Minister of Animal Husbandry, dairy development, and labour department Balbir Singh Sidhu on Tuesday launched Swine Fever Vaccine developed by Punjab Veterinary Vaccine Institute (PVVI) to protect the pigs from the deadly disease. He distributed the vaccine among the pig farm owners.Appreciating the vet scientists of the institute, the minister said that it is a matter of pride for Punjab as the vaccine has been developed here. He said that to develop this vaccine, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between PVVI and Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI).Two vet doctors of PVVI visited IVRI for the training and now PVVI has started preparing this vaccine here.He said that after Karnataka, Punjab is second state in the country, first in North India where this vaccine is being prepared. Further, he revealed that earlier the rabbits were to be killed during the trial of old procedure for manufacturing the vaccine but now only the pig’s cell culture-based technology is being used to make the vaccine.The minister also urged the scientists to develop the vaccine to protect the cow from mastitis which will benefit the livestock farmers. Moreover, he also congratulated the vet scientists of PVVI for the vaccine of Haemorrhagic septicemia and announced to honour them with appreciation certificates.Sidhu appealed the management committee of the PVVI to start a mass awareness drive about the vaccine developed here so that every livestock farmer can take advantage.On the occasion, Animal Husbandry director Dr. Amarjeet Singh, deputy directors Pritpal Singh and GS Toor, vet scientist Simrat Kaur Gill and others were present.