CATTLE FEEDING PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES FOR SUSTAINABLE CATTLE NUTRITION: A CASE STUDY IN DHAKA CITY

Abstract

Executive Summary The study was undertaken to explore the present cattle feeding practices followed by farmers adjacent to Dhaka city and to find out the challenges of cattle rearing in selected areas. A field survey was conducted to collect data from 50 farmers of Mohammadpur, Keranigonj and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area in Dhaka district with a pretested survey questionnaire. Mixed concentrate feed samples were collected to evaluate crude protein content of feed sample. Results showed that farmers used rice straw, different types of cultivated grass such as Jumbo, Napier, Maize, Kolmilota, Pakchong grass as roughage source and wheat bran, rice bran, rice broken, lentil bran, mugbean bran, blackgram bran, broken maize, chickpea bran, soyameal and soyabean bran. Most of the farms were medium size farm (54%). Number of cattle per small, medium and large scale farm were 4.5, 11.19 and 86.23, respectively. Percentage of milch cow per small, medium and large-scale farm were 55.56%, 55.30% and 45.21% respectively. Most of the farmers reared cross breed cattle (87.76%) followed by indigenous (9.69%) and Bhutani cattle (2.55%). Milk production liter/cow in small, medium and large-scale farm were 10.3 liter, 13.5 liter and 15.4 liter, respectively. Green grass provided to cattle per day in small, medium and large scale farm were 8.33 kg, 9.50 kg and 9.64 kg, respectively. Straw provided to cattle per day in small, medium and large scale farm were 1.94 kg, 1.72 kg and 1.99 kg, respectively. The price per kg of wheat bran in small, medium and large scale farm was TK. 50.5, 46.29, 44.75, respectively. Price per kg of rice bran in small, medium and large scale farm was Tk.17.15, 16.88, 16.45 respectively. The price per kg of lentil bran in per farm was Tk.28.67, 27.62 and 26.55 respectively. Total 70% farm owner cultivated green grass, such as Jumbo, Maize, Napier, Kolmilota, Palchong and Khesari. Most of the farmers cultivated Jumbo grasses (54%). Chopper and cleaner machine were used by the 72% farm owner. Milking machine was used only 26% farmers. Only 8% farmers got training and 92% farmers had no training experience. Crude protein percentage (CP %) in mixed concentrate feed of small, medium and large scale farm were 16.3±0.723, 18.2±0.872 and 19.6±0.529, respectively. Mean value of CP found significant difference (P<0.05) from different farms. Total 12% farmers indicated that they faced shortage of green grass at January to February, 14% faced shortage of green grass at September to October and rest of farmers (74%) didn’t face any shortage of green grass. All farm owners claimed higher price of feed as the key challenges and farmers suggested that reducing feed cost was the primary solution to overcome the challenges regarding cattle feeding.