PUNJAB GOVT TO HOLD MONTHLY ‘BLOCK LEVEL MILKING COMPETITIONS’ TO ENHANCE LIVESTOCK PRODUCTIVITY
• Milking competitions to be held on 2nd Monday of every month across all 154 blocks in Punjab, says Gurmeet Singh Khudian
•Initiative aims to identify, reward & propagate best practices in livestock management: Animal Husbandry Minister
Chandigarh, October 5 (WISHAVWARTA):-In a landmark move to incentivise excellence in the dairy sector and enhance livestock productivity, the Punjab Animal Husbandry department is all set to organise “Block Level Milking Competition- 2025-26” across the state, announced S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries, Punjab here on Sunday.
Sharing the details about the ambitious year-long initiative commencing from October 6, 2025 onwards, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the competitions will be held on 2nd Monday of every month across all 154 blocks in the state, creating a platform for dairy farmers to showcase their best livestock and adopt superior animal husbandry practices.
Outlining the categories and minimum milking criteria to participate in the competition, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that Murrah and Murrah Graded Breed Buffaloes must produce 16KG or above milk, Nili Ravi and Nili Ravi Graded Breed Buffaloes 14KG or above, Sahiwal and other indigenous breed cows 12KG or above, HF and HF cross cows 30KG or above, Jersey and Jersey cross cows 16KG or above, whereas, goats of any breed should produce 2.5KG or above milk.
Urging the livestock farmers to maximum participate in the competition, the Cabinet Minister further stated, “Our farmers are the backbone of Punjab, and our dairy sector holds immense potential to propel the rural economy to new heights. This competition is not just about winning prizes; it is a strategic mission to identify, reward and propagate best practices in livestock management. By encouraging our farmers to rear high-yielding breeds, we are directly contributing to increased income, better genetics and a more robust, sustainable dairy ecosystem in Punjab.”
This initiative is aligned with Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s broader vision of empowering farmers, promoting allied agricultural activities and ensuring sustainable economic growth. It is expected to foster a spirit of healthy competition, leading to a significant qualitative improvement in the state’s livestock, S. Khudian added.
Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development & Fisheries Mr. Rahul Bhandari said that interested livestock farmers can obtain the necessary forms to participate in the competition from the Veterinary Hospitals. The competition would promote excellence in dairy farming and livestock management, with attractive prizes and recognition for winners in each category. Farmers can participate by submitting their entries as per the specified categories and minimum milking criteria, he added.
