LAHORE (10-07-24): The Department of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore in collaboration with Punjab Agriculture Research Board (PARB) arranged a daylong workshop on “Rapid On-farm Culture Systems for Mastitis Management” here on Wednesday in City Campus Lahore.
Chief Executive (PARB) Dr Muhammad Akram Qazi presided over inaugural session of workshop while UVAS Vice-Chancellor Meritorious Prof Dr Muhammad Younus (DLA.I, T.I), Emeritus Prof Dr Masood Rabbani, Dean Faculty of Veterinary Science Prof Dr Aneela Zameer Durrani, Director Institute of Microbiology Prof Dr Aftab Ahmad Anjum, Chairman Department of Veterinary Medicine Prof Dr Muhammad Ijaz, Chief Organizer Workshop Prof Dr Muhammad Avais and a number of academicians, practicing vets, researchers, dairy farm managers, professionals, representative from pharmaceutical industries, students and faculty members were present.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Muhammad Akram Qazi spoke about the different initiatives of PARB to strengthen dairy sector in Pakistan by providing research funding to different institution for disease diagnosis, on-farm mastitis management to control dairy animal diseases.
Prof Dr Muhammad Younus lauded the organizer to arrange this workshop on burning issue of mastitis management to enhancing profitability of livestock farmers and strengthen dairy sector in Pakistan. He also thanked to Punjab Agriculture Research Board for providing research funding to promote rapid on farm culture systems for timely diagnose of mastitis disease to effectively targeted mastitis pathogens for treatment of dairy animals.
Prof Dr Aneela Zameer Durrani said that such workshops are necessary for gaining innovative knowledge & sharing experiences especially for the learning of on-farm workers. She said many aspects related to mastitis issues like parasite/pathogens identification, clinical, AMR and surgical discuss during workshop to curb mastitis disease in dairy animals.
Prof Dr Muhammad Avais said that aims of the workshop were to provide dairy farmers, veterinarians and industry professionals with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in utilizing rapid on farm culture systems to manage mastitis effectively and equipped participants with the tools and knowledge needed to enhance dairy herd health, optimize antibiotics usage and contribute to the sustainability of dairy industry while Prof Dr Hassan Saleem presented the vote of thanks at the end of ceremony.
Various aspects have been discussed during daylong workshop related to mastitis a barrier to dairy productivity and profitability, from farm to table anti-microbial resistance (AMR), milk quality and human health, battling bovine mastitis therapeutic challenges, addressing AMR in mastitis management, using rapid culture systems to guide selective treatment of clinical mastitis and practical demonstration of rapid on-farm culture systems etc.