The Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) in Ludhiana and M/s Frontier Dairy Junction (FDJ) in Halwara, Ludhiana signed an MOU for the exchange of technical knowledge and services in nutrition, reproduction, vaccination, disease prevention, development in milk processing and milk products, and so on.
GADVASU will use the FDJ herd for basic and applied research on cattle, calf and heifer growth, fertility, nutrition, management, and for students' exposure visits during internship/training, among other things. The mutual cooperation agreed upon will aid in achieving the common goal of promoting cattle farming on a scientific basis in the state.
Frontier Dairy, according to Dr. Parkash Singh Brar, Director of Extension Education at GADVASU, is engaged in commercial dairy farming with 700 crossbred HF cows and is now producing around 6000 litres of milk per day with a wet average of 24 litres. Narinder Singh, MD of FDJ, stated that as their herd size and milk production increased, so did their problems. He hoped that this collaboration with GADVASU would be fruitful for this enterprise because large farms require a lot of inputs.
Dr. JPS Gill, Director of Research at GADVASU, and Mr. Karan Singh, Director of FDJ signed the MOU in the presence of Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, and GADVASU officials.
Dr. Gill was pleased with FDJ's herd's performance. He stated that FDJ can use GADVASU's input services such as feed and fodder testing, milk analysis, and various biochemical tests for a nominal fee. GADVASU will be able to conduct various adaptive trials at their farm with ease because FDJ keeps up to date data on each animal.
Dr. SPS Ghuman, Dean College of Veterinary Science, GADVASU, stated that students will be encouraged to visit FDJ dairy farm for learning and providing veterinary services during their internship. He hoped that some veterinary students would show up and start their own dairy business.
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Inderjeet Singh congratulated the teams and stated that some dairy farmers are leaving the industry due to rising costs and lower returns. This MOU will pave the way for wise investment. The university's stake would be to find solutions to the problems of a well-established farm. Both parties will benefit from the experience.
GADVASU would assist FDJ in producing various products from milk and, as a result, in establishing its brand. Students would be encouraged to work at various farms under the new education policies, particularly at the postgraduate level, in order to become successful dairy entrepreneurs themselves.
