Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana and Cargill India Pvt Ltd had entered in a MoU for project on “Evaluation of prilled- hydrogenated palm fatty acids as livestock feed on lactating crossbred cows”. The MoU was signed By Dr. J.P.S. Gill, Director Research, GADVASU and Dr. Prashant Shinde, Director Commercial, Cargill Feed and Nutrition, Mr. Chirag Gandhi, Business Development Manager, Cargill Feed and Nutrition India. Cargill India Pvt. Ltd is a leading compound feed manufacturer in India, providing balanced feed, feed supplements and advises for balanced feeding of dairy animals. Prilled fat manufactured by Cargill India Pvt. Ltd will be tested by GADVASU for its effect on production and reproduction of lactating dairy animals.
Dr A.S. Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of GADVASU said that high yielding animal in Punjab suffer from energy deficiency which affect their production and reproduction performance and bypass fat being tested will be very beneficial for such animals. Dr Nanda raised concern about the quality of feed and supplements available in the market and stressed upon more stringent quality control measures for benefit of the farmers. The quality of supplements for dairy animals available to the farmers has to be checked regularly.
Dr. J.P.S. Gill told that the University is always eager to work for welfare of farmers and Industry involved in the Livestock sector. Dr Gill explained that the energy requirement increases almost by 70% overnight as cow calves and milk secretion starts and this high deficit of nutrient manifest in many health disorders. To overcome shortfall in energy in the ration of dairy animals, fat is one of ingredient of choice. Dr. A.P.S. Sethi, Professor Department of Animal Nutrition told that the Department of Animal Nutrition which will take up this research project has full competency and facilities for this type of research project and is giving facilities to farmers like feed testing, mineral mixture, uromin licks and calcium salts of fatty acids at no-profit no loss basis. Dr. R.S. Grewal Professor Animal Nutrition who has vast experience in field of Dairy cattle nutrition, will be team leader for this research project along with Dr. Jaspal Singh Lamba, Professor Animal Nutrition and Dr. Jasmine Kaur, Asstt Nutritionist in GADVASU.
On this Occasion Dr. Harish Kumar Verma, Director Extension Education, Dr. S.K. Uppal, Dean Post Graduate Studies, Dr. B.K. Bansal, Director Livestock Farms and Dr. A.K Arora, Senior Professor Microbiology were also present.