Emu may be commercially bred in the state

Ranchi, Feb. 20: If all goes well, state farmers will soon have a big bird at their backyard to breed.

Birsa Agriculture University (BAU) is making an effort to start breeding emu across the state.

Scientists of the university have found that this wingless bird of Australia can very well adapt itself to the climatic conditions of the state. According to them, the fat of this bird, which runs very fast but cannot fly, is useful in preparing medicines, which can cure different forms of arthritis.

The university had brought two birds from the Tata Steel Zoological Park last year and not only they have ably survived the conditions but also laid 24 eggs. The institute has contacted other agricultural universities in Delhi and ordered for a special incubator, which could hatch these dark-coloured eggs. Once the eggs are hatched and chicks survive, the officials would go to progressive farmers first and teach them the ways of breeding the bird.

Sushil Prasad, the associate professor of the department of Livestock Production and Management of BAU, said the experiment had brought some very positive results and that its breeding could soon be a rage in the state. ?We had started off with the experiment some one and a half years ago not knowing whether we would be successful,? he told The Telegraph.

?The zoo at Jamshedpur was contacted and the university bought two birds each costing Rs 5,000. These birds, which were kept under some special conditions in the zoo, have been kept under normal conditions at BAU. It was a risk that we took. And the results have been very encouraging,? Prasad said.

?At present, we are waiting to see whether the chicks will be healthy, too. The average food consumption of the bird is 500 to 700 grams per day,? said Prasad.

?The fat of the bird is the most important. The oil can be extracted from the fat and used to make medicines helpful in curing arthritis. We will be talking to the state agriculture department in this connection, too,? said some officials.

At present, emu breeding has become popular in Hyderabad only. ?We will first go to progressive farmers with this idea. They will be able to afford to take care of these birds. Slowly, the emu breeding will be made cost effective and all the farmers will be given proper training,? the officials added.