DW BUREAU / Ludhiana A monthly seminar for Dairy Farmers was held in the Farmer Information Centre of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana wherein 45 farmers associated with Progressive Livestock Farmers Association (PLFA) and the office bearers participated. Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma, HoD, Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education coordinated the proceedings and welcomed the farmers. Dr Ashwani Kumar, HoD, Department of Veterinary Medicine elaborated various diseased conditions encountered in dairy animals owing to imbalances of mineral nutrients. Deficiency diseases or toxicities arise mostly due to ignorance. He stressed upon the importance of knowing calcium pathways in the animal body and its varying requirements at different stages of lactation. He strongly advised the farmers to avoid use of liquid calcium in dairy animals at any stage. Milk fever in dairy animals could be easily prevented by including ammonium chloride in the diet a few days before impending delivery. Injecting vitamin D one week before delivery can also prevent this condition. The farmers were also made aware of signs of deficiency of phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iodine and copper in dairy animals. Dr Parminder Singh, Professor, interacted with the farmers extensively on the subject of mineral requirements of individual animals, their resources and inclusion level in the compounded feed. He gave valuable inputs to the farmers for keeping input costs at minimum level. The small farmers can effectively use mineral mixture available in the university. The large farmers can manufacture it at their own farm. (editor@dailyworld.in)