Animal welfare is a relatively new topic and there is a dearth of the report regarding the welfare assessment of dairy cattle in Bangladesh. Therefore, the present study was carried out to assess the effect of floor surface of the dairy sheds on mastitis, skin lesions, cleanliness of body and lameness of lactating cow in smallholders’ production system. To conduct this study, 5 soil type floor, 5 brick paved and 5 concrete floors of small holder dairy units were selected in Sirajgonj district. From each shed, 5 numbers of dairy cows were selected preferably in the first lactation stage. A total 75 milk samples from three different types of the shed were tested for subclinical mastitis using a California mastitis test. The results showed that 40%, 28%, and 32% cows were CMT positive for subclinical mastitis in soil, brick made and concrete type floor, respectively. The prevalence of SCM was not significantly differences among the different types of floor (P>0.05). Cleanliness and hygienic status of the muddy soil type floor were found to be significantly poor in comparison to that of brick made and concrete type floor of dairy farms. The prevalence of skin lesions in different body parts was higher in brick made (62%) and concrete floor sheds (88%) compared to soil bedded (31%) floor. Hair loses in the concrete and brick made floor was significantly higher (P≤0.01) in comparison with the muddy soil floor. The overall prevalence of lameness of the brick made (72%) and concrete type floor was higher (65%) than that of soil bedded shed (48%). There was a significant difference of lameness between soil type and brick made floor of the shed (P>0.05). The study recommends that in order to reduce the high prevalence of subclinical mastitis, skin lesions and lameness in smallholder farmers require to improve floor conditions through regular cleaning of the floor or upgrade to the concrete floor using rubber mat. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.7(1): 87-95, April 2020

Background: Dairy calves are the future stock of the dairy farms. It is important to describe weaknesses in rearing calves not only to improve their welfare, but also to detect areas where current scientific knowledge is poorly integrated into practice. The aim of the present study was to gather information on calf rearing management practices followed by dairy owners, which are related to welfare. Methods: A survey of calf rearing practices was conducted using a farmer questionnaire to collect data. The survey included 140 family-based small dairy units in seven upazilas of Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. The frequency and percentage of the response were described. Results: We observed that all respondents attended their animals during calving and 82.14% respondents allowed cow to clean the calves immediately after calving. Only 13.57% farmers cleaned the mouth and nose of calf after birth. More than 85.0% owners cleaned and trimmed hooves of the calf after birth. More than 90%% respondents did not cut the naval cord of calf and apply antiseptic. More than half of the owners (54.28%) fed colostrum to calves when the animals were able to stand on their feet and only 37.14% of them fed colostrum within one hour of birth. About 44.28% respondents allowed ad lib quantity of colostrum to calf. It was found that 73.57% of the owners allowed suckling of calf until 3 to 6 month of age. Most of the owners (55.0%) allowed the calves to suckle all the quarter of udder before and after milking. None practiced castration and dehorning for male calves. Majority (97.14%) of farmers did not perform deworming and vaccination schedule of calves. Conclusion: This study identified a number of rearing practices that represent a poor welfare for calf, which may prone towards diseases and hampering the productivity. Therefore, in addition to the traditional practices, scientific knowledge for this aspect is also important to get superior animals for future.

Background: Many milk-borne epidemics of human diseases have been reported due to contamination of milk by dairy workers’ spoiled hands, unsanitary utensils, flies and polluted water supplies. In addition, most milk-borne zoonoses are mainly acquired through consumption of infected milk and milk products. Information on milking hygiene practices and knowledge of farmers’ remains scarce in Bangladesh. We aimed to evaluate the milk hygiene awareness and practices among the dairy farmers in Baghabarighat milk shed areas of Sirajgonj district in Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out including 270 randomly selected small holder dairy farmers during October 2018 to March 2019. Data on milk hygiene practices and general handling of milk were collected by face to face interview and direct observation using a questionnaire. Results: We observed that all respondents practiced manual milking with a frequency of twice per day. About 60% respondents did not wash their hands before milking and others wash their hands only with water. Mostly tube well water was used for washing utensils. About 67.0% respondents didn’t wash udder before milking and all of them used oil as lubricant. Around 67% and 33.3% dairy farmers had access to pipe water and tube well water supply to their barn, respectively. None of the farmers practiced post milking teat dipping and used towel for wiping udder after washing. Most of the farmers (97%) provided feed to animal before, during and after milking. None of the farmers stored milk in cool room and 78.2% farmers delivered milk within 1-2 hours to milk collector. About 89% respondents delivered drug treated milk to collector. Conclusion: The hygienic practices are far below standard level among the dairy farmers in the study areas. Thus, there are risk of bovine mastitis and milk-borne zoonoses by consuming contaminated milk. Farmers’ education on milking hygiene practices and handling of milk to create awareness is needed.

A cross sectional study was conducted to characterize the present situation of milk production, to identify the existing socioeconomic status of dairy farmers, and to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM) in dairy cows. A total of 229 smallholder dairy farms at Bangladesh Agricultural University surrounding areas were investigated during January to March 2015. Direct interview with farmers, and physical examination of the cows were done to collect farm and cow level data. It appeared that all of the farmers were involved in other occupations besides dairying, in which almost half of them (48.29%) belong to agricultural cultivation. Educational level of the most of the farmers was illiterate to primary level (68.5%). The average annual income of farm owners was Tk. 219109.17, of which around half of the total income comes from livestock. Average milk production of the farms was 7.73 L/day with a range of 0.5 to 305 L. Milk samples were collected from 101 milking cows and were subjected to somatic cell count (SCC) by automatic nucleocounter machine. The overall prevalence of subclinical mastitis was 20.79%. The prevalence of subclinical mastitis was comparatively higher in Sahiwal cows (42.86%), cows that yield >5 to 10 L milk per day, and in late lactation stage (>180 days).