope 394.00±15.22 followed by Shyamnagar 387.83±10.31 and Mongla 383.33±11.47. The lambing interval did not differ significantly among the locations. Lambing interval of sheep at Mongla, Dacope and Shyamnagar was 212.33±7.63, 215.67±8.28 and 214.67±11.60 days, respectively. Gestation length did not differ significantly among the three locations. Gestation length at Mongla, Dacope and Shyamnagar was 148.17±3.59, 149.17±5.58 and 151.00±6.07 days, respectively. Litter size did not differ significantly among the three locations but was higher in Shyamnagar 2.97. Lactation length did not differ significantly among the three locations. Lactation length at Mongla, Dacope and Shyamnagar was 104.00±11.77, 103.67±10.08 and 105.00±18.38 days, respectively. More than half (56.7%) of the respondents describe sheep farming as high prospect and 43.3% percent cases it was describe as moderate prospect. About 80% of the respondents faced moderately severe problem during sheep farming. The results of the study revealed that instead of few problems faced by the farmers, the prospects of sheep farming in southwestern coastal region is high as it requires less space and investment and it also increased the income of the farmers.

Details
Role Supervisor
Class / Degree Bachelor
Students

Md. Shariar Hasan & Nibedita Ghosh

Student Id.: 160831 & 160843


Start Date January, 2019
End Date December, 2019