On the initiatives of Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, the Punjab Government has sanctioned a project to the tune of Rs 107.31 lakh to GADVASU to set up a Model Gaushala at the University campus. Dr Singh informed that there are nearly 1.6 lakh stray cattle roaming on the roads of Punjab (50.22 lakh in country). These cattle are one of the major reasons for road accidents, damage crops and forest plantations. Some people let loose the cows after their productive life is over. Moreover, stray animals are usually malnourished and wounded, and thus suffer themselves. While acknowledging S. Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Cabinet Minister Rural Development and Panchayats, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Dairy Development Dr Singh shared that S. Bajwa has vision to make streets of Punjab free from stray animals and this project was developed with his ideas on sustainable gaushala management.
Dr S.P.S Ghuman, Dean, College of Veterinary Sciences said that the aim of this gaushala will be managing the stray cattle in self-reliant basis on scientific lines with available inexpensive techniques involving low cost comfortable housing, feeding and healthcare facilities. Dr J.P.S. Gill, Director Research, GADVASU is of opinion that demonstrating low cost management and feeding systems of stray animal management will help dairy farming industry of the state and society at large.
The team comprising of Dr R S Grewal, Director Livestock Farms, Dr S T Singh, Dr Puneet Malhotra and Dr Ravi Kant will initiate the work on this project immediately and a one of its kind Model Gaushala in state university will be established. Model Gaushala will be a demonstration unit depicting scientific cattle management with economic rearing and zero-waste production that can be replicated at gram panchayat / taluka levels in the state/country. It will demonstrate the actual potential of stray cattle (a national resource) that can be harnessed in the form of income generation, genetic improvement of germ-plasm etc.
