Problems, Productivity and Profitability of a Small-scale Commercial Dairy Farm in Rangamati Hill Tract

Abstract

The present study was designed to perceive the general information, management system, cost-return and problems of rearing dairy cattle by a sole proprietorship small-scale dairy operation, LRL Khan Dairy Farm Ltd. of Rangamati Hill Tract. With this view, the experiential data were collected with the help of a structured pre-tested questionnaire prepared for the study through face to face interviewing and personal visit to a commercial small scale dairy farm. The Housing, feeding, breeding and other management system were investigated and cost-return of the farm was analyzed. The study revealed that the farm used an open-sided brick floor shed for housing the cattle. The main livestock feed was raw grass, untreated rice straw and concentrated feed. The average dry period, calving interval and services per conception of the cows were 97.3 days, 418 days and 2.97 respectively. The average milk production was 10 litre/cow/day. The highest cost of production was on feed cost which accounts for more than 63%. The gross return of the farm stood at BDT 1,053,000. The highest share of return (74.89%) was obtained from milk production followed by change in inventory (24.06%). The return on investment of the farm was about 34%. The main problems faced by the dairy owner were non-availability of veterinarians and AI services in the locality, shortage of medicine and vaccines in veterinary hospital and ineffectiveness of artificial insemination from the veterinary hospitals. In conclusion, it can be said that small-scale dairy would be a profitable business operation if the problem faced by the farmer can be mitigated.