Kashmiris may soon relish Emu, the Australian bird

 By Pummy

Jammu, Oct.25 (ANI): People in Jammu and Kashmir may soon be able to relish a new variety of bird meat, which is expected to be beneficial for the poultry farmers here. 

The Poultry Wing of the Animal Husbandry Department of Jammu and Kashmir Government is breeding Emu, the largest Australian bird. It is common over most of mainland Australia, although it avoids heavily populated areas, dense forest and arid areas.

Emu, which develops an adult body at 20 months, has a lifespan of up to 30 years. It can lay eggs till 25 years of age, which is much more than a normal Indian hen. It weighs more than 60 kilograms and grows beyond five feet.

The officials of the Department have taken into consideration the success of poultry farmers in Maharashtra, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh who took up breeding the bird for meat.

The Department has presently imported a couple of emus on an experimental basis from Maharashtra and is exploring the possibilities of breeding them in Jammu.

“The bird’s native place is Australia, where it can be commonly found. Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are breeding this bird. It is becoming quite popular among farmers there. Therefore, we have introduced it here, said Indu Bhushan, Manager (Poultry Wing), Animal Husbandry Department in Jammu

This will bring more benefits in comparison to the conventional poultry hens and roosters when we introduce it. It can be used for meat and also to make cosmetics,” said Bhushan added.

The department has already ascertained the various factors vis-