Dr. J.P.S. Gill, Vice Chancellor Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana honored with "Chellappa Memorial Oration Award" in 24th Annual Conference of Indian Society of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology' held at U.P Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU) Mathura. Dr.
Gill was the Guest of Honour during this conference. He addressed on the subject 'Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Animal Husbandry: Insights and the Path forward’ to the scientists from all over India. During his oration, Dr. Gill proposed evidence-based recommendations to effectively mitigate antimicrobial resistance in animal husbandry. He emphasized that enhancing farm biosecurity protocols are essential, which involves rigorous cleaning, disinfection, and isolation practices to reduce antimicrobial usage and infrastructure investments, such as quarantine areas, to strengthen biosecurity. Strengthening antimicrobial usage regulatory frameworks is also critical; this includes mandating prescriptions for livestock antimicrobial usage and restricting over- the-counter sales, while aligning policies with WHO guidelines for critically important antimicrobials. Expanding antimicrobial usage and AMR surveillance systems is another priority, with robust tracking across regions and farm types, supported by accurate data collection tools to inform targeted interventions. To encourage adoption of biosecurity practices, promoting incentives, including financial support and recognition programs, can drive compliance and reinforce responsible practices. Stakeholders education and training are essential components as well; targeted training for farmers, veterinarians, and para professionals on biosecurity and AMR risks, coupled with awareness campaigns in rural communities, fosters responsible antimicrobial usage. Supporting research and development of alternative therapies-such as vaccines, probiotics, and rapid diagnostic tools-reduces dependency on antibiotics, allowing precise pathogen identification and minimizing unnecessary antimicrobial use. Together, these strategies provide a compressive framework for addressing AMR in animal husbandry effectively. The event was witnessed by prominent personalities viz. Dr RC Agarwal, DDG ICAR and DR AK Srivastava Vice Chancellor, DUVASU.
