LUDHIANA: The Directorate of Extension Education, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana and College of Veterinary Science, Rampura Phul jointly organized a field day in village, Jethuke for goat farmers under All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Goat Improvement (Beetal Field Unit).
Dr. Parkash Singh Brar, Director of Extension Education said that goats make a significant contribution to the national economy while supporting the livelihood of thousands of rural families. Beetal goats are the animals for the future due to their high prolificacy and the ability to thrive under difficult conditions. He added that a field unit has been established by GADVASU under AICRP on Goat Improvement with assistance from ICAR- Central Institute for Research on Goats (CIRG), Makhdoom. 15 farmers from 5 villages participated in the event with over 300 goats. Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice Chancellor, GADVASU praised the work being done by the Directorate of Extension Education for empowering the farmers of the state.
Dr. Sandeep Kaswan welcomed the participants and shared the major objectives of AICRP. He enlightened the goat farmers regarding the selection of bucks and does for breeding. He emphasized that it is important to follow scientific methods for breeding goats so as to realize their productive potential. Dr. Mandeep Singla talked about the need to adopt good management practices in goat farming to boost their health and production. Goat farmers must prioritize animal welfare if they are to achieve higher productivity from goats as most of the losses result from poor management. Dr. Arunbeer Singh, talked about the performance indicators of the Beetal breed. Beetal goats are among the most productive breeds of goats. He added that the average production of Beetal goats can be increased through a combination of improved technologies. Nutritional supplements and first aid kits were also distributed. Literature support was provided to improve the knowledge of the farmers. The farmers were motivated to connect with the experts of the university through Pashu Palak Tele-Advisory Kendra and YouTube channel.