Nowadays people are being engaged in assorted professions to improve their financial conditions. Working in multiple fields simultaneously has been convenient these days due to easily available knowledge resources. Besides attending various government and non-government training programs, people can now gain the required knowledge through various social media and online platforms from successful entrepreneurs and businessmen as well.
Rearing dairy cows can be one such opportunity for the aspiring entrepreneurs, which is quite manageable besides doing a full-time job or household chores and has always been a source of improving the livelihood of even the landless and marginal farmers in Bangladesh. It can be considered an ‘all-season’ business since the demand for milk remains all year round. In addition, the demand for milk production is also increasing every year, hence this eco-friendly business also tends to be a profitable one. One noteworthy feature is that it does not require highly skilled and competent labor.
There are various segments of a dairy farming business plan, such as land, shed, labor, water, fodder, selection of the breed, and vaccination program. Based on the investment and land availability, one can determine the size of his or her farm. Besides the high milk-yielding breed selection, fodder management is extremely crucial to ensure the profitability of the farm. The daily milk yield of a cow is based on the type of fodder as well as the nutritional facts associated with the available fodder. Hence, it shall be ensured strictly along with a clean water supply for drinking and cleaning purposes.
Another important factor is a very strict bio-security and vaccination program, as per the advice of a registered veterinary doctor. This doctor can not only prescribe treatment for the diseased cows but also make a roadmap for the sound health and high productivity of the cows. One should not rely on the unregistered quacks at all, which may result in a horrendous disaster.
Photo: Jean Carlo EmerA good waste management system is the key to the overall health of a farm. A biogas digester can be installed here which will give valuable biogas and organic fertilizers along with a clean environment at the farm. Both fixed and portable type biogas systems are available these days to suit the requirements of the farmers.
Selling milk has always been profitable. However, the farmers often face challenges to sell it throughout the year, especially if large volumes are produced. In such cases, they can focus on the production of dairy foods such as ghee, cheese, yogurt, etc. Nowadays, Facebook has been an excellent marketplace for both the buyers and the sellers.
The potential of dairy business is growing every day since people are becoming more health-conscious these days and have entailed milk and dairy products in their daily diet regime. Amid the pandemic, people have been focusing more on strengthening their immune systems, and therefore, the demand for milk has gained pace in the Bangladeshi market. Hence, dairy cow rearing is indeed a good venture model for the upcoming entrepreneurs.
Sumon Kumar Paul is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
