Sheep production and development in Bangladesh.
1989
Rahman Md.M.
Landless and marginal farmers in Bangladesh usually raise small ruminants. Sheep are sparsely distributed all over the country except in the districts of Rajshahi Tangail and in the delta area of Noakhali. Sheep being raised are of indigenous type with a small body size and are raised primarily for meat production. They produce small amount of hairy fleece. Most of the sheep remain unclipped every year. They are reared on naturally grown grasses, with no concentrates supplied even in sturdy rams. Sheep population has been gradually increasing for the last 25 years. The most important characteristics of sheep is prolificacy. Lambing is done twice a year while twinning is common. Availability of feeds and good quality rams are the major constraints of sheep improvement in Bangladesh, besides internal parasites. No government program for the improvement of sheep has yet been started. The introduction of breeds from Pakistan had a positive effect on wool quality, but a negative effect on prolificacy and lambing interval. Further studies on economic traits like age at maturity, prolificacy and lambing interval are needed before introduction of any exotic breed is done. Organization of cooperatives may be helpful in protecting grower's interest in getting reasonable price.
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