Punjab to set up livestock disease diagnostic lab

Chandigarh, Jan 31 (UNI) The Punjab government has finalised some new projects for timely detection of disease in livestock and its proper control.

Stating this here today, Animal Husbandry Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike said the Animal Husbandry Department had proposed to set up one Residue Analysis Laboratory at Regional Disease Diagnostic Lab, Jalandhar at a total cost of Rs 37 lakh.

"Dangerous levels of pesticides and antibiotics have been detected in the milk, meat and other products obtained from the animals consuming green fodder and drinking water having high concentration of these residues," he said.

"A large number of cases of malicious poisoning and fodder poisoning are reported invariably. The State level Residues Analysis Lab will help in timely and accurate detection of pesticide residues in the fodder, feed, milk, meat etc," the Minister said.

Mr Ranike further said that there was also a proposal to set up 20 disease diagnostic labs at block level every year for the next five years.

Animal Husbandry Director Dr BS Sidhu informed that the livestock sector has vast potential of growth and can play pivotal role in the economy of the state.

"The livestock sector especially in case of dairy animals like cows and buffaloes and the poultry sector, the existing growth rate is 8-10 per cent and it has a potential of doubling in the next five years provided it gets the required support from the government and the stakeholders," Dr Sidhu said.

"A large number of animal diseases cause huge economic losses to the livestock owners every year. With the extensive vaccination programmes and timely detection of diseases the loss would be controlled." This will also enchance the productivity and also boost the export of livestock and livestock products to the developed countries.

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