Role of uvas in poultry sector development 09-14
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Transcript of Role of uvas in poultry sector development 09-14
Role of UVAS in Poultry Sector Development
Prof. Dr. TalatNaseer PashaVice Chancellor, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,
Lahore
Poultry Sector holds a unique position in the socio-economic
growth of Pakistan. It also plays important role in the economy as
supplementing family incomes and generating gainful employment in the
population, particularly among the landless laborers, small and marginal
farmers and women.
Poultry industry has flourished over the last few decades. Now it is the
country's second-largest industry next to textiles with a turnover of
approx. Rs 300 billion ($3 billion). The last decade has seen significant
investment in the industry, particularly in closed housing. The poultry
industry has tremendous potential of making value addition, which is
evident from successful operation of world-renowned food chains in
Pakistan.
In spite of substantial qualitative and quantitative advancements in
different sectors of the poultry industry, itcontinues to facemany issues. It
is the vital need of the time to critically review and resolve the issue of
poultrysector by keeping in mind the production requirements. Feed
scarcity, high mortality rate, lack of value addition facilities, inadequate
marketing systems, poor extension services and policy constraints are
some of the major issues of the industry, which hinder further
development of the sector.
This sector is facing many challanges such as:
1. Feed cost and continuous efforts to get a better understanding of
available alternative feed ingredients. As of right now, feed cost
is probably one of the most serious challenges for the industry.
2. Disease outbreaks and implementation of biosecurity programs.
Newcastle disease and avian influenza viruses have adversely
affected the investment and growth rate of poultry industry in the
country.
3. Issues surrounding inclusion of antibiotics in poultry feed and
also the use of alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters.
4. Food safety of poultry products for human consumption.
5. Issues related to water in terms of both quality and quantity.
6. Crippling long-hour electricity load-shedding, coupled with
scorching heat, has hit the poultry industry such that each unit of
electricity is costing poultry house to owners. Owing to
prolonged power breakdowns, generators also failed to operate
and run at maximum 60 per cent of their capacity, costing high
per unit.
The emphasis should be on improving per unit poultry productivity and
moving from subsistence to market oriented and then commercial poultry
farming in the country to meet the domestic demand and surplus for the
export. It is need of hour to exploit the potential of our poultry sector and
use it as engine for economic growth and food security for country
leading to rural population empowerment and rural socio-economic
development/uplift.
Role of Veterinary professionals in the development of poultry
sectors is imperative. Veterinary professionals need to involve in much
more than treating diseases and injuries in poultry birds. Veterinary
professionals are required to play significant and contributory roles in
animal and human health and welfare, food quality, food safety, food
security, ecology, development of pharmaceuticals, remedies, vaccines,
biomedical research, as educators and trainers,in disease preventions,
breed improvement, and the protection of the environment and
biodiversity in the country. As challenges have risen, veterinarians must
find ways to adapt given that their knowledge and training makes them
multifunctional professionals. This aids societies so that its poultry stay
healthy and productive.
Historically, poultry has been the subsistence sector dominated by
small holder to meet their needs of meat and eggs and daily cash income.
During the last decade there has been massive investment in poultry, meat
processing and further processing sectors to fulfill the demand for food of
high biological value in the country and export in the regional markets.
Since its inception as first veterinary school in Asia, 132 years
back, to the establishment of first University of Veterinary & Animal
Sciences of the Muslim World in 2002, UVAS has been contributing in
improvement and development of the poultry sector through provoking
potentials and producing professionals. The Government of the Punjab
upgraded this institution to the status of a university with the main
objective of fulfilling the serious gap of trained manpower in livestock
and poultry sectors.
UVAS is having very strong ties with farmers and all stakeholders
of poultry sector. Since long, both UVAS and Pakistan Poultry
Association is working hand in hand for strategic and need-based
research and development.
Being Flagship University in these disciplines in the country
UVAS has fully realized the needs of the sectors and initiated degree
programs, research projects, technology centers and services to meet the
challenges of growing industries, farming communities and stake holders.
For effectively contributing especially the poultry sector, UVAS
took various initiativesincluding: Doctor of Veterinary Sciences, BS in
Poultry Science, Molecular Biology, Applied Microbiology,
Environmental Sciences, Food and Human Nutrition, Bachelor and
Master in Business Administration, etc. as undergraduate degree
programs. To fulfill the requirements of need based research of the sector
various postgraduate (MPhil and PhD) degree programs have been
initiated in subjects like Nutrition, Poultry Production, Microbiology,
Pathology, Parasitology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Reproduction,
Clinical Medicine, Physiology, Pharmaceutics, Molecular Biology,
Environmental Sciences, etc.
In services sector UVAS is providing para-professional skills to the
rural youth for making them earning hand through offering long term
diploma and certificate training programs and special courses for poultry,
livestock and dairy community. Poultry farms, hatchery, Feed mill, Avian
Research & Training Center,and Pets Breeding & Training center are
used as demonstration units for training of these professionals and para-
professionals. Expertise in meat technologies is helping stakeholders in
catering the emerging needs of poultry meat processing and further
processing.
Internationally Accredited University Diagnostic Lab is serving the
poultry farmers in rapidly diagnosing the deadly diseases confronted by
the poultry birds. Quick detection of diseases help clinicians in initiating
immediate control strategy which significantly reduce mortality and
economic losses. The lab is also helping farmers in specific designing of
vaccination and biosecurity schedules for their farms. Many international
collaborative research programs are ongoing for understanding the
causative factors of various poultry diseases and for their control.
Similarly Quality Operations Lab is helping the industry in quality
evaluation of products especially for export purposes. It also has expertise
in Halal meat certification.
Recently, a Business Incubation Center and Office of University
Advancement and Financial Aid have been established in the university
to bridge the gap between business community and UVAS.We have also
initiated UVAS 24/7 Extension service with the mission to provide
emergency and routine veterinary care for all species of animals at
farmers’ door step, to strive for better understand poultry disease
processes, and to be leaders in the area of poultry health and productivity
for the betterment of livelihood of farming community.
The commercialization of the research and expertise from this
university generates significant economic growth and business
opportunities within country. Our research focused teaching ensures our
students receive their highest quality education, which introduces them to
the frontiers of knowledge and provides them with the skills and
discipline to contribute fully to whatever career they follow. We have a
strong professional orientation with a focus on academic excellence and
graduate employability, for these reasons UVAS graduates are highly
sought after both locally and internationally.
Few years back university with the help of private sector has
initiated a Poultry Club whose meeting is regularly organized on monthly
basis. Academia, poultry practitioners, postgraduate students, farmers,
stakeholders attend the club and share their experiences. Case studies are
discussed here for benefit of the farmers. By working closely with our
communities we are proud to play leadership role in enhancing economic
prosperity, contributing to improvements in the health and well-being of
our nation.
Ongoing Research Projects on Poultry.
1. Molecular Characterization of NDV and Development of Approaches to Vaccination
2. Characterization of Mycoplasma gallisepticum isolates from Pakistan and their use in biologies production
3. Development of Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) assay: a simple and cost effective diagnostic test for the molecular detection of economically important Mycoplasma pathogens of chickens.
4. Serosurvillance of pathogens through commercial ELISA
5. Development of meat type Japanese Quail with higher body weight (Coturnixcoturnix Japonica) acclimatized to indigenous managemental conditions through 6 generations of Selective breeding programme
6. Exploring Nutritional Potentials of Moringaoleifera as Poultry Feed Ingredient
7. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of antibiotics, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and pesticides residues in milk, eggs and meat meant for human consumption
8. Development and Evaluation of Catharanthusroseus as a Phytobiotic in Poultry Production
Above: Broiler Breeder Farm at UVAS-Ravi Campus, Pattoki
Below: Glimpse from UVAS-Avian Research and Training, Ferozepur
Road, Lahore