Various livestock diseases and low per animal milk productivity are costing the county billions of rupees for which step-up efforts are needed on the part of researchers, stakeholders and farming community to address the issue.

Various livestock diseases and low per animal milk productivity are costing the county billions of rupees for which step-up efforts are needed on the part of researchers, stakeholders and farming community to address the issue. This was stated by University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan while talking to the participants of the internees- stakeholder interactive workshop arranged by Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. He said that if we analyse the milk production in livestock sector, an animal milk production is only 2000 litres per annum compared to 8000 litres in the developed nations. He said that the UAF in collaboration with University of California, Davis was revising the curriculum of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in order to make it as per international standards and practices that will help produce the quality manpower. He said that although the country was one of largest producer of milk but per animal milk production was very low, which is barring the farming community to get the fruits. He said livestock sector is contributing 12 percent to GDP out of 21 percent share of agriculture. He said foot and mouth disease was causing a hug loss to the sector. He said the UAF had developed mastitis vaccine and surf field Mastitis Diagnostics Kit in order to overcome disease and introduced Antiparasitic Medicine for animals. He said that the UAF had made tremendous success in developing wound healers superior to pyodine. Dean Faculty of Veterinary Sciences Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal said that the faculty had set up different groups to promote research and outreach activities, and cement academia- industry linkages. He said that the country can save millions of dollars by producing various vaccines to minimize its import. He said that the skilled manpower enriched with motivation were imperative to fulfill the dreams of the development and prosperity. Progressive Farmer Basharat Jasphal said that with the increasing cost of animals, the demand of veterinary doctors was on the rise. He urged the young doctors to have the maximum experience of field work in order to get the success in the practical life. Dr Ahrar Ahmad said that 160 students of veterinary sciences had completed their internship this year that will help the country to promote the livestock sector.