Abstract
The present study was aimed to compare the production status and management practices of crossbred buffaloes between small scale and commercial farms in Bangladesh. The data were collected through personal interview from the individual respondent. The study revealed that duration of buffalo rearing was mostly practiced for more than two years. Various types of feed ingredients including rice straw, wheat straw, green grass, concentrate feed, cultivated fodder, tree leaves and unconventional feed resources were used for feeding buffaloes. In small scale, 83.34% farmers fed their buffalo in a group and 75% buffaloes reared under semi-intensive system while all buffaloes practiced individual feeding and reared under intensive system in commercial farms. The daily milk production, lactation length and yield of dam and birth weight of calves significantly (p<0.05) increased in commercial farm than small scale. However, the weaning age and weight was significantly (p<0.05) higher in village buffaloes than commercial farms. Similarly, age at 1st heat, 1st calving, services per conception and postpartum heat showed significantly (p<0.05) higher values in village than commercial farms. The major diseases of buffaloes in those areas were foot and mouth disease, black quarter, hemorrhagic septicemia, mastitis and anthrax. A proportion of 88.3% village farmers performed vaccination, in contrast, all buffaloes were vaccinated in commercial farms. The cost-return analysis discovered that rearing of buffalo in commercial farms was more profitable than rearing in small scale. Finally, the results revealed that productive and reproductive performances of buffaloes were better in commercial farms than small scale condition. Buffalo rearing is more profitable in commercial farms than small scale farming. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2021, 7 (4), 323-331
Highlights
The buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is a multipurpose livestock species that helps the livelihood of people by providing high quality milk and meat, dung as fuel and organic fertilizer, mechanical or draft power and hides and skins as raw material for industry (Irshad et al, 2011)
A proportion of 38.3% farmers kept buffaloes for more than 2 years and 33.3% farmers kept for 2 years in small scale
In Moulvibazar district of Bangladesh, 40% farmers kept buffaloes for 2 years (Sumaiya, 2015) which is in good agreement with our findings
Summary
The buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is a multipurpose livestock species that helps the livelihood of people by providing high quality milk and meat, dung as fuel and organic fertilizer, mechanical or draft power and hides and skins as raw material for industry (Irshad et al, 2011). They are better converters of poor quality fibrous. This study was aimed to know the management practices along with the productive and reproductive performances of native buffaloes and cost-benefit analysis of rearing buffaloes in the villages and commercial farms
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