Intl seminar on poultry health challenges

FAISALABAD November 21: Speakers at the conference called for collaborated efforts to address the poultry issues including health, cost of production, and feed at local level. The poultry feed comprises 70 percent of the soybean that is one the best source of protein and the promotion of it cultivation will help overcome Rs 1 billion import. They addressed International seminar on poultry health challenges in Pakistan was held at CAS auditorium University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The event was organized by World Veterinary Poultry Association Pakistan branch and Department of Pathology, UAF. Chairing the inaugural session, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Sarwar Khan said that UAF has introduced new varieties soybeans that are bringing tangible results. He said that UAF has facilitated the thousands of farmers to cultivate the soybean as a demonstration. He also told the audience that the soybean are the different traits that can be cultivated in the different months throughout the year across the country . He said that the university had developed genetically modified varieties of sugarcane that are resistant to herbicides and insects to produce high-yielding crops. He said that agriculture uplift can be done only by bringing research to the doorsteps of farmers. He said that that UAF always has provided such opportunities for academia and community for transfer of knowledge and interaction among stakeholders. He also briefs the audience about edible and non-edible vaccine for disease control in animals and contribution of UAF in this regard. Talking about the diseases, he said that recently, UAF has developed FMD vaccine that will help address the issue at the national level. He said that risk management and biosafety are the essential. World Veterinary Poultry Association Pakistan branch President Hanif Nazir lauded the production of local soybeans in which University of Agriculture Faisalabad is playing its active role. He said that experts have to step up efforts to provide science-based solutions to diseases, climate change and other problems faced by the poultry industry. Dean Faculty of Veterinary Science, Dr. Shahid Mehmood highlighted the significance of integration of livestock and agriculture.. Prof. Dr. Munir Iqbal highlighted the Avian influenza evolution and impact on virulence vaccines on diagnostics. Dr. M. Kashif Saleemi brief about current scenario of immune suppressive diseases in poultry. Importance of AMR and its changelings were well elaborated by Dr. Mashkoor Mohsin.