Two days Pashu Palan Mela of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University Ludhiana concluded with a message to achieve prosperity and health through better livestock production. Mela attracted a huge gathering in spite of heavy rain with a thought to develop livestock professions on scientific lines. Dr. Sukhpal Singh, Chairman, Punjab State farmers and farmer workers Commission was guest of honour on the second day.
Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor GADVASU addressed the farmers and urged them not to burn stubble in the fields.
He quoted the example of the Corona period, that in the absence of oxygen supply we lost our near and dear ones at that time. So we should not convert our natural oxygen into carbon monoxide with stubble burning. He revealed that one can feed stubble to livestock in recommended quantities. Dr. Sukhpal Singh shared the miserable conditions of the families of those farmers who have committed suicide. He said that the whole society should come forward to reverse the situation. He emphasized that youth should come forward to adopt farming in a modern way because this is the only profession which is really close to nature.
Dr. Parkash Singh Brar, 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, Aquarium making, 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 Science and 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.
Dr. Brar 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 GADVASU was sold at an economical price.
Department of clinical Veterinary Medicine 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, different types of calendars like calf calendar and animal diet calendar for brushing up their knowledge. Farmers registered their names for monthly magazine.
Apps on ‘Pashu Palak Tele-Advisory Kendra’, ‘Dairy Herd Data Analyzer (YODHA)’, book on ‘Poultry farming’, booklets on ‘Entrepreneurship through milk processing’ and ‘Reproductive diseases in pigs’ and ‘Innovative model for backyard poultry farming’ was released by the dignitaries.
The Judgement committee of the university adjudged all the stalls and in the industry category and declared Adventa first, Provalis, second. Carus Pharma third and Goodwill Hybrid seeds in the consolation Prize. In the university category Department of Vet Anatomy adjudged first, Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex second, College of Fisheries third and KVK Barnala got consolation prize. Dignitaries also honored Dr. Sukhpal Singh, Dr. Kewal Arora, retired Assistant Director A&H, Dr. CK Singh, Director Ishmeet Music Institute alongwith students of the institute.
In the afternoon session of the first day S. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Cabinet Minister Department of Rural Development & Panchayats, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare & NRI Affairs and S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries & Dairy Development Minister graced the mela with their presence.
The Pashu Palan Mela concluded with a new hope for a brighter future in livestock rearing.