CATTLE FATTENING PRACTICES OF SELECTED FARMERS IN DINAJPUR DISTRICT

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to investigate the cattle fattening programs of selected farmers in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh through field survey. Data were collected through interview schedule personally from 30 farmers in three villages of Sadar Upazilla. Parameters studied were the socio-economic conditions of the farmers, factors associated with cattle fattening, daily routine activities, feeding & marketing system of fattening cattle, problems of fattening cattle and cost benefit were analysed. In this study 40% farmers had primary level of education and 30% had no education. About 70% farmers used cattle of 2-3 years of age and 26.7% farmers used cattle of 1-2 years age. Fattening period of 3-6 months and 7-12 months were reported by 50% and 40% farmers respectively. Separate houses for cattle were provided by 70% of the farmers. About 63.4% farmers washed their cattle in ponds and rivers regularly. About 60% farmers had taken short training on livestock rearing from Dinajpur Youth training centers and 80% of farmers dewormed their cattle before starting the fattening. About 86.6% of farmers reported lack of credit as the major problems of cattle fattening. Average buying and selling prices and net profits were taka/cattle 26600, 32126 and 1994, respectively. So small scale cattle fattening programs could be recommended as an income generating activity for rural farmers of Bangladesh.