Gurmeet Khudian underlines free medical treatment to over 3.19 lakh livestock during deluge, vaccination drives to prevent diseases
Also highlights progress in Fisheries & Dairy sector
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
The Punjab Animal Husbandry Department has culminated the current year on a high note, capping achievements in crisis management and sectoral advancement with a historic operation to safeguard the state's livestock during the unprecedented floods.
Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the department’s defining moment was its swift and massive mobilisation in response to flood hit 12 districts. He informed that 492 rapid-response veterinary teams were deployed across 713 affected villages, besides, establishing 24x7 emergency grid that provided free medical treatment to over 3.19 lakh livestock.
“Our teams worked tirelessly on the ground, not only healing but preventing spread of diseases, ensuring that the backbone of our rural economy was protected”, Khudian stated, while adding that the flood mitigation efforts were both curative and preventive. To stave off Hemorrhagic Septicemia spreading, over 2.53 lakh animals administered free booster dose of HS vaccination. The department, coordinating with district administrations and NGOs, orchestrated the distribution of vital sustenance: over 20,000 quintals of feed, over 16,000 quintals of silage, thousands of quintals of fodder & straw, 234 quintals of mineral mixture, over 68k doses of dewormers and 194KG of potassium permanganate. Additionally, 1,619 awareness camps were organised to guide livestock farmers through the disaster.
Highlighting the department's systemic progress beyond flood relief, Khudian shared that 22 modern animal lifters were procured for state polyclinics, and six polyclinics in Gurdaspur, Patiala, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Amritsar were upgraded with new Indoor Patient Departments (IPDs) for advanced veterinary care. A robust preventive healthcare shield was established across Punjab, with officials reporting administration of 24.27 lakh free doses against Lumpy Skin Disease, 126.22 lakh doses against Foot-and-Mouth Disease and 68.88 lakh doses against Hemorrhagic Septicemia, he added.
Khudian further informed that the Allengor-800 MA Digital Radiography System has been installed at the Patiala Veterinary Polyclinic at a cost of Rs. 54 lakhs, which enables rapid, film-free diagnosis of animal health issues. It instantly detects fractures, bone cancers and internal conditions like foreign bodies, kidney stones and urinary blockages, providing immediate images on a monitor.This type facility was previously available only at veterinary university Ludhiana, this advanced facility is a significant boon for the state's livestock farmers.
To boost livestock quality and farmers' profitability, he said that the department promoted sex-sorted semen technology, with 1.82 lakh doses used between January 2023 and March 2025, significantly increasing high-value female calf births.Highlighting the Fisheries Sector progress, Khudian noted that the department provided Rs. 5.82 crore in subsidies to 187 beneficiaries for fisheries projects during FY 2024-25. Fish farming covered 43,683 acres, yielding over 2 lakh tonnes of fish, while shrimp farming spanned 985 acres, producing 2,550 tonnes during current year. The government also produced 15.99 crore fish seeds and trained over 9,200 people in fish farming techniques.
Meanwhile, Khudian highlighted the Dairy sector progress, stating that around 8,500 farmers are trained annually to impart dairy skills to rural youth, leading to the establishment of about 3,500 dairy units yearly. Under the National Livestock Mission, 30,734 milch cattle were insured, with Rs. 9 crore aid given to farmers hit by cattle losses.
Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries department Rahul Bhandari said, "This year has been a testament to our dual commitment: exemplary service in adversity and visionary planning for the future. Every step, from lifesaving equipment to cutting-edge breeding tech, aims to build a resilient, prosperous, and scientifically advanced animal husbandry sector for Punjab."