Department of Animal Nutrition, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana organized a three day training on ‘Buffalo farming for milk and meat production’ under scheme: Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna-11 (Special Component) SC/ST farmers of Punjab. Twenty dairy farmers from different areas of Punjab participated in this training. In the concluding function of the training Dr. S Rampal, Director of Students Welfare said that buffalo farming is the need of the hour and there is huge potential ahead for rearing buffaloes for meat production in addition to milk. Moreover feed accounts for 70% of total cost of dairy farming and by using nutritional technologies farmers can economize feeding of their animals to make it a profitable venture, which not only provide the needed employment to the unemployed youth but also leads to diversification in agriculture.
Dr. Manju Wadhwa, Head, Dept. of Animal Nutrition said that experts from the department delivered lectures on various aspects buffalo farming along with practical demonstrations. The objective of the training was to ensure balanced feeding of different categories of buffaloes all around the year using locally available feed ingredients. Role of mineral mixture, urea molasses mineral block, and bypass nutrients was highlighted. Conservation of fodders (Silage and hay) was also demonstrated, so as to make the fodder available all around the year. She said that we have different technologies in the department to provide balanced and quality nutritional supplements to animals. Different types of mineral mixtures are available for different species of animals; even area specific mineral mixture is also developed by the department according to area requirements of Punjab region. Dr. RS Grewal Course Director revealed that all the farmers showed great interest in buffalo farming for milk and meat production and are committed to undertake the venture shortly. He further added that the department of Animal Nutrition has facility to test quality of fodder, silage, feed or feed ingredients at nominal charges for the larger benefits of the farmers.
