Tamil Nadu has taken steps to preserve native breeds with research stations being set up in the State and has also initiated several livestock and poultry programmes aimed at improving rural livelihood, said State Minister for Animal Husbandry P. Balakrishna Reddy.
The Minister was speaking at the valedictory of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University’s (TANUVAS) 9th clinical case conference on farm and companion animal practice, for veterinary students on Friday.
Elaborating on the programmes, the Minister said, 12,000 beneficiaries received milch cows every year. This apart, 7,22,152 poor women and landless families had received goats over the last six years.
Research stations for the preservation of native breeds are being set up in Erode and Sivaganga districts, he said. “Tamil Nadu is first in poultry production and fifth in meat production,” he said.
Stem cell research
A Centre for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine has been set up at the Madras Veterinary College.
It was inaugurated earlier in the day by the Chief Minister through video conferencing.
A total of 451 students from eight States registered for the clinical case conference, and 429 paper presentations were made in the fields of medicine, surgery and reproduction among others. Students from Malaysia too participated. The Minister also released the compendium of abstracts, clinical fact brochures and distributed prizes for the best paper presentation to participating students.
Vice-Chancellor of the University S. Thilagar told students that India had abundant clinical material that could benefit animals and their owners.
S. Balasubramanian, Director of Clinics at the University, Dean, Madras Veterinary College, S.N. Sivaselvam, were among those who participated.
