Pashu Palan Mela Concludes with a message of breed improvement for better yield

Two days Pashu Palan Mela of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana concluded with a message of breed improvement for better yield. Mela attracted a huge gathering with a thought to develop livestok professions on scientific lines. Sh. Sanjeev Arora, MP, Rajya Sabha, Sh. Harchand Singh Barsat, Chairman, Punjab Mandi Board, Dr. Sukhpal Singh, Chairman, Punjab State farmers and farmer workers Commission, Dr. G S Bedi, Director, Animal Husbandry, Punjab, Sh. Harpreet Singh Sandhu, State Information Commissioner, Dr. Rajbir Singh Brar, DDG, (Agri. Ext.) ICAR, Dr. Parvender Sheoran, Director ATARI, Sh. Inderjit Singh, former Director, Dairy Development Punjab, Prof. Rajinder Singh Ranu, Professor Emeritus, Colorado and Dr. Sulbha, Animal Activist graced the occasion on the second day. Sh. Sanjeev Arora highly appreciated the university exhibition. He said that the quality products made by the university are a very good initiative. He motivated the farmers to understand the importance of tests for the health care of the animals. He also emphasized that we need to develop the dairy sector further. He encouraged the farmers to associate with the university. Sh. Harchand Singh Barsat said that this university is taking very important steps for the animal husbandry profession. He said that through the Punjab Mandi Board, they are giving a message to the farmers that while doing efforts to increase crop yield, they should also create new niches in the animal husbandry profession. Dr. Sukhpal Singh said that we should do animal husbandry profession on scientific lines. It comes as the best option in agricultural diversification. He said that I have statistical data that the farmers associated with the university get more benefits than other farmers. Sh. Harpreet Singh Sandhu while praising the university said that I have got the opportunity to come here many times and I have gained some new idea or experience every time. Dr. Rajbir Singh Brar said that Indian Council of Agricultural Research is taking many new initiatives in the animal husbandry profession through extension services. Vet Varsity, Ludhiana is also making continuous efforts to reach to the farmers with its extension services, which is the need of the hour. Dr. Jatinder Pal Singh Gill, Vice-Chancellor said that through breed improvement we can get more production from less animal count. This not only reduces the pressure on our environment but also saves us from many other hassles and expenses. He also gave a message that livestock farmers should come to the university whenever they get time to avail the services of the university and meet the experts. Dr. Ravinder Singh Grewal, Director of Extension Education said that some of our departments are providing services for rearing livestock whereas others are in the field of value addition of livestock products. These professions help them to earn good income. Women can do these professions easily with their household responsibilities. He revealed that ornamental fish rearing, Aquarium making, preparation of flavoured Milk, Lassi, Cheese, Meat Pickle, Meat patties, Meatballs and a number of fish delicacies come in these professions. He said that Young entrepreneurs can earn decent returns in goat & pig farming. In this mela College of Dairy and Food Science Technology, Department of Livestock Products and Technology displayed a variety of value added products of milk, meat and eggs. The College of Fisheries also displayed a rich number of value-added products of fish meat. There was a great response to these stalls. Farmers were highly enthusiastic to be trained for the development of milk and meat products. He revealed that a large number of farmers visited the stalls and showed keen interest in the measures to be adopted for the control of parasitic diseases of livestock. The department of Animal Nutrition has developed a number of nutritional technologies for the dairy animals of the state, which were displayed in the Mela. Good quality mineral mixture and uromin lick prepared in varsity was sold at an economical price. Experts addressed the commonly prevalent diseases of the dairy animals of Punjab which are mastitis, mineral disorders, foot lameness and fore-stomach disorders. The college of fisheries displayed different varieties of fish like carp fish, catfish and ornamental fishes. Farmers purchased University publications entitled Dairy Farming, Package of Practices, University Diary, books of different livestock subjects for brushing up their knowledge. Farmers registered their names for monthly magazine. The Judgement committee of the university adjudged all the stalls and in the industry category, declared Olympic Overseas first, Jagmohan Industries second. Provalis India Health Care got third and Adventa Seeds got the appreciation prize. In the university category Department of Livestock Production & Management adjudged first, College of Fisheries and College of Dairy and Food Science Technology both were second, Department of Animal Nutrition for third place and Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex got the appreciation award. Dr. Jatinder Paul Singh Gill, Vice-Chancellor, honored all the dignitaries along with Dr. Kewal Arora, retired Assistant Director A&H, and team of Ishmeet Singh Music Institute.