Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding MoU with Markfed for transfer of technology for cattle feed of cows/buffaloes yielding 5000 litre and 8000 litre per lactation. The Markfed will market the feed in the brand name of MARKFED 5000 and MARKFED 8000.
The MoU was signed by Dr JP S Gill, Director of Research, GADVASU and Dr. B.M. Sharma, Additional Managing Director (D), Markfed in the presence of Dr A S Nanda, Vice Chancellor, GADVASU and officers of the University and Markfed.
Dr A S Nanda, Vice Chancellor, GADVASU emphasized the importance of linkage between GADVASU and Markfed and hoped that this transfer of technology will deliver good results from lab to land. He said that the major expense in dairy farming is on cattle feed that costs around 65 to 70 percent. With the escalation in the feed cost and global inflation, livestock production is increasingly constrained by feed scarcity and the high feed cost. Therefore, it’s imperative to use precision feeding to ensure efficient utilization of nutrients offered to dairy animals. Dr Bal Mukand Sharma said that it’s a great honor to collaborate with GADVASU.
The transfer of technology and technical knowhow for the formulation and manufacturing of cattle feed would indeed help the industry to reach out to the farmers. He revealed that different feed manufacturing agencies are operating in Punjab state, but only a few are committed to produce quality compounded feed. Markfed is one of such agencies engaged in producing cattle feed. Keeping in view all above aspects, MOU is being signed by GADVASU and Markfed to produce quality feed for lactating animals. Dr. J.P.S Gill shared that after obtaining feedback from farmers, university scientists' research on field related needs. The feed formulation is also an outcome according to the requirements of end-users. Dr Parkash Singh Brar, Dean of college of Veterinary Sciences apprised the house about the importance of balanced cattle feed in dairy industry. He said that GADVASU has already transferred about 18 technologies to various organizations.
Dr Manju Wadhwa, Head, Department of Animal Nutrition revealed that nutrition is the backbone of animal production system and providing quality feed as per the requirement of dairy animals is important for sustainable livestock production. This MoU will benefit both the cattle feed industry as well as progressive dairy farmers of the state.
