Vet Varsity organises brainstorming sessions to improve productivity of dairy animals

Ludhiana, May 29, 2023: Two brainstorming sessions on animal reproduction and management were organized at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana with the aim of increasing per animal productivity of dairy animals and to set the future roadmap. Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice Chancellor chaired these sessions. The eminent guests for reproduction session were Dr. A K Misra, Ex-Chairman, Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, New Delhi, Dr. Shyam Zawar, National mentor, IVF-Labs, GOI along with Dairy Entrepreneurs Narinder Singh and Karan, Frontier Dairy junction, Ludhiana. 

In the management session, the invited experts were Dr. R. S. Yadav, Retd. Professor, Department of Livestock Production Management, Hisar Agricultural University, Hisar, Dr. A. K. Balhara, Senior Scientist, Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar with Mr. Sandeep S. Randhawa, Dairy Entrepreneur. The Dean and directors of varsity also attended the sessions.

The major discussed issues in the reproduction session were poor Artificial Insemination coverage with less conception rate, problems of availability of quality germplasm, limitation of use of ultrasonography at farmer’s doorstep, infertility etc. The issues raised in the management session were high calf mortality, drying off of exotic cows, short lactation in indigenous dairy animals, culling in animals, milk let down problem in buffaloes, climate challenges in animal productivity, awareness of farmers on scientific knowledge, record keeping, etc. The house earmarked some major recommendations, those were support from government to the farmers with minimum rearing of 10 animals, manufacturing units for production of quality hormones, assisted reproductive techniques be used at larger scale. The House also recommended fulfillment of sufficient number of trained Artificial Insemination technicians, development of standard package and practice of calf rearing, promotion of machine milking for clean milk production, emphasis on Indigenous cattle and buffaloes and more extensions services for educating/training of farmers. These recommendations will be highlighted at the National Academy of Veterinary Sciences convocation to be held at GADVASU, from 1-2 July 2023 to formulate national level policies for improving productivity of dairy animals.