The favorite food of ‘Isha Khan’, weighing 42 maunds, is the leaves of the lemon tree
Photo Collected
In this year’s sacrifice in Netrakona, the big bull ‘Isha Khan’ is at the center of discussion. The three-year-eight-month-old Friesian breed black-and-white cow weighs about 42 and a half maunds. Height is 5 and a half feet and length is about 9 feet. The cow likes to eat the leaves of the lemon tree. Owner Khairul Islam is preparing to sell the cow ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. He will sell it subject to negotiation if he gets a good price.
Khairul Islam’s house is in Fachika village of Kailati Union of Netrakona Sadar Upazila. He is a former member of Ward No. 5 of the Union.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Last Wednesday at noon at Khairul Islam’s house, it was seen that ‘Isha Khan’ was tied with a plastic rope between two jackfruit trees in the yard. Eager people from far away are watching the cow. Some are taking pictures, some are making videos. After some time, Khairul Islam took the cow to the farm to bathe it and feed it.
Talking to local people and farmers, it is known that the cow was born in Khairul Islam’s farm. From birth, mother’s milk is fed as well as rearing in indigenous ways. The shape gradually increases with the necessary food and care. At the age of only two months, the cow was given the name ‘Isha Khan’ after seeing the distinct nobility in its movement.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Last year, some buyers quoted the price of the cow as high as Tk 9 lakh. But Khairul Islam did not sell it due to delusion. This time, however, he has decided to sell.
Khairul Islam told Prothom Alo that besides his one son and two daughters, he also nurtures the cow as his own child. He does not sleep without seeing the cow before going to bed at night. When he wakes up in the morning, he first sees the cow. The diet consists of raw grass, straw, banana, wheat and paddy husk, khail, small rice, vegetables and leaves of various plants. But the most preferred is lemon leaves.
Khairul Islam said, ‘The cow is like my child. There is no satisfaction in going to sleep without seeing him. The quiet cow is looked after by my wife Tahmina Akhter and son Rabiul when I go out. An electric fan should be kept on him all the time, he should be bathed daily. All together require one grain of food. At present the weight of the cow is 42 and a half maunds. The size of the cow seems small in the pictures and videos. But in reality it is much bigger. If I find a good buyer, I will sell the cow now subject to negotiation.
Khairul Islam’s wife Tahmina Akhter said, ‘We are raising Isha Khan like a child. The cow loves to eat bananas, leaves and vegetables. However, the leaves of the lemon tree are its main food. After birth my husband named her Isha Khan after seeing her aristocratic behavior. People come from far and wide to our house every day to see the cow. We are happy to see that.
Netrakona District Livestock Officer Mohammad Shahidul Islam told Prothom Alo that farmer Khairul Islam is rearing the cow on the advice of the Livestock Department. The cow has now grown to a huge size by eating a completely natural diet. It seems to be the biggest cow in the district. The weight of the cow is over 1,600 kg. Efforts of Animal Husbandry Department will continue to produce such cows.
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