Punjab CM for comprehensive plan for conservation of Sahiwal Cattle

Chandigarh, July 11, 2014: In a bid to boost Dairy farming across the state, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal asked the Animal husbandry department to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan to introduce the high yielding Sahiwal breeds of milch cattle in the existing livestock on mass scale in the state.
A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister during a meeting with the leading Pakistani Sahiwal Cattle Breeder Mohammad Aftab Ahmad Khan Wattoo, who was especially invited by the Animal Husbandry Department to attend Indo-Pak Interactive Seminar on the conservation of livestock breeds here on Thursday.   Showing keen interest and love for Sahiwal Cows, Badal also approved to set up Sahiwal Cattle Breeders Society in Punjab that would initiate a vigorous campaign to bring awareness to promote Sahiwal breed for its commercial viability.     On the pursuance of the Chief Minister, Wattoo who is also the President of Sahiwal Cattle Breeders Society of Pakistani Punjab agreed to provide fulsome support and cooperation for the promotion of indigenous breed of Sahiwal as it was far more disease resistant and adaptable to local climatic conditions. The Chief Minister also directed the Animal Husbandry department to tie-up with the Brazil Government to import semen of the Sahiwal cattle to cater the need of the dairy farmers who intend to rear Sahiwal breed cattle in a big way.
On the occasion the representative of Vechur Conservation Trust, Kerala Dr. KC Jayan of apprised the Chief Minister about the 'Kasargod' cow breed of Kerala and Medicinal values of its milk. Swami Chinmayanand of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (Nurmahal) and Baldev Singh representative of Namdhari Sangat Sri Bhaini Sahib also shared their rich experience and expertise regarding Sahiwal Cattle Breed and highly appreciated the initiative and the interest shown by Badal for the conservation of this breed in the state and termed it as a "revolutionary step in the dairy sector".
Prominent amongst others who were present on this occasion included Director Research Centre for Conservation of Sahiwal Cattle (RCCSC) Pakistan Dr. Javed Iqbal, Associate Professor Genetics and Breeding of Livestock COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Sahiwal Pakistan, Financial Commissioner Animal Husbandry G. Vagralingam, Advisor Animal Husbandry department Prof. PK Uppal, Special Principal Secretary to CM KJS Cheema, Director Kasaragod Dwarf Conservation Society, Kasaragod Kerala and Head NBAGR Kerala Dr. DK Sadana.