Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Ludhiana conducted its monthly meeting with Progressive Livestock Farmer’s Association (PLFA®) on 14th November, 2024 in its Silver Jubilee Auditorium at Ludhiana. Disclosing this, Dr Parminder Singh; Additional Director Extension Education informed that 67 dairy farmers attended the seminar. He stated that with change in season, the fodder crops and prices of certain ingredients have also changed drastically. So, a dairy farmer must prepare for these changes and alter the feeding management accordingly.
In this context special lectures were arranged and 1st lecture was delivered by Dr Navjot Singh Brar; Assistant Professor, KVK Booh, Tarntaran on the improved cultivation of fodder crops. He cautioned every farmer of decreasing land under fodder cultivation. Therefore, improved fodder varieties to grow more yield per unit area is the only alternative. He advised farmers to opt for PAU recommended varieties. He discussed various fodder crops and their recommended varieties. He advised farmers to sow seed with proper seed rate and seed treatment. He described different fertilizers application rates. Due to shortage of DAP in the state, he advocated to rely upon farm yard manure and single super phosphate. He also discussed the deficiency of micro minerals i.e. Zn, Cu, Mn & Fe in the soil and mode of application of these mineral supplements. The occurrence of certain weeds, diseases was also discussed. He gave finer tips to identify the disease by observing the leaves of the crops. He prescribed special weedicides/insecticides depending upon the leave structure of the crops.
Mr. Amit Nagpal; GM of M/s Biopharma talked about the advantage of Calf Milk Replacer and the edge of his company has than the other CMRs in the market. He pointed out the presence of skim milk powder in the CRM and the role of casein present in it. He discussed certain dos and don’ts about the use of CRM. He showed the milking schedule for the calves and compared the economics with the mother’s milk.
Next lecture was delivered by Dr Parminder Singh regarding the strategies in the ration formulation during the coming months. He stressed upon the farmers to focus more on nutritive value of silage and fodders. He advised them to get the composition of fodder checked from the university periodically. He discussed the need to increase one to one and a half kg concentrate even there is deficiency of one percent change in crude protein content in the fodder. He discussed the importance of stage of cutting of the fodder and changing NDF and ADF associated with it. Even 0.1% less calcium in the fodder leads to 35 g more calcium requirement per day resulting at least 100 ml more liquid calcium. Overall due to negligence, farmers are losing at least Rs. 50 per animal per day. Dr Singh advised the farmers to get the quality of each ingredient to be used checked at least twice a year. He talked about the special formulations for milking animals during winter seasons and cautioned the farmers to overuse the DDGS, Cotton Seed Cake and other byproducts like biscuit waste, corn germ meal etc
Mr Sandeep Singh Randhawa, President PLFA thanked the university authorities for providing the physical facilities and M/s Biopharma for sponsoring the meeting. He asked the dairy farmers to take precautions in daily routine and be at your farm during milking and feeding. He discussed the activities of PLFA in recent past and announced the forthcoming PLFA Seminar on 12.12.24.
