Punjab Animal Husbandry Department rescued over 3.19 lakh animals, deployed 492 vet teams and strengthened healthcare during the 2025 floods.
The Punjab Animal Husbandry Department concluded the year with a historic effort to protect the state’s animals during the catastrophic floods, highlighting accomplishments in crisis management and sectoral advancement.
Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Minister of Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries, stated that the department’s rapid and extensive mobilization in response to 12 areas affected by flooding was its defining moment. He said that in addition to setting up a 24-hour emergency grid that offered free medical care to more over 3.19 lakh animals, 492 rapid-response veterinary teams were sent to 713 impacted areas.
Punjab Animal Husbandry Dept Shines Amid 2025 Floods
Khudian added, “Our teams worked tirelessly on the ground, not only healing but preventing the spread of diseases, ensuring that the backbone of our rural economy was protected.” The flood mitigation activities were both preventive and curative. A free booster dosage of the HS vaccine was given to nearly 2.53 lakh animals in an effort to stop the spread of hemorrhagic septicemia. Over 20,000 quintals of feed, over 16,000 quintals of silage, thousands of quintals of fodder and straw, 234 quintals of mineral mixture, over 68k doses of dewormers, and 194KG of potassium permanganate were all distributed by the department in collaboration with district administrations and non-governmental organizations. To help livestock farmers deal with the crisis, 1,619 awareness camps were also set up.
Also read : Year 2025: Punjab Launches 56 Smart Transport Services 24×7
As an example of the department’s systemic progress beyond flood relief, Khudian reported that six polyclinics in Gurdaspur, Patiala, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, and Amritsar were upgraded with new Indoor Patient Departments (IPDs) for advanced veterinary care, and that 22 state polyclinics received modern animal lifters. Officials reported that 24.27 lakh free doses of treatment for Lumpy Skin Disease, 126.22 lakh doses for Foot-and-Mouth Disease, and 68.88 lakh doses for Hemorrhagic Septicemia were administered as part of the establishment of a strong preventive healthcare shield throughout Punjab, he added.
At a cost of Rs. 54 lakhs, Khudian also said that the Allengor-800 MA Digital Radiography System, which allows for quick, film-free diagnosis of animal health conditions, has been installed at the Patiala Veterinary Polyclinic. With instantaneous images displayed on a monitor, it accurately identifies fractures, bone tumors, and internal diseases such as foreign bodies, kidney stones, and urinary obstructions.Only the Veterinary University of Ludhiana had this kind of facility before; the state’s livestock producers greatly benefit from this state-of-the-art facility.
The government encouraged sex-sorted semen technology to increase the quality of livestock and the profitability of farmers, he added, and between January 2023 and March 2025, 1.82 lakh doses were utilized, which greatly increased the number of high-value female calf deliveries.Khudian highlighted the advancements in the fishing sector, pointing out that during FY 2024–2025, the government gave 187 beneficiaries subsidies totaling Rs. 5.82 crore for fishing projects. Shrimp farming covered 985 acres and produced 2,550 tonnes this year, while fish farming covered 43,683 acres and produced over 2 lakh tonnes of fish. Over 9,200 people were trained in fish growing techniques by the government, which also produced 15.99 crore fish seeds.
The development of the dairy industry, meantime, was emphasized by Khudian, who said that each year about 8,500 farmers receive training to teach dairy skills to young people in rural areas, which results in the opening of roughly 3,500 dairy units. With the help of Rs. 9 crore in assistance for farmers affected by livestock losses, 30,734 milch cattle were insured under the National Livestock Mission.
Rahul Bhandari, principal secretary of the department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries, stated, “This year has been a testament to our dual commitment: exemplary service in adversity and visionary planning for the future.” With everything from life-saving gear to state-of-the-art breeding technology, Punjab’s animal husbandry industry is being built to be robust, successful, and scientifically advanced.