Optimum Nutrition Key to Unlocking Production Potential of Livestock: Vet Varsity

Ludhiana, August 7, 2024: The Directorate of Extension Education, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana conducted training on “Recent Trends in Animal Nutrition” for the officials of Milkfed, Punjab.

Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor said that the dairy sector in India is facing numerous challenges including scarcity of feed and fodders, low quality of feed ingredients and imbalanced ration for dairy animals. These problems are the main causes of production losses in dairy animals. There is an urgent need to address these problems at the farm level so as to improve the productivity of dairy animals through technological interventions and precision in animal feeding.

Dr. Parkash Singh Brar, Director of Extension Education said that the dairy sector in Punjab must be strengthened with technological inputs as well as improved husbandry practices to further enhance milk production. Field functionaries of the line departments and Milkfed must equip themselves with the recent advancements in animal nutrition and disseminate it to the end users so that they can benefit from the latest developments in this field. He added that this training has been planned to update the knowledge of veterinarians serving in Milkfed on important aspects of animal nutrition which can improve feed utilization and productivity.

During the technical session, Dr. J S Hundal talked about the need for correct ration formulation and importance of balanced feed for milk production. He discussed the nutritional requirements of dairy animals in different physiological conditions and age groups. Dr. Ravinder Singh Grewal enlightened the participants on the process of silage and hay making. He explained that the process of making silage must be strictly regulated for maintaining its quality. He encouraged participants for quality assessment of silage. Dr. Parminder Singh discussed the use of various feed additives in animal nutrition. He explained that feed additives can bring the required precision in the nutrition of dairy animals if coupled with a balanced diet. Dr. S S Randhawa discussed the intrinsic relationship between quality diet and disease incidence. He said that quality feed and fodder boosts the immunity of animals which in turn improves milk production. Dr. Puneet Malhotra shared his insights into animal breeding strategies for producing pedigreed animals with high production potential. The training concluded with feedback and discussion between participants and experts.