EVALUATION OF PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF NON-DESCRIPT BUFFALOES OF BHOLA DISTRICT IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

The aim of the study was designed to Evaluate the Productive and Reproductive Performance of Non-Descript Buffaloes of Bhola District in Bangladesh. Data were collected through interview of randomly selected 349 members of Bhola districts who were involved in buffalo farming. The investigation revealed that majority of the buffalo farmers were poor (46.47%) and non-poor (45.07%), the education level of the farmers were below primary (70.48%), and up to primary (31.48%), age of the farmers were over 25 years old (72.27%), and among them about 96.36% farmers were male. The family members of the buffalo farmers ware average 5.28. The mortality rate of buffalo calves and buffalo, were 17.08% and 8.75% respectively. The average lactation period was 5.77±0.26 months, gestation period 285±0.70 days average milk production per day was 1.56±0.25 liter and total milk production in lactation period was 268.08±6.34 liters. The reproductive parameters like age at first heat 37.2±0.25 months, age at first pregnancy 38.4±0.26 months, number of services per conception 1.77±0.26 number, duration between estrus and insemination 10.09±0.70 hours, post-partum heat period 106.20±0.36 days, dry period 167.8±0.67 days, calving interval 660.8±0.97 days, Pregnancy rate 28.03±.02 % and age at puberty 455.33±.27 days respectively. All (100%) of the farmers practice natural insemination technique, where 63.1% farmers have their own bull for breeding. No farmer use record keeping system in the farm. There is a believe that buffalo meat is not good for health that the reason consumer refuse to take buffalo. There is no available market for buffalo meat. This study would help the policy makers to take necessary strategies to improve the socio-economic status of buffalo farmers in this region of Bangladesh.