Abstract
The rural poverty rate of Bangladesh is about 41%, of which, 32% are ultra poor people, living particularly in the char areas of northern Bangladesh. The objective of the study was to improve livelihood and food security of extremely poor people in char areas. through herd health management to increase the productivity of their dairy cattle. The household heads were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire. A package of veterinary services was delivered to the selected dairy households. About 50% of the people were involved in dairying, aged between 36 and 50 years and had no primary education. About 35% of dairy households earned money by selling milk along with labour. Sixty-one percent of dairy households owned 5 decimals (202m2) of homestead land, and 12% owned 10 (405m2): 42% owned 10 decimals of cultivable land and 13.5% owned 20 decimals. In the non-dairy group, 29% owned 5 decimals (202m2) and 3% owned 10 decimals (405m2): 15% owned 10 decimals of cultivable land. About 70% of dairy households had drinking water and 74% had sanitation facilities, while 49% and 44% non-dairy households had such facilities. The livestock population in dairy households was 3065, of which 946 were cattle; while non-dairy households owned 1915 livestock, including 17 cattle. Average daily income of each dairy household was 129 Taka, and for non-dairy household it was 109 Taka. Many dairy households had a bicycle (n=54), radio (n=59) and cell phone (n=211), but fewer in the non-dairy had a bicycle (n=8) and cell phone (n=43). About 24% of the cows were affected with reproductive problems such as calving intervals over 430 days (64%), repeat breeding (3.7%), abortion (6.9%), dystocia (5.7%) and retention of placenta (9.2%). After delivery of veterinary services, cattle gained body weight (80g/ day/ cow) and the average milk yield increased from 1.5 to 2.2 litres/day/cow. The percentage of EPG reduction was about 79 and milk protein percentage was significantly higher (P<0.05) in treated animal. A total of 76 sub-fertile cows were synchronized using PGF2a analogue and pregnancy was confirmed in 50% of cows. Thirty-nine repeat-breeding cows treated with gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) immediately after natural service had 30.8% pregnancy rate. About 26.7% pregnancy was confirmed in cows with uterine infection after management. The pregnancy rate of cows was 39% following artificial insemination (AI) of 115 cows using frozen semen. Dairy households owned more household items, and livelihoods as well as food security improved. The number of livestock increased to 3482 including 1021 cattle. Daily income also increased significantly from 129 to 172 Taka. The percentage of farmers owning 5 decimals homestead land increased and 10 decimals cultivable land were increased to 73% and 51%, respectively. The proportion of farmers with sanitary toilet and safe drinking water increased to 78% and 75%, respectively. About 76% dairy respondents take food three times daily. As daily income increased about 8.4% of dairy respondents were in positive annual monetary balance. The extension of veterinary health care services should be provided to improve dairy production in char areas to sustain their livelihoods.