College of Veterinary Science, Rampura Phul organized Veterinary Awareness-cum-Animal Welfare camp in collaboration with Department of Veterinary Parasitology, GADVASU, Ludhiana to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The aim of the camp was to spread awareness among livestock owners regarding parasitic infections of livestock and companion animals. GADVASU is celebrating Diagnostic-cum-Awareness Week on Parasitic Infection and this was a part of the same program. The camp was organised at a Gaushala in Village Bhaini and was attended by more than 150 livestock owners. Dr. Yashwant Singh, Professor and Head, Livestock Farm Complex, introduced the experts and managed the proceedings of the camp. Dr. Manish Kumar Chatli, Dean, College of Veterinary Science, Rampura Phul, informed farmers about all the clinical and laboratory facilities available in the college and newly introduced certificate and short courses for empowering the farmers/youth in technical knowledge and skill related with livestock sector. He also asserted that these courses will help in seeking employment in India and abroad. Further, it will also help the youth to become self-dependent (Aatmnirbhar). Dr. L D Singla, Prof. and Head, Department of Veterinary Parasitology, GADVASU, revealed that parasites not only grow on and inside the body of livestock, but also drain nutrition from their body and reduce reproduction efficiency and productivity of the livestock. He discussed life cycle of common parasites and various strategies to control the havoc of parasites. Dr. Mandeep Bal, Professor, Veterinary Parasitology, stressed on various diseases transmitted from animals to human beings (zoonotic diseases) and various measures to prevent transmission of zoonotic diseases. He also discussed some common zoonotic parasitic diseases, to which farmers could relate but were unaware that they could be transmitted from livestock and vice versa. Dr. G S Dhaliwal, Prof. and Head, Veterinary Clinical Complex, Rampura Phul discussed measures to be followed for timely detection of heat in buffaloes and replied the queries of the farmers related with animal reproduction problems. Dr. Inderpal Singh briefed the farmers about the facilities such as X-ray and disease diagnosis available at the college hospital and common ailments of the livestock. Dr. Yashwant Singh encouraged the locals to join upcoming training programs on Artificial Insemination, dairy, poultry farming and feed processing technologies being organized by the college. He also briefed about the breed characteristics and other important aspects while purchasing the dairy animals. Dr Manish Chatli, Dean also acknowledged the support of Sant Baba Peepli Das and S. Raja Singh Sidhu, Pradhan Gaushala, Village Bhaini and Virbac, India for their support. Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice Chancellor, GADVASU applauded the efforts of the faculty and stressed that such camps are the backbone for the knowledge dissemination to the stakeholders.
