Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana organized a technical seminar for pig farmers of Punjab State. Alferd Wahl, Pig expert, Polar Genetics, Canada, delivered a lecture on Artificial insemination in swine and adaptability of Canadian pigs. He discussed in detail about semen collection, semen evaluation, semen handling and artificial insemination technique in swine. He stressed that by adopting artificial insemination, there can be maximum utilization of excellent germ-plasm as well as fast multiplication of the same and additionally the spread of various diseases such as Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome , Pseudorabies, Swine fever, Foot and mouth disease and many more can be checked. Further, the boars are kept at boar station and semen is collected by adopting hygienic measures. Polar Genetics experts provided valuable information regarding transportation, biosecurity and swine health and stressed on the importance of washing, cleaning and disinfection of trucks, trailers for transportation of live animals. It is important to mention that Polar Genetics is supplying live animals as well as semen to the different countries like China, USA, Chile, Equador etc.
Dr Vinod Jindal, Deputy Director (Pig), Punjab Animal husbandry Deparment, Chandigarh said that the company has recently supplied 200 frozen semen doses of Yorkshire breed pigs to Punjab state animal husbandry department and the semen will be used at Govt breeding farms at ferozpur and Nabha.The state govt. is promoting piggery and subsidies and inputs are provided by the govt. S. Sukhwinder Singh Kotli, President, Progressive Pig farmers Association, presented vote of thanks. This seminar was sponsored by Polar Genetics, Alberta (Canada). Approximate 100 farmers of Progressive Pig Farmers Association, Punjab attended the meeting and interacted with experts regarding new technologies and superior germplasm. Seminar and monthly meeting was a great success and the company promised the member farmers to provide all support and technical knowhow to train farmers for Artificial insemination in pigs. Dr JS Bhatti, HOD said that there is a need to increase production and productivity of swine and pork. As the population grows, more food is needed, as more consumers move into the middle income sector, they will demand more meat in their diet, compared to carbohydrates. Dr Harish Verma , Professor , Department of veterinary Extension, the technical coordinator of the association coordinated the proceedings of the meeting and translated the lecture into Punjabi for easy understanding of the members.
