LAHORE (27-09-24): The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore in collaboration with Pakistan Poultry Association arranged daylong Poultry Science Conference in connection with ‘International Poultry Expo (PSC-IPEX) 2024’ at Expo Centre Lahore for the promotion of poultry sector in Pakistan.
UVAS Vice-Chancellor Meritorious Prof Dr Muhammad Younus (DLA.I, T.I) presided over the inaugural & Technical sessions of the Poultry Science Conference (PSC) while PPA Chairman (Central Zone) Mr Abdul Basit, Former Chairman PPA Mr Khalique Arshad, IPEX Chief Organizer Abdul Haye Mehta, Convener PSC Dr Hanif Nazir Ch, Dean Faculty of Veterinary Science Prof Dr Aneela Zameer Durrani, Dean Faculty of Animal Production and Technology Prof Dr Saima, Director Institute of Microbiology Prof Dr Aftab Ahmad Anjum and a large number of academicians from different universities, researchers, veterinarians, professionals/scientists from veterinary/animal sciences, medical sciences, public health/environmental sciences and stakeholders from poultry industries, teachers & students, national and international experts from different countries attending the conference.
UVAS students Ms Aleena Kokab (Microbiology) won rupees 2 lakh and Ms Hira Khan (Microbiology) was the runner up and won rupees 1 lakh the best presentation cash prize awards in poultry Science conference. The topic of Aleena Kokab presentation was Physiological profiling of lytic bacteriophages and their efficiency against salmonella enteritidis on chicken breast cuts while Ms Hira Khan gave presentation on preparation and evaluation of trivalent culture based vaccine for avian adenoviral infection in poultry. Hall of Fame award also gave away to renowned scientist of Pakistan Prof Dr Khalid Naeem Khawaja in the conference.
While addressing the audience, Prof Dr Muhammad Younus said that poultry sector is one of the most vibrant segments and 2nd largest industry in Pakistan after textile. He said it provides employment to over 1.5 million peoples and contribute vital role in the national economy of Pakistan. He said I am optimistic that students and researchers will gain maximum innovative knowledge and experiences from national & international experts. He urged researchers of Mphil and PhD to choose problem solving research topics related to poultry sector issues. He said it is direly needed to conduct research on different issues related to climate change, disease outbreak, pollution, genetically modified organism (GMO), soybean production and quality vaccine to curb poultry sector issues. He said UVAS producing every year trained graduate who serving in livestock and poultry industry and playing their key role in the uplift of national economy of Pakistan.
Mr Abdul Basit called Government of Pakistan to solve GMO issues the earliest and demanded for maximum production of soybean in Pakistan. He advised students to learn about entrepreneurial skills and after getting education must start their own businesses.
Earlier Abdul Haye Mehta spoke about main objectives of the conference were to provide a platform to bring together academia, researchers, poultry farmers/professionals, industrialists where national and international experts share their research work, knowledge and experience for the uplift of poultry sector. Dr Hanif Nazir Ch thanked UVAS leadership, faculty and students to make this poultry science conference successful with their active participation and dedicated efforts for arrangements.
At the end Prof Dr Muhammad Younus along with other dignitaries presented awards to Ms Aleena Kokab and Ms Hira Khan and lauded their efforts for innovative research work.
During poultry science conference many experts delivered their lectures on different topics related to salmonella control in poultry, innovative food traceability solutions, vaccine against avian influenza, novel strategies, machine vision system for early detection of sick bird, genome editing a promising tool to promote poultry production and examine poultry infection etc.
