The Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana has organized one-week Goat Farming training course under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. A total of 19 trainees including one
woman from different parts of Punjab participated in this training programme. Dr. Rajesh Kasrija and Dr Y.S. Jadoun, coordinated this training programme. They informed that the trainees were given theoretical as well as practical knowledge about starting the venture in goat farming. The important topics that were covered in this programme included importance of goat farming, breeds of goats, housing facilities, breeding techniques, feeding management, weather management, vaccination protocols, diseases and their prevention, value addition of milk and meat and economics of goat farming etc
A special visit to the Integrated Farming System of Punjab Agriculture University was organized and the farmers were made aware of this farming approach by combining more than one venture and using waste material of one venture into another, thus, reducing the expenditure. In the model, agriculture was combined with horticulture, goat farming, fish farming and dairy farming.
The concluding session of the training was chaired by Dr. P.S. Brar, Director of Extension Education
. He interacted with the trainees and shared many innovative ideas with them for initiating this business and extracting maximum profit out of it. He categorically mentioned initiating value addition of goat milk at the farm itself and acquiring knowledge regarding latest initiatives stated by state government for goat farmers. He advised them to participate in monthly seminars or webinars being organized on first Thursday of every month.
Dr. R.K. Sharma, HoD, Veterinary Animal Husbandry Extension Education informed the farmers about recently established Tele Advisory Services by GADVASU. Any farmer in the state or from outside the state can seek technical advice from university experts regarding any livestock related farming system from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM on all week days excepting holidays. at 62832-58834 and 62832-97919. Dr S. K. Kansal, technical coordinator of this training course, shared all types of services extended by this university to livestock farmers.
