Small Project and Travel Awards
Survey of the welfare of dairy cows in Bangladesh
UFAW funded a study by Dr Rashedul Alam of the Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in which he surveyed 1,110 dairy cows from 36 farms in Bangladesh. The results indicated that stockman training was an issue, and that improvements are needed in housing and husbandry provisions, including ventilation, drainage systems and water supply. Lameness is a common but serious problem in dairy cattle, and in this study 30% of the cattle had hoof lesions and 12% were lame. The author suggests that the results of his research provide a baseline from which the farmers and Bangladesh Government can work to make changes that improve the welfare of dairy cows and support economic and sustainable development.
