Utility, significance and benefits of cattle dung in rural Bhutan

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine dung production from dairy cattle and its economic value in Sarpang dzongkhag (district). Thirty Jersey cross (JX) cattle with stall feeding system and 40 households were randomly selected for the study. Same diet comprising of straw and concentrate was fed to animals. The mean fresh dung output per day from JX cow was 14kg and faecal dry matter output was 2.50kg. The mean N output per day was 0.10kg. There was a significant relationship between feed intake and dung output per day. However, the dung output was negatively correlated with live body weight of the animal. The dietary nutrient intake and dung output were major factors affecting faecal N output. The amount of fresh dung used as fertilizer and for biogas production in Sarpang dzongkhag were 12,117kg and 12,912kg per annum, respectively. Cow dung as fertilizer and for biogas production had benefitted dairy farmers in the dzongkhag in terms of reducing cost. By replacing commercial fertilizer with the use of cow dung, the annual cost saved was Nu. 10,071, whereas the annual cost saved by replacing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was Nu. 2,664. The study concluded that cow dung has economic value in the lives of rural Bhutanese.