Our Correspondent
RAJSHAHI, May 29: Rajshahi region is going to be enriched with the production of Brahma cows, an American hybrid variety of cows. Where 100 kg to 150 kg beef is available from a local breed of cow, a Brahma cow can give 800 kg to 1,000 kg of beef.
This cow does not need any extra hormone or any medicine for fattening rather it can give much beef only consuming straw and grass, confirmed the local livestock officials.
According to the livestock office here, their officials have already started working in the production of the cows at three upazilas - Paba, Puthia and Charghat of the district. At least 50 farmers in each upazila were given semen of the Brahma cows to crossbreed with indigenous variety cows, the livestock officials confirmed.
  While talking with The Daily Observer, Dilip Chandra a farmer of Paranpur under Charghat upazila said, "I have three cows under this project. Two of the cows gave birth to two Brahma calves. Each of the calves weighed 25 kg at birth and after two months, their weight increased to 60 kg."
"Meanwhile, the upazila livestock officials visited my house to see the calves," he added.
Charghat Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Nizam said that around 100 calves of the Brahma variety were born across the upazila. Seeing the success, the farmers here have become interested in producing the cow, he added.
The semen of the cow species is pricey in the markets but under the government project, the farmers can easily get the semen, the official added.
Rajshahi District Additional Livestock Officer Dr Julfikar Mohammad Akter Hossain said that at least 150 farmers at the three upazilas are producing the cows. A Brahma cow generally gives 800 kg to 2,000 kg beef, but in Bangladesh it can give 800 kg to 1,000 kg beef, he added.
"Our livestock officials here provided the semen to the farmers at Tk 30 only. The project was undertaken at the three upazilas in October of 2013. At least 130 farmers were selected from each upazila primarily but 50 farmers in each upazila were given the semen," the official added.