Brahman cows, known for their high tolerance of heat, sunlight, humidity, and parasites, have recently come into the spotlight in Bangladesh.
The controversy began when Sadeeq Agro was found breeding Brahman cows during an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) drive on July 1, revealing seven Brahman calves aged 7-10 months.
This discovery has sparked questions regarding the legality and policy surrounding the breeding of Brahman cattle in the country.
ACC seizes 6 banned Brahman cows from Sadeeq AgroOrigin and characteristics
Brahman cows were originally imported from India to the United States in the mid-19th century.
Through cross-breeding with local American Taurine cattle, the modern-day Brahman breed was developed.
This breed is particularly popular for beef production in the US and South America due to its resilience to environmental stressors and its profitability for farmers.
Is it really banned?
No, Brahman cows are not technically banned in Bangladesh. However, the import of any livestock is highly regulated and requires permission from authorities, including the Department of Livestock Service (DLS).
Importing and breeding Brahman cattle is regulated because officials believe it will negatively impact the country's dairy production.
Dr Golam Azam, principal scientific officer of the DLS, said that the current focus in Bangladesh is on increasing milk production to achieve self-sufficiency within the next three years.
History of Brahman in Bangladesh
From 2008 to 2016, the DLS conducted a pilot project on Brahman breeding under the Beef Cattle Development Project.
The fast growth rate of Brahman cows attracted significant interest from farmers, as Brahman cows can yield 600-800kgs of meat at two years of age compared to a maximum of 200kgs from native cows of the same age.
This led to widespread, uncontrolled artificial insemination practices outside the project's scope.
ACC: Sadeeq Agro breeding banned Brahman cowsGovernment and private officials involved in artificial insemination began applying Brahman semen to cows beyond the project's list, which was prohibited.
This unauthorized practice began to impact milk production negatively, as cows born from insemination with Brahman semen produced no milk, raising concerns about disruptions to the country's milk supply.
As a result, policymakers have taken steps to curb the spread of Brahman cattle to protect milk production goals.
Current breeding policies in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is focusing on improving three specific cattle breeds: local breeds, Shahiwal, and Holstein.
Local breeds, including Pabna cattle, Red Chittagong Cattle, and Munshiganj Cattle, are primarily bred for meat production, with consumers often finding their beef tastier than other varieties.
Shahiwal cattle strike a balance between meat and dairy production, originating from the northern parts of the subcontinent.
Holstein cattle were imported post-independence to improve dairy production and have been cross-bred with local breeds. Some Holstein cross-bred cattle can now produce up to 40 liters of milk daily.
According to Dr Ananda Kumar Adhikary, director of the Artificial Insemination Office of the DLS, said: “The breeding policy that we currently have does not include Brahman. As it is not there, breeding Brahman is questionable,” he said.
Female Brahman cows are not considered ideal for milk production, which further disqualifies them from being included in the national breeding policy aimed at enhancing dairy productivity.
The potential for Brahman cattle to contribute to beef production is recognized, but Dr Ananda stressed the need for detailed scientific research to adapt the breed to local conditions.
The 2016 amended Artificial Breeding Policy outlines several criteria for semen importation and allows private entities to engage in artificial breeding under the Beef Cattle Development Project.
This policy also suggests experimenting with crossbreeding Brahman cattle with local breeds (on a 50-50 basis) to boost meat production, though farming for both dairy and meat is restricted.
Key questions remain unresolved, such as which local breed should be cross-bred with Brahman cows. “Till we decide the policy, we have not permitted any government or private authority to produce or sell Brahman semen,” said Dr Ananda.
Controversies surrounding Sadeeq Agro
The spotlight on Brahman cattle intensified following an ACC drive on July 1, when seven Brahman calves aged 7-10 months were discovered at Sadeeq Agro.
Further investigations on July 3 led to the seizure of six additional Brahman cows from the same firm.
This incident is not isolated. In July 2021, 18 Brahman cattle belonging to Sadeeq Agro were seized at Shahjalal International Airport for using fake documents that misidentified the breed as Shahiwal.
Despite re-acquiring 15 cattle from the government in 2023 under the condition to sell them for beef at nominal prices, the farm instead advertised the high pedigree of the cattle, asking for prices up to Tk1 crore each.
