•VETERINARY OFFICERS URGED TO PRIORITISE PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE, SCIENTIFIC NUTRITION AND FARM-LEVEL BIOSECURITY
•STATE-LEVEL TECHNICAL SEMINAR FOCUSES ON MODERN DAIRY FARMING, DISEASE CONTROL AND REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY
Chandigarh, November 13:
In a significant initiative to strengthen Punjab’s dairy economy and promote scientific livestock management, the Department of Animal Husbandry organised a state-level technical seminar for Veterinary Officers on the theme “Modern Livestock Management: Nutrition, Disease Prevention, Reproduction and Farm Hygiene” here at Kisan Bhawan under the aegis of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian.
Addressing the gathering, the Cabinet Minister called upon Veterinary Officers to adopt a proactive and preventive approach to animal healthcare by moving beyond conventional curative practices. He said that Veterinary Officers serve as a vital link between scientific advancements and rural prosperity and have a crucial responsibility in translating modern veterinary knowledge into tangible benefits for dairy farmers. He urged them to guide farmers towards scientifically balanced feeding practices, improved genetic potential, efficient reproductive management, proper farm hygiene and comprehensive vaccination coverage. He added that timely preventive healthcare and sound livestock management practices are essential for protecting animal health, improving milk productivity and enhancing farmers’ incomes.
Reiterating the state government’s commitment to strengthening veterinary services, the Animal Husbandry Minister stressed the need for efficient field-level service delivery, stringent seromonitoring protocols under the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) and effective translation of laboratory research into practical interventions at the farm level.
The technical sessions featured detailed deliberations by eminent veterinary experts on key aspects of dairy herd management. Dr. Jiwan Gupta highlighted the importance of effective cost management and preventive animal healthcare in ensuring the long-term sustainability and profitability of dairy farms. Drawing attention to often-overlooked concerns such as subclinical anaemia, fluctuations in ruminal pH and mycotoxin contamination in feed and water, he recommended periodic haemoglobin (Hb) profiling for early detection of health issues. He also stressed effective tick-control measures, including thermal disinfection through flame guns, to control tick vectors and prevent haemoprotozoan diseases.
Dr. Ravinder Grewal, while speaking on precision ruminant nutrition, said that the genetic potential of high-yielding animals could be fully realised only through scientifically formulated and stage-specific nutritional interventions. He cautioned that nutritional deficiencies during calf and heifer rearing could adversely affect future lactation performance. Highlighting the critical six-week transition period, spanning three weeks before and three weeks after calving, he stressed disciplined nutritional management to minimise metabolic disorders such as ketosis, fatty liver syndrome and hypocalcaemia.
Dwelling on reproductive efficiency and herd productivity, Dr. Karanbir Singh Bhinder highlighted the direct link between reproductive performance and the economic viability of dairy farms. He advocated timely postpartum examinations and early diagnostic interventions to manage uterine disorders, improve conception rates and reduce the calving-to-conception interval. He pointed out that efficient reproductive management is fundamental to achieving the productivity target of one calf per cow per year.
Dr. Harshit Sethi discussed herd immunisation standards under the National Disease Control Programme (NDCP), with particular focus on standard operating procedures for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination and seromonitoring. He explained the role of DIVA diagnostics in monitoring field virus activity and called for heightened vigilance against potential incursions of exotic viral strains, including the FMD SAT-1 serotype. He also underscored the need to strengthen biosecurity measures at the farm level to minimise the risk of disease transmission.
the Animal Husbandry department resolved to intensify the statewide implementation of scientific livestock management practices by encouraging farmers to maintain proper farm records, adopt phase-specific ration balancing and work towards 100 per cent vaccination coverage across dairy clusters. The participating Veterinary Officers were also urged to strengthen disease surveillance and ensure that scientific recommendations reach farmers at the grassroots level.
The seminar concluded with a collective commitment from the administrative leadership and Veterinary Officers to accelerate preventive animal healthcare, improve field-level disease monitoring and promote modern dairy farming practices for better livestock welfare, higher milk productivity and the economic sustainability of Punjab’s dairy sector.
GURMEET KHUDIAN HANDS OVER JOB LETTERS TO YOUTH IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DEPT
Meanwhile, Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian handed over appointment letters to two Clerks and one Class-IV employee in the Animal Husbandry Department.
Congratulating the newly appointed employees, S. Khudian said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led State Government is committed to providing government jobs purely on merit, without any recommendation or favouritism. He exhorted the new recruits to serve the people of Punjab with honesty and dedication and to become a proud part of the mission to build a ‘Rangla Punjab’.
