Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Gadvasu) is preparing to launch a mobile laboratory that will provide free milk and animal feed testing services to dairy farmers across Punjab from January. The initiative aims to bring scientific testing facilities closer to farming communities, helping improve milk quality, livestock nutrition and food safety.
Supported by a corporate social responsibility (CSR) grant of ₹1.55 crore from a private firm, the project is expected to make specialised laboratory services more accessible, particularly for farmers who face difficulties travelling long distances to testing facilities.
Mobile Laboratory to Bring Testing Services to Villages
The university has already procured a vehicle for the project and is currently undertaking fabrication work to equip it with laboratory facilities. Once operational, the mobile unit will travel to designated locations across Punjab, allowing farmers to submit milk and feed samples for testing without paying for the services.
Dr JS Hundal, head of Gadvasu’s Department of Animal Nutrition, said the initiative is intended to make specialised testing more accessible to dairy farmers near their villages. The service is expected to reduce the time and effort required to obtain scientific assessments of milk and animal feed.
According to university officials, the mobile laboratory is being presented as a first-of-its-kind initiative in India. Its planned launch represents an effort to extend veterinary and dairy-related technical services beyond conventional laboratory settings.
Milk Adulteration and Feed Contaminants Under Focus
The mobile laboratory will test milk quality and detect possible adulteration, helping farmers identify issues that may affect the quality and safety of milk entering the supply chain.
Another important function will be screening animal feed samples for aflatoxins. These toxic substances can contaminate feed and pose risks to livestock. Under certain circumstances, aflatoxins can also enter the milk supply chain, making their detection an important food safety consideration.
The unit will additionally analyse cattle feed, fodder and silage. These assessments can help farmers understand the quality of their feed resources, identify nutritional deficiencies and make better-informed decisions about animal feeding.
Access to such testing may be particularly valuable for dairy farmers seeking to improve herd nutrition and maintain consistent milk production. Better information about feed quality can also support more appropriate feeding practices and help farmers address potential problems before they affect animal performance.
Planned Coverage Across Punjab
To maximise outreach, Gadvasu plans to station the mobile laboratory at university campuses, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and other government locations. The proposed coverage will include Punjab’s central, south-western and Kandi regions.
This distribution is intended to bring testing services within reach of farmers across different dairy-producing areas of the state. By using established agricultural and government locations, the university aims to make the service accessible to a wider farming community.
The initiative also highlights the importance of connecting laboratory-based analysis with practical farm management. Testing milk and feed can provide farmers with useful information about product quality, potential contamination and livestock nutrition.
Potential to Expand Dairy Advisory Services
University officials expect the mobile laboratory to help farmers improve herd nutrition, enhance milk quality and address food safety concerns. The free testing service could also help strengthen awareness of scientific dairy management practices.
If the project proves successful, Gadvasu plans to expand the initiative through additional mobile laboratory units and advisory services focused on balanced animal feeding.
The proposed expansion could extend the reach of testing and provide farmers with further guidance on using test results to improve feeding decisions. For Punjab’s dairy sector, the initiative offers a practical approach to bringing scientific support closer to farms while addressing concerns related to feed quality, animal health and milk safety.
The laboratory’s impact will ultimately depend on its operational rollout, geographical coverage and farmers’ ability to use the testing results in their day-to-day dairy operations.
