Viral vaccine production units to come up in Pb

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today gave in-principle approval for setting up of viral vaccine production units to ensure better protection of livestock against critical diseases.
The chief minister took this decision during a meeting with the department of animal husbandry, fisheries and dairy development here, an official release said.
The units would help in protecting livestock against the foot and mouth disease (FMD), swine flu and PPR disease common amongst goats, it said.
He also directed the department to work on a detailed plan for establishing disease free zones in certain areas, beginning from the international border and between the geographical boundaries stretching from Beas to Sutlej rivers, in order to give impetus to the promotion of trade between India and its neighbouring countries.

The chief minister asked the department to prepare a comprehensive action plan to introduce new practices of cattle breeding, elimination of cattle disease, and scientific production of milk and milk products as well as meat and meat products.
Earlier, the chief minister was apprised by Advisor (Animal Husbandry) B K Uppal about the vaccine for FMD, which is free from NSP antigen, with which Punjab would become the "first state in the country to be free from foot and mouth disease".

This will facilitate the livestock farmers in the state to export their high breed cattle to the Middle East countries, and further boost their earnings.

During the meeting, Amarinder asked the Animal Husbandry department to launch a vigorous campaign to promote piggery, goatry and fishery in a big way to encourage farmers to adopt these allied sectors in order to supplement their income.
He stressed on the need for value addition and diversification as the only way to enhance the earnings of farmers and said there was dire need to motivate the farmers to go beyond production into direct marketing of milk and milk products, fish and meat & meat products.
Stressing on the need to leverage the latest reproduction technologies, Amarinder asked the department to explore avenues to adopt superior In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF.

It will lead to faster improvement as several oocytes of superior animals could be used for fertilisation and embryo development.
Amarinder directed the Department of Finance to provide all necessary financial assistance for the required infrastructure up-gradation in the livestock sector.