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Veterinarian,
perhaps is the only scientist who takes Science &
Technology right at the door of the farmer, even beyond,
right where the animal is located. Let every Veterinarian
be proud of his profession.
While working as a Veterinarian on one side new Technologies
are tackled, such as Biotechnology, MOET, Cloning, on
the other side, he has to educate farmer for regular
timely preventive Vaccinations, clean milk production
and economic rearing of animals.This needs keen observation,
study of local situation on feeding and management and
a lot of convincing ability.
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Diagnosis
in veterinary Medicine, surgery till late fifties
was based on more or less intuition and treatment
was symptomatic. The Veterinary science is different
now. Artificial Insemination at Farmers door,
Caesarians, different operations at Farmers door
and control of major contagious diseases by Preventive
Vaccination has helped Indian Farmers to reach
to top level of Milk production touching 78 Million
Tons in the year 1998. However this is not enough. |
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Clean
Milk production is the need of time, washing of
udder, drying of udder & then milking by full
hand, milking quickly completely & comfortably.
Teat dipping in a solution having a wide range of
coverage for BACTERIA, VIRUS, FUNGUS and ALGAE e.g.
Instaclean is necessary. Let us educate the farmers
for this.
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Unless
cow/buffalo gives one calf every year (or every
12-14 months) it will not be economic. Now to get
this cow/buffalo to breed regularly certain basic
physiological facts are necessary & to be understood
by the farmers. This includes understanding Body
Score. It is but knowing body energy storage from
external appearance.
This
gives idea on the feeding of appropriate energy in
different stages of animal production. Remember energy
is not the exact word to be used here but it denotes
use of easily digestible Quality carbohydrates which
make up, the energy for e.g. Maize. 'Use of Oestrous
detectors' and Ovuchecks etc. are devices worth using.
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In
the production of Milk especially in the high producers,
prevention of production diseases or periparturient
diseases through corrective feeding is important.
Feeding adequate energy after & before calving
will take care of Acetoneamia.While feeding of good
quality Mineral Mixture (after knowing the quality
& Quantity of basic ingredients used ; mainly
the elemental values of which every Veterinarian
should be aware of ) in proportion to milk yield
is important. Feeding of Ammonium Chloride and Ammonium
Sulfate hundred grams each in last 10-15 days of
pregnancy are good preventers of Milk Fever.
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Feeding
of animals in relation to milk yield is economically
challenging task to Veterinarians. Use of non-traditional
feeds and fodder's treating of straw with urea and
making it more nutritive will reduce cost on feeding.
Feeding in relation to milk yield (and not all categories
of animals alike) is the principle to be taught to
the farmers. Urea Molasses, maize granules, licking
blocks will also be useful.Giving fresh cool and abundant
drinking water of good quality is a simple but important
tip.
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Use
of alternative treatment is another challenging
task, Out of 27 different systems known on treatment
in humans, six systems are useful for animals. Herbal
medicines, flower medicine, Homeopathy, Acupuncture,
Chiropractic practice, Iridology, they are some
of the suggested therapies. They need extensive
trials, evaluation and documentation.
Use of traditional drugs in animals in different areas
needs documentation verification and evaluation. Use
of Chandraprabha tablets as kidney flushing agents,
cow ghee with Ambe halad over udder swelling, bolus
of pulvis glycerrizha with turmeric powder orally
in Mastitis are some good examples.
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Emerging
diseases, Ehrlichiosis caused by Rickeittssia &
transmitted by ticks is getting attention by many
Veterinarians. It is controllable but needs keen
observation on diagnosis. IBR can be controlled
by preventive Vaccination. FMD is not a problem
now inspite of its outbreaks round the year. FMD
gel vaccine is required to be given four times a
year OR Oil Adjuvant once only.
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Cleanliness
at the time of AI when followed properly will bring
down uterine infection rate, indirectly helping
good conception. Use of Thermometer for recording
temperature of water used for thawing straw is a
must. Cleaning and drying of Vulval lips before
AI is rarely practiced and keeping vulval lips Apart
by an assistant before introduction of gun is once
in a blue moon. If you love your job and your country
as well strictly follow the principles laid down
by Science because you are a scientist.
Keeping less number of cows and getting more milk
should be our advice mainly. Respect farmer's traditional
concepts, listen to them carefully and try to educate
them.Do not condemn outrightly them as absurd.
In one study over 6175 conceptions in cows, scientists
have evaluated the influence of day, direction of
face of cow, moon phase, Nakshatra and yog on conception.
Know them.
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As
a scientist, study biomechanics of lameness in animals.
Working animals contribute to the tune of Rs.1100/Million
per day in the farm of traction & transport.
Angle of hooves, that of joints and nutrition cleft
distance, waters and fodder quality all contribute
to lameness. This is one field, which needs field
study on large scale.
There is need to study 'Production Anatomy' a new
branch of anatomy, which deals with production of
different animals.
As a free citizen of India every farmer is entitled
to know what Veterinarian does for his animal. To
avoid misunderstandings study the 'Consumer Protection
Act' for your & farmers benefit.
Every
generation of Veterinarians has to face certain challenges.
Your generation is a lucky one; you have innumerable
branches of Science and scientific knowledge available
before you through the Internet.
Use it to the best of your ability, say "Nothing
is Impossible" and face the new challenges of coming
Millennium. |
