Ludhiana 12 September 2024-The Pashu Palan Mela of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana will be a very useful event for people of all walks of life. Dr Jatinder Paul Singh Gill, Vice-Chancellor expressed these views on the eve of Pashu Palan Mela which is going to be held on 13 and 14^th September 2024. He said that we are promoting value addition of livestock products. Mela slogan is also based on this objective “Uttpadan ton Uttpad Banaiye, Aao Vadh Munafa Paiye”.

He said that the mela will be a centre of attraction for not only the Livestock, Fisheries Poultry, Goat and Pig farmers but for the children, youth, senior citizens as well as women also, because different items will be on display for different age groups, sections and nature. Dr. Gill revealed that whereas cattle, buffalos, goats and different species including ornamental fish, etc. will be the main attraction for children, country-side scenes of university will be a special attraction for the urban children. He further stated that Pashu Palan Mela will be more useful to the vocational courses’ students studying animal husbandry and rural culture as they will get more valuable information about the latest interventions in the field of animal husbandry, dairying, fisheries, etc.

Dr. Parkash Singh Brar, Director of Extension Education said that the experts of the University will provide on the spot knowhow through question answer session, discussions as well as practical demonstrations regarding upkeep, vaccinations and other timely care of the small pets like dogs, cats, etc. The farmers can come with blood, urine and milk samples of their animals for testing. Testing facility is free in the mela. The pet owners will also get information about the latest products which are now available in the market. The College of Fisheries will display latest technologies for fish farming in freshwater, saline water, ornamental fish culture, aquarium fabrication, fish processing and value addition. Ornamental fish, aquarium plants and fish products will be available for sale. The house-wives who have either independently taken up the livestock profession or helped in it can also interact with the experts of the University to get the latest information about the livestock products and their usages. It is also a good privilege to taste and know about the different mouth-watering vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies like Sweetened and Salted Lassi, Flavoured Milk, Ice Creams, Mozzarella Cheese, Sweets, Whey Drink, Paneer, Milk Cake, Dhoda Barfi, prepared by College of Dairy Science & Technology. Meat patties, different types of Meat Pickles, Meat Cutlets, Meat Nuggets, Sausages by the Department of Livestock Products Technology will be an add on attraction in this mela. He said that we are not working only on value addition but our experiments are going on to develop healthy food with low fat and low sugar. University has decided to create awareness about synthetic milk and demonstrations on quality evaluation will be made. A milk testing kit developed by the university will be also available for consumers.

Dr. Brar revealed that the exhibition depicting latest interventions in the field of animal husbandry will also be very helpful for the unemployed youth and marginal farmers of the state who are especially interested in setting up their own business in the livestock sector with minimum finances. The financial institutes like banks, insurance agencies and experts of the University will provide knowledge. The food processing machinery will also be on display in the Mela to educate the masses about the latest technology involved in the preparation of hygienic, fast and good quality food products. It will be beneficial for a common man as well as an entrepreneur.

University publications containing information relating to livestock diseases, their remedial measures and information regarding training courses to set up new units in livestock will also be available. The Farmers may register their names for the monthly magazine of university ‘Vigiyanak Pashu Palan’. University will be conferring Chief Minister Awards in three categories i.e. Cattle, Poultry and Value Addition of the products. Farmers, entrepreneurs, youth will get a great boost to venture into livestock rearing in commercial and scientific lines.