ZCZC
BSS-15
MEAT-PRODUCTION
Meat production rises by 7 times in last 9 years
DHAKA, July 2, 2018 (BSS) – The annual meat production increased by
seven times in the last nine years making the country self-sufficient in meat
production after the government took various measures to boost the country’s
livestock sector.
“The total meat production was 71.54 lakh metric tonnes in fiscal 2016-
2017, which was 60.74 lakh metric tonnes more comparing to the fiscal 2008-
09. The total meat production was 10.80 lakh metric tonnes in fiscal 2008-
09,” director general of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) Dr Md
Ainul Haque told BSS.
There was 0.19 lakh metric tonnes surplus meat after meeting the
country’s annual demand in 2016-17 fiscal, he said, adding that there was no
need of importing cattle for meeting the meat demand over the last three
years.
The number of cattle stood at 5,47,45,000 in 2016-17 fiscal while it was
4,95,58,000 in fiscal 2008-09, Haque said, adding that the country produced
51,87,000 cattle more in the last nine years.
“Cattle meat is one of the important elements to meet protein demand. We
have already achieved sufficiency in meat production with the support from
the government,” the DG said.
Simultaneously, he said, the country has also achieved a marked progress
in producing eggs and milk.
Employment opportunities for about 5 lakh new people are being created
in the growing sector each year, Haque said, adding that 20 percent of the
country’s total employment directly depends on the livestock sector.
The DG said after expanding the artificial breeding programme across the
country, it has been possible to bring about 45 percent of the reproductive
cattle under the programme and transform 50 percent of the total cattle into
hybrid varieties.
On average, he said, the daily milk production of per hybrid cow and
Friesian hybrid cow under the artificial breeding programme has increased to
15 litres and 40 littres respectively.
The weight of the bulls has increased to 500 kg from 400 kg, he said.
Haque said there was no need of importing cattle for the last three
years to meet the demand of sacrificial animals during the Eid-ul-Azha.
Officials of the Livestock Department said by importing frozen semen of
cent percent Brahman variety, the DLS is implementing a meaty variety cow
production programme at 125 upazilas under 48 districts to produce beef breed
of hybrid varieties aiming to meeting the growing demand of protein and
sacrificial animals.
Under the programme, an artificial breeding laboratory and bull station
was up at Savar in Dhaka. Another regional artificial breeding laboratory and
bull station was established at Rajbari Hat in Rajshahi.
There are also 22 district artificial breeding centres, 461 sub-centres
and 3,484 points across the country to implement the programme.
There were a total of 2,39,35,000 cows, 14,78,000 buffalos, 2,59,31,000
goats and 34,1000 sheep in the country in fiscal 2016-17 while milk
production was 92.83 lakh metric tonnes.
The total number of cow was 2,29,76,000, buffalo 13, 4,000, goat
2,24,1,000 and sheep 28,77,000 in fiscal 2008-09. Meat and milk productions
were 10.80 lakh metric tonnes and 22.90 lakh metric tonnes respectively.
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