International Livestock Nutrition Summit opens at UVAS

The University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore in collaboration with Nutritionists Association of Pakistan (NAP) organised a two-day International Livestock Nutrition Summit with the theme "Feed, Farm, Food & Innovations" on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Professor Dr Mohammad Yaqoob Bhatti highlighted the importance of poultry and dairy industries and the role of livestock nutrition in food security and national economy. He talked about feed, energy and protein resources and their importance. He said that the livestock nutrition summit will be helpful in future in doing research in livestock nutrition. Presenting the welcome address on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Dean Faculty of Life Sciences Business Management Professor Dr Nasim said that the summit will provide a platform to get insight into significant recent scientific findings and advancements in livestock nutrition from across the globe.
It will help build strong linkages among researchers, academia, government bodies and development partners working in livestock nutrition, he added. Professor Nasim said that development efforts must provide solutions for both smallholders and commercial farmers. The emphasis should be on improving per unit animal productivity and moving from subsistence to market-oriented commercial livestock farming in the country to meet the domestic demand and surplus for the export. "It is need of hour to exploit the potential of livestock sector and use it as engine for economic growth and food security leading to rural population empowerment and socio-economic development," the dean said.
Being the flagship university, he said, the UVAS has fully realized the needs of the related sectors and initiated degree programs, trainings, research projects, technology centers and services to meet the challenges of growing industries, farming communities and stakeholders. The UVAS is working in strong collaboration with Livestock & Dairy Development Department Punjab for strategic research & development, he said, adding that commercialisation of research and UVAS expertise generate significant economic growth and business opportunities in country.
In the two days summit, experts will discuss dairy nutrition for sustainable production, feed technology and management for improving livestock production, nutrition of growing and fattening animals in 33 oral and 40 poster presentations, etc. Former secretary livestock and dairy development Punjab and poultry expert, Dr Yaqoob Bhatti chaired the inaugural session of the summit while President Nutritionists Association of Pakistan Dr Mussadiq Asif, Organising Secretary Professor Dr Saima Naveed and a number of leading professionals were present.