Talking to APP here Sunday, he said that livestock growth was increasing with 4 per cent, agriculture growth rate was 3.5 percent while the growth rate in poultry was satisfactorily at 8 to 10 percent.

He said that if the bio-security measures were implemented in farms, the protection from diseases could be enhanced to much extent. According to the standard under bio security, farm to farm distance should be at least one kilometre and vans engaged for picking the flock should be under a prescribed protocol under the bio security. There is not any bio security rules exists in the country, he added. However, the VC said that Punjab Government was preparing a Poultry Production Legislation under which bio security measures would be introduced.

The VC said the private sector had also contributed a lot in the livestock sector and set up state-of-the-art slaughter houses.

He called for the setting up of combine laboratories to ensure the quality of food and feed of livestock.

He said the government should make combine system to gauge the quality of food, feed as well as meat.