Vet university to host Pashu Palan Mela on Sept 26, 27

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), is set to organise a two-day Pashu Palan Mela on September 26 and 27.

Dr Jatinder Paul Singh Gill, Vice-Chancellor, said “This year’s mela will create awareness about better care for the next generation of dairy animals like calves which is reflected in slogan — “Kattru-vachhru da suchja parbandh, banaye dairy kitte nu lahewand.” (Good care of calves will make dairy farming beneficial). It will encourage scientific livestock farming. The university will present “Chief Minister Awards” to four outstanding farmers in the categories of cattle, poultry and value-added products.”

In the cattle farming category, Sikander Singh Swaich from Kheri Jattan village, Patiala district, will be honoured. He has 218 cows and his farm produces 25 quintals of milk daily. He has installed a modern milking parlour and records the movement of all animals with tags. An automatic machine has also been installed for waste management at his farm. All records are computerised. He has established his own brand and is doing self-marketing of milk products.

An MBA graduate Rakesh Manhas from Pathankot district will be honoured in the poultry farming category. He started broiler farming in 2014 and now sells more than one crore broilers per year. He has a daily supply of 40,000 birds. His entire farm works on modern technologies.

In the category of value added products, Amritpal Singh, a resident of Daula Singh Wala village, Sangrur district, will be honoured. He started his business in 2024 by making quality milk products. He sells products under his own brand through self-marketing. He has also completed higher education and was earlier associated with the teaching profession.

The other winner in the value added products is Ramanjit Singh, a resident of Amritsar, in the category of meat processing. He started this business in 2008 and in 2015 he automated his entire plant. He is processing around 30 quintals of products daily. He is selling them as ready-to-eat products under his own brand name.

These awards carry a plaque, shawl and citation along with cash.