Photo: Freepik

DHAKA, Aug 5, 2025 (BSS) - The government has unveiled a plan to enhance milk and meat production by improving local cattle breeds in a bid to meet national nutritional demands, alleviate rural poverty and raise the living standards of farming communities.

As part of the initiative, the government will implement a five-year project titled 'Proven Bull Creation to Increase Milk and Meat Production', starting in the current 2025-26 fiscal year.

The Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) will jointly implement the government-funded Tk 69 crore project across 93 upazilas in 18 districts under four divisions.

Under the project, 400 bull calves including Desi-Friesian, Desi-Sahiwal crosses, Red Chattogram, Pabna, Munshiganj and North Bengal Gray breeds will be collected based on the average milk yield of their mother cows.

All collected calves will undergo performance testing, after which 200 bulls will be selected as "candidate bulls." Semen will be collected from each of these, and following a breeding value evaluation, the best will be officially designated as "proven bulls."

"Insemination using proven bulls will help develop high-yielding cattle breeds capable of producing more milk and meat," said Dr M Mostafizur Rahman, Project Director at DLS.

The project's core objectives include enhancing and sustaining cattle productivity, conserving and improving the genetic traits of indigenous breeds and building the capacity of farmers and field officers through training.

Officials at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock noted that the initiative aligns with the broader goal of achieving national food security through increased livestock productivity.

They also referred to the National Livestock Development Policy 2007, which underscores the need for strict selection of breeding animals based on accurate genetic evaluation to ensure the promotion of superior bulls nationwide.

According to the project document, many hybrid cows in rural areas already produce between 25 to 30 litres of milk per day. However, maintaining such output requires the use of high-quality semen.

"Unplanned and unregulated breeding, along with indiscriminate semen use, has been reducing productivity in high-yielding cows," said the officials. "That's why the development of proven bulls is now essential to sustain and improve milk and meat production."

The project will also train 34,375 farmers, with 7,500 owners of high-yield cows receiving incentives under an "elite cow" programme. Proven bull semen will be promoted among farmers, and vaccines, medicines, and feed will be procured as part of the support package.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a daily intake of 250 millilitres of milk per person, but actual consumption in Bangladesh remains significantly below that level.

As per the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2022, the average per capita daily consumption of milk and dairy products in the country is only 34.1 grams, highlighting the urgent need for improved livestock productivity.