News Flash
DHAKA, May 13, 2025 (BSS) – Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today underscored the importance of developing a comprehensive roadmap to safeguard the country’s indigenous cattle, saying efforts should be made to prioritize national welfare over profit-driven motives.
"Developing a comprehensive roadmap is crucial to safeguarding the country's indigenous cattle breeds from disappearing," she said.
The adviser made this remark while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Local Cattle Germplasm Improvement: Challenges and Way Forward” in the capital’s Krishibid Institution Bangladesh, said a ministry press release.
“We have to work with the aim of protecting indigenous cattle breeds so that we can produce milk and meat," she added.
Farida mentioned that indigenous cattle breeds are disappearing are incorrect, saying under the guise of improved breeds, various foreign cattle have been introduced, promoting the idea that “Friesian” and “Crossbreed” are the only viable options.
She said it is essential to prevent the decline of indigenous cattle and to achieve this, implementing a strategic roadmap is crucial. “The introduction of various foreign breeds is not a sustainable approach. Despite significant time and effort being invested in this, it remains unsustainable.”
The Adviser said a project must be undertaken to preserve indigenous cattle breeds based on zonal distribution.
Providing incentives for raising local breeds could encourage farmers to prioritize them, she said, adding, if such support is offered, farmers will undoubtedly choose to raise indigenous cattle.
Experts at the seminar emphasized that the genetic diversity of local cattle should be regarded as a gene bank or genetic resource, as these unique genetic traits contribute to the development of future cattle populations.
They further highlighted the need for an integrated breeding strategy to maintain productive cattle, particularly those that are heat-tolerant, highly resistant to diseases, and capable of giving birth annually.
The conservation and development of local breeds will play a crucial role in cultivating cattle suitable for scientific breeding, they added.
Artificial Insemination Division of Department of Livestock organized the seminar. With Department of Livestock Director General Dr Md Abu Sufian, Bangladesh Agricultural University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr AK Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Nilufa Akhter, and Director General of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute Shakila Faruk also spoke.
Deputy Director of Department of Artificial Insemination Dr Md Shafiqur Rahman made keynote presentation while Director (Administration) of Department of Livestock Dr Md Boyzar Rahman took part discussion on it.
Director of Department of Artificial Insemination delivered welcome address.
