The present study was undertaken to analyze the relative profitability of dairy cows. The focus of the present study was to quantify the cost and returns and to explore the interrelationship of factors affecting yield, cost and net return. It also attempted to examine the rural employment and income generation potentials of dairy enterprise. Dairy farming was studied in 5 villages of Tarash upazila in Sirajganj district from the study areas sixty farmers were selected randomly, based on the availability of which 30 were local breed raisers and 30 were cross breed raisers. Dairy cow rearing was found to be a profitable enterprise. The per day total cost of rising per cross-breed dairy to be profitable enterprise- The per day total cost of rising per local breed and cross-breed dairy cow was estimated at Tk. 22.65 and 64.40, respectively. Feed cost was the largest single cost item of raising dairy cows. The estimated gross return per cow per day stood at Tk. 57.56 for local breed cows while it amounted to Tk. 229.76 for cross breed cows. In this study, the net retums per dairy cow per day were Tk. 17.62 and Tk. 134.55 for local breed and cross breed dairy cows, respectively. The average milk productions per day per cow were 1.25 litre and 5.60 litre for local breed and cross breed dairy cows, respectively. The study identified some crucial problems such as milk marketing problem, scarcity of feed and fodder, lack of improved breed, lack of veterinary care and services, lack of institutional credit and high price of concentrate feed. The major remedial measures as suggested by farmers is to assurance of supply feeds and fodder, veterinary care and services, supply of institutional credit at low interest, availability of concentrate feeds, improved breeding and marketing facilities. Finally following the summary of the study some policy implications are suggested and scopes for further studies are indicated.

Keywords: Dairy cow, cost, return, profitability, resource use efficiency

The present study was undertaken to estimate the profitability and resource use efficiency under different farm size groups of maize production. In total, 65 farmers (30 small, 30 medium and 5 large) were randomly selected from five villages of Bogra district. Both tabular and statistical analyses were applied in this study. Cost and return analysis reveal that maize is a profitable crop for all categories of farmers. On an average per hectare total cost of maize production was estimated at Tk 46278 for all farmers and Tk 41263, 53554 and 48715 for small, medium and large farmers, respectively. Again, gross margins from maize production were estimated at Tk 67592, 64694 and 74089 for small, medium and large farmers, respectively. However, net returns for the farm size groups of small, medium and large were calculated at Tk 57823, 53895 and 64138 per hectare, respectively. BCR was the highest (2.40) for the small farmers followed by medium (2.01) and large (2.32) farmers, respectively. Cobb-Douglas production function analysis indicated that out of nine variables, the effects of using seed, manure, fertilizer, irrigation and insecticide had significant impact on gross return from maize production for all farmers. Efficiency analysis indicated that most of the farmers inefficiently used their inputs. The findings of the study revealed that large farmers earned higher profit than those of small and medium farmers. The study also indicated some problems and constraints of maize cultivation and suggested some recommendations to improve maize production with a view to increasing the household income and employment opportunities of the farmers.

Keywords: Maize, production costs, returns, profitability, resource use efficiency