Md Abul Khayer, a young man from Faridpur, has turned heads by raising a cow entirely by home methods. Fed on ordinary grass and straw, the animal, named Lal Manik, now weighs about 18 maunds. Many people come from far and wide every day to see it. The owner hopes to sell it for Tk 7 lakh at this year's Eid-ul-Azha market.
Abul Khayer, of Chowdhuridangi village beside Hathat Bazar in Charmadhabdia union of Faridpur Sadar upazila, is a returnee migrant. After coming back from Dubai a few years ago, he opened a fertiliser and pesticide shop at his village market.
Named after its mother, Hira
He also set up a small cattle farm at home. Four years ago, a heifer calf was born on the farm to a Sahiwal cow named "Hira", using Brahman-type semen. He fondly named it "Lal Manik". To fulfil his mother's wish, he raised the calf with love and care like his own child. In four years it has grown to 8 feet long and 5 feet wide, with a chest girth of 7 feet 6 inches.
Abul Khayer's mother, Rahima Begum, said: "Because it was born to Hira, I named it Manik, Lal Manik. The cow is very dear to us."
His brother Rajib Hossain said that, as their mother wished, they raised it the local way on fresh grass and straw. Besides people from the area, visitors come from outside to see it, and everyone is very pleased.
Local resident Kabir Bin Jabbar said it is the best cattle in the village. "I have seen many cattle fattened with drugs and artificial feed in various ways. This one is like a local cow, with very firm muscles," he said.
No company feed
Owner Abul Khayer said he raised it with the love and care he would give his own son. He feeds it before coming to the shop in the morning, returns at noon to look after it and bathes it with his own hands. He grows grass on his own land for its feed. "I raised Lal Manik entirely naturally, on field grass and straw. I did not give it any company feed. It looks very attractive. I have asked Tk 7 lakh for it. For a good buyer I might sell it for a little less," he said.
Local cattle trader Md Hasan said he liked the cow very much. He estimates it will yield more than 18 maunds of meat, and he has made an initial offer.
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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