Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana is continuously driving its efforts to promote livestock farming as a sustainable enterprise through various skill development modules. In the continuation of these efforts GADVASU organized a one week training programme on Pig Farming as a viable enterprise from 19-23 June, 2017 at Ludhiana. This was second such course organised in this month. A total of 65 candidates including two from Uttar Pradesh attended the same. Dr. H.K. Verma, Director Extension Education, informed that GADVASU has been promoting livestock farming especially among educated unemployed youth as a source of livelihood ever since it came into existence in 2006. There exist many options in livestock farming for example: dairy farming, poultry farming, piggery farming, goat farming and value addition of livestock produce etc. Any of these could be adopted depending upon the interest and availability of resources.Dr. S.K. Kansal, Head, Department of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Extension Education, GADVASU, while speaking on this told that Pig farming is gaining popularity in the state. The department is getting lot of quarries regarding pig farming and applications for pig training. Dr. Jaswinder Singh (Technical Coordinator), Dr. Ravdeep Singh & Dr. Khushpreet Singh coordinated the training. Different experts of the University delivered their lectures on various topics like breeds, breeding, management, shed design, weather management, vaccination protocols, diseases & their prevention, value addition of pork, mycotoxins and economics etc. To make the trainee practically aware about all aspects, a visit was also arranged to S. Sukhwinder Singh Kotli, a progressive pig farmer’s farm at village Kotli. Trainees hailed the efforts of GADVASU and were satisfied with the knowledge imparted to them. Under the aegis of GADVASU, various farmers associations are also working (viz pig, goat, fish etc) and a few farmers also became members of the progressive pig farmers association which organize its meeting on last thursday of every month, which is scheduled on 29-June, 2017
