Artificial insemination to improve livestock, boost milk production
Veterinarians providing service at Field Fertility Clinic on Bangladesh Agriculture University campus in Mymensingh. Photo: STAR
The technology of using artificial insemination by the Veterinary Faculty of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) can play a vital role in development of livestock and meet the growing demand of milk in the country.
Extended 'Field Fertility Clinic' project of the faculty is using the technology that can help produce some two lakh calves more a year and it will lead to a boost in milk production, Dr Mohammed Shamsuddin, a professor of Surgery and Obstetrics Department under the faculty.
Starting research in 1995, he has gained much success in the field, he said.
With the financial support of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the project started in 1995 and will continue till 2011.
Activities of the clinic, which is working at the field level to spread the technology among the farmers, include -- detecting cow's pregnancy through Progesterone ELISA method, heat detection, selecting developed and fertile bull selection, detection of capacity of pregnancy and its rate and how to increase milk production.
The farmers are also getting help of the veterinarians about taking care of cows and their treatment as four veterinarians have been engaged to serve 1000 small dairy farm holders in Mymensingh, Sirajganj, Chittagong and Satkhira districts.
Some 1800 farmers have been trained so far, sources at BAU said, adding that the veterinarians visit 10 farms a day and 250 farms in a month.
This technology has helped to increase milk production by one kg from every cow on an average in last few years, sources said. The livestock sector of the country can get some two lakh calves more annualy through this technology using artificial insemination in healthy cows. This technology can also be used to increase goat production, added the sources.
Against the backdrop of crisis in food production throughout the world, increase production in livestock sector can be a blessing for Bangladesh, Shamsuddin said.
With the help of this technology, the country can become self-sufficient in milk production and Tk 800 crore spent for milk import annually could be saved.
Some 200 farmers in Satkhira are supplying 1500 litres of milk to Brac's Arong daily while milk sale will start in some areas of North Bengal soon through Community Based Dairy Veterinary Service, sources said.
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