Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) Ludhiana and M/s Frontier Dairy Junction (FDJ), Halwara, Ludhiana signed an MOU for exchanging technical knowledge and services related to nutrition, reproduction, vaccination, disease prevention, development in milk processing and milk products, etc.
For this purpose, the herd managed by FDJ will be utilized by GADVASU for conducting basic and applied research on cattle, calf & heifer growth, fertility, nutrition, management, and for students’ exposure visits during internship/training, etc. The agreed mutual cooperation will help in achieving the common objective of the promotion of cattle farming on a scientific basis in the state.
Dr. Parkash Singh Brar, Director of Extension Education, GADVASU informed that Frontier Dairy is engaged in commercial dairy farming with 700 crossbred HF cows and now producing around 6000 litres of milk per day with a wet average of 24 litres.
Mr. Narinder Singh, MD of FDJ informed that as they grew in business in terms of herd size and milk production, their problems also increased. Lot of inputs is required to handle large farms, so he hoped that this association with GADVASU would be fruitful for this enterprise.
The MOU was signed by Dr. JPS Gill, Director of Research, GADVASU, and Mr. Karan Singh, Director of FDJ in the presence of Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, and officials of GADVASU. Dr. Gill appreciated the performance of FDJ’s herd. He informed that FDJ can utilize various input services of GADVASU like feed and fodder testing, milk analysis, and various biochemical tests on nominal charges. Since FDJ maintains up-to-date data of each animal, it will be easy for GADVASU to conduct various adaptive trials at their farm.
Dr. SPS Ghuman, Dean College of Veterinary Science, GADVASU informed that during an internship, students will be encouraged to visit FDJ dairy farm for learning and provide veterinary services. He hoped that some veterinary students might come up to start their own dairy venture.
Dr. Inderjeet Singh, the Vice-Chancellor, congratulated the teams and said that some dairy farmers are leaving this business due to rising costs and diminished returns. This MOU will set the pace for good investment. The stake of the university would be to find the solutions of the problems of a well-established farm. It will be a learning experience for both parties. GADVASU would help FDJ to manufacture different products from the milk and subsequently its brand establishment.
With the new education policies particularly at post graduate level, the students would be encouraged to work at different farms so that they may themselves become successful dairy entrepreneurs.
