The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

Artificial insemination of cows is gaining popularity in the northern region following significant achievement in improving the cattle breeding system.

Regional Artificial Insemination Centre has been playing a pioneering role in making the programme popular among the cultivators and it has attained a remarkable success in this regard, officials said.

Established on 3.5 acres of land at Upashahar area in Rajshahi metropolis in 1965, the centre has so far brought 133 unions along with 32 upazila headquarters under Rajshahi, Chapainawabgonj, Naogaon and Natore districts under its working coverage through two types of inseminations like liquid semen and deep frozen semen.

Talking to BSS, officials said there are 165 artificial insemination sub-centrer and points in the region where some 2.12 lakh cattle were inseminated and 53,809 calves were born during the last one and a half years till December last. A trained and skilled worker was appointed for the purpose at each of the centres.

To make the activities effective and successful, some 550 unemployed youths were imparted modern training for the insemination purposes under the artificial insemination and embryo transplantation project.

The centre has earned around Taka 4.19 lakh as insemination service charge during the same period and deposited the money to the government exchequer, sources said.

Due to the cross breeding the cows are giving milk ten times more than the previous record, said Alhaj Abdus Samad, a successful dairy farmer in the city. As a result, milk import has been decreased and number of dairy farms has been increased creating employment opportunities, he added.

Officials said the country had to depend on import of deep frozen semen from abroad around seven to eight years ago. But at present it became capable to produce the semen according to its requirement through commissioning of two deep frozen semen production laboratories and two liquid nitrogen production plants.

One of the laboratories and plants established at Rajabarihat Dairy Farm in the district has been producing deep liquid semen and liquid nitrogen and distributing those among the farmers at an affordable price.

Artificial insemination has a vital role to play in expansion of the cattle breeding and the program could be implemented successfully if all the villages are brought under the coverage.

Emphasis should be given on supply of logistic supports and motivation of people to further expand the artificial insemination programme for the sake of enhancing meat and milk production, experts said.