'Scientists must equip themselves to cope with Newcastle disease'

Veterinary and animal sciences professor says the fatal disease has caused loss of billions.

LAHORE: Scientists should equip themselves with modern knowledge and skills to cope with Newcastle disease, which have caused losses worth Rs7 billion in Punjab alone, Vice Chancellor of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Professor Dr Talat Naseer Pasha said on Monday.       

He was addressing the inaugural session of a national workshop on the disease, its prevention and control. The workshop was arranged by the university in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA).

Lamenting the challenges faced by Pakistan’s poultry industry, Pasha said the purpose of the conference was to adopt a combined strategy in collaboration with the industry to control and prevent the fatal animal disease.

He identified farm-to-farm short distances, improper BIOS-security and lack of farm management skills as the real factors behind the spread of Newcastle disease.

Pasha said the university was focusing on improving technology and producing skilled human resource needed in livestock and related industries.

He further assured the industry representatives that the university would provide all-out technical support to the industry and farmers with regard to the challenges faced by them.