LAHORE: The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and the Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Department the other day signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly work for the prevention of foot and mouth disease (FMD) and haemorrhagic septicemia (HS) -- both fatal diseases of animals in the province.

UVAS Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha and L&DD Department secretary Nasim Sadiq signed the MoU at varsity’s City Campus.

As per MoU, the UVAS has agreed to produce and provide oil-based FMD+HS vaccine to the L&DD department for vaccination of animals against foot and mouth disease and hemorrhagic septicemia in cattle and buffaloes.

The UVAS will gradually increase its vaccine production capacity to meet the vaccine requirement of the department.

The VC and secretary resolved that the university and the provincial department would always make joint efforts to fight and prevent fatal diseases of animals and for overall development of the livestock sector.

Mr Sadiq lauded the varsity’s contributions to the development of the livestock sector and said the university had earned public trust through its academic, research and extension services.

He said the department was working on a plan to do genotyping of all bulls and then giving them cent per cent vaccination coverage.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2014