Capt for tie-up with world-class companies for sexed semen tech

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 15

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today called for tie-ups with world-class companies for sexed semen to improve the quality of milch cattle in the state. The CM was in the city to visit Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU).

Capt Amarinder said the sexed semen technology would help dairy farmers ensure the birth of only female calves, which would eventually put an end to the practice of abandoning male calves, which become a cause for road accidents.

Animal Husbandry Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu apprised the Chief Minister of his department’s efforts to explore the possibility of making sexed semen technology available to farmers through US-based company Sexing Technologies.

The CM asked the Animal Husbandry Department to collaborate with the National Dairy Research Institute as well as world renowned veterinary institutions and companies to bring improvements in embryo transfer technology so as to ensure the production of quality livestock. The technology could help in speeding up breed improvement, which would fetch better prices to the dairy farmers due to higher milk yield, he added.

The CM also inaugurated one-of-its-first-kind multispecialty veterinary referral hospital on the premises of GADVASU here.

Most cases coming to the Hospital are from Punjab and adjoining states and are referred cases or belong to security forces (Air Force, BSF, Punjab Police and Railways Police) that require specialised treatment. In fact, a major chunk of referred cases belong to veterinary hospitals of the Animal Husbandry Department.

GADVASU is providing state-of-the-art facilities and services to small animal patients, as is provided to human patients by the PGI, Chandigarh. The new facility, one of the largest and most advanced hospitals built for small animal patients, will play a key role in veterinary education by teaching students about the latest concepts and techniques in a supportive environment,” said Dr AS Nanda, Vice Chancellor, GADVASU.