Indigenous beef cattle production scenario in Bangladesh

The study was carried out with the interest of investigate the beef cattle production system. A baseline survey was conducted on beef cattle production in Bangladesh from two districts of each division. The study was conducted to up-date knowledge on the state of beef fatteners in their own environment. The findings of the baseline survey revealed that major beef fatteners (90%) in Rajshahi division started their cattle fattening using own money, followed by 50%, 40%, 50%, 40%, 50% and 55% in Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, Sylhet and Rangpur, respectively. The average size (4.93) of livestock holding per farm in Barishal division was considerably higher than that of Dhaka (4.35), Khulna (4.71), Rajshahi (3.83), Chattogram (3.35), Sylhet (4.29) and Rangpur (3.69), respectively. In the study area, the average size (2.14, 2.63 and 2.77) of indigenous cattle per farm in the division of Khulna, Barishal and Rangpur, respectively was considerably lower than those (3.47, 3.27, 3.40 and 3.93) of Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram and Sylhet division, respectively. The average duration (18.6 month) of the fattening program was considerably higher in Dhaka division than that (11.6 month) of Rangpur division. Majority of the farmers followed semi-intensive feeding system. The amount of rice straw/h/d supplied to the beef cattle is remarkably lower (3.57 and 3.72 kg) in Rajshahi and Rangpur division than those (4.38, 4.57, 4.82, 4.32 and 4.32) in the division of Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet, respectively. The amount of concentrates supplied (817.86, 814.71 and 887.50 g) to their beef cattle in Barishal, Sylhet and Rangpur, respectively was considerably higher than those (758.82, 721.43, 772.22 and 739.71 g) of Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi and Chattogram division, respectively. In conclusion, there were differences in demographic information, source of capitals for fattening, herd size, duration of fattening, production system and feeding system among the divisions of Bangladesh.