The SAC team comprising of Dr. Md. Harunur Rashid, Director SAC and Dr. Md. Younus Ali (Senior Program Specialist- Livestock) visited Buffalo Farm of Bangladesh Milk Producer’s Cooperative Union Ltd (Milk vita), Takerhat, Madaripur, on 12 December, 2024 to witness the performance of Murrah buffalo calves born through artificial insemination of pedigreed buffalo semen under the initiative on “High Yielding Dairy Breed Development in SAARC Countries”.

About fifteen calves were born during the period of 3rd August to 22nd November, 2019 as a result of successful artificial insemination of she-buffaloes. Out of the fifteen calves, thirteen are surviving. The birth weight of new borne calves’ ranges from 25 to 41kg; with an average body weight of 33.6±1.63 kg. Out of those calves born, seven were male and eight were female; representing 46% male and 54% female. Considering the male calves only, the average birth weight was 36.28 kg, while it was 31.25 kg in case of female buffalo calves. All the calves born through artificial insemination sound healthy and growing well with the dietary schedule adopted by the management of farm. Manager of Buffalo Dairy Project of Milk Vita informed us all Murrah buffaloes will be shifted to another place due to shortage of manpower. Due to shortage of feed, the performance of buffalos was found not up to the mark. The Manger also informed us milk is decreasing from the 2nd generation of Murrah. No diseases were found during visit of the farm. The team also visited few members of the Bangladesh Milk Producer’s Cooperative Union Ltd., Takerhat and interacted with them to have in depth information about their dairy unit, particularly the healthcare, nutrition, vaccination, milk disposal, fodder availability etc.

The team returned to Bagerhat on 12 December 2024.