Page:SELECTED ESSAYS of Dr. S. S. KALBAG.pdf/202

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needs a lot of attention. The cold storages also need attention to reduce water requirements. Animal Husbandry: The economics of the cross- bred cows is threatened mainly by the fodder cost. Concentrates are the cheapest feed for cows in terms of milk production. There is a need for roughage feed or an increase in fodder production. The other constraint is a source of calves with known pedigree. Nobody breeds cows; poultry is more popular. Hence, for cow breeding, embryo transfer technique will be most useful. One of the factors that upset the economics of the dairy industry is the uncertainty of conception after artificial insemination. The calving cycle often exceeds the ideal of 360 days by 60-120 days. Lack of a pregnancy diagnosis test kit creates an uncertainty for about 3 months. Goats have many potential advantages but the technical services are even poorer than in the case of cows. Artificial insemination of goats becomes even more important because of the smaller number of good quality sires and the infrequent heat cycles of the animals. The need for a technique for synchronization of oestrus is also important. Poultry is a rapidly increasing agro-based industry where breeding is being done by an organized sector on a scientific basis. But poultry housing, feeders and water holders need new designs to help the small poultry man. Egg storage, poultry transport and marketing could be developed further to encourage the small farmer or the landless, like in the case of milk production. Health and Home: Biogas is a good energy source and also fulfills sanitation and health needs. In spite of the subsidy and the effort aimed at its propagation, it is growing relatively slowly. One of the reasons might be lack of services. All the Biogas Repair Units are < Rural Development Through Education System 189