CAREERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE

BY

Dr. Vivek M. Patil

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Livestock Production Management, Veterinary College, KVAFSU, Bidar http://sites.google.com/site/viveklpm/

History of Veterinary Science

Veterinary medicine" has been around as long as people and animals have worked and lived together. One of the first written records of veterinary medicine was the 'Shalihotra Samhita of ancient India (2350 BC). The first veterinary school was founded in Lyon , France in 1761. The first veterinary college in India was founded in Parel, Mumbai in 1885.

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Role of Veterinary Science in the National Economy

Livestock play an important role in the socio-economic development of the country. The livestock sector also plays a significant role in supplementing family incomes and generating gainful employment in the rural sector. Value of output from livestock sector (2009-10) : Rs. 4,08,386 crores : contributes 4.8 % of the national GDP : 30 % of total output from agriculture & allied sectors

Veterinary science plays an important role in human health through the monitoring and control of zoonotic and newly emerging diseases.

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Veterinary Curriculum
(prescribed by the Veterinary Council of India)

Bachelor of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc. & A.H.)

- 5 year degree programme comprising 4 years course work and 6 months internship

Subjects covered :

Veterinary Anatomy Veterinary Physiology & Biochemistry Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology Veterinary Parasitology Veterinary Microbiology Veterinary Pathology Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Extension

Animal Nutrition Animal Genetics & Breeding Livestock Production Management Livestock Products Technology Veterinary Gynaecology & Obstetrics Veterinary Surgery & Radiology Veterinary Medicine

Additional Courses :

Study Circles Tracking Programmes

Entrepreneurial Training Livestock Farm Practice

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Post-Graduation
- 2 year M.V.Sc programme comprising 1 year course work and 1 year research - 3 year Ph. D. programme comprising 1 year course work and 2 years research - Students can pursue post-graduation in reputed foreign universities

Disciplines :

Veterinary Anatomy Veterinary Physiology Animal Biochemistry Veterinary Pharmacology Veterinary Parasitology Veterinary Microbiology Veterinary Pathology Veterinary Public Health Veterinary Extension Education

Animal Nutrition Animal Genetics & Breeding Animal Biotechnology Livestock Production Management Poultry Science Livestock Products Technology Veterinary Gynaecology & Obstetrics Veterinary Surgery & Radiology Veterinary Medicine Wildlife Veterinary Medicine

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Career Opportunities

Agriculture Research Service Veterinary Universities Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services Milk Federations Indian Army / Paramilitary Services International Institutions Research Centres Laboratories Livestock Farms Poultry Industry Equine Industry Wildlife Management/Zoological Parks

Other sectors

Indian Forest Service Banking Sector Pharmaceutical Industry Non-Government Organizations Business Management Civil Services

Self-employment

Clinical Practice Livestock Enterprise Livestock Product Manufacture

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Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

ARS Scientists of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) work in the topmost agriculturural/

livestock research institutions of the country like the Indian Veterinary Research Institute and the National Dairy Research Institute.
Post graduation is essential. More information at ICAR Institutes

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Veterinary Universities & Colleges

Veterinary/Agriculture University faculty are involved in teaching, research and extension activities. Post graduation is essential. More information at Veterinary Universities

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Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services

Veterinary Officers are in-charge of Veterinary Hospitals. Job profile includes treatment of cases, organizing health and vaccination camps, implementing socio-

economic programmes of the Government, increasing awareness about scientific animal husbandry practices, management of disasters and epidemics, administrative duties etc.
Veterinary Officers can be posted in livestock farms, semen banks, zoological parks, municipal

corporations, slaughter houses, livestock development boards etc.

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Milk Federations
Veterinary Officers are in-charge Mobile Veterinary Units and provide veterinary support to members of

the Milk Producers Cooperative Societies established by the National Dairy Development Board
Job profile includes treatment of cases, organizing health and vaccination camps, increasing awareness

about scientific animal husbandry practices, management of disasters, administrative duties etc.

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Indian Army/Paramilitary Services

The Indian Armys Remount & Veterinary Corps was established in 1920 and is involved in the breeding

and training of horses, mules and Army dogs for military duties.
Recruitment is through the Indian Armys Service Selection Board (SSB) More information at RVC Similar opportunities exist in the Border Security Force and Indo-Tibetian Border Police

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International Institutions
Research positions exist at various reputed international institutions engaged in livestock research More information at International Institutions

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) World Health Organization (WHO) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

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Research Centres
Veterinarians are vital for the establishment of any research centre which involves conducing experiments

on laboratory/experimental animals. Most drugs/cosmetics need to be tested on experimental animals before human trials can be taken up.
Job profile includes designing and conducting the trials keeping animal welfare in view

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Laboratories
Veterinarians are an integral part of Livestock Disease Diagnostic Laboratories and Livestock Feed Analytical Laboratories

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Livestock Farms
Veterinarians are essential for the management of large-scale, intensive livestock farms. Job profile includes planning and design of the farm, management of resources, manpower planning,

animal health management, value-addition and marketing of products, enhancing productivity etc.

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Poultry Industry
As poultry are prone to various disease, the veterinarians role is critical for the functioning of large-scale,

poultry farms.
Specializations include poultry breeder, poultry nutritionist, poultry pathologist, hatchery manager,

technical manager, sales manager etc.

Job profile includes planning and design of the farm, management of resources, manpower planning,

value-addition and marketing of products, enhancing productivity etc.

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Equine Industry
Veterinarians are in great demand in Turf Clubs and Stud Farms where horses are bred and reared for

racing. Specialists in surgery, medicine and gynaecology are preferred.

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Wildlife Management/Zoological Parks

Specially trained veterinarians are posted in Zoological Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. Veterinarians are

also associated with various NGOs involved in these activities.

Job profile includes capture and treatment of wildlife in the forests as well as in captivity, management of

wildlife conservation measures, welfare of captive animals, rescue of stray wild animals etc.
More details at WII

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Indian Forest Service

All India Service dealing with conservation and management of forest wealth of the country. Selection on the basis of All-India competitive examination. More details at IFS.

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Banking Sector
Banks recruit veterinarians as Rural Development Officers and Probationary Officers Job profile includes vetting and sanctioning of loans to the livestock sector, organizing trainings and

demonstrations for farmers, developing linkages to aid the farmers in marketing their produce etc.

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Pharmaceutical Industry
Veterinarians are employed in the veterinary pharmaceutical industry in research & diagnosis, as technical

managers, and as sales managers.

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Non-Government Organizations
Many veterinarians are associated with NGOs involved in livestock development, rural development,

animal welfare activities etc. in India and abroad.

Some of the NGOs involved in animal welfare in India are PETA, CUPA, Blue Cross, ARF, DIYA, SPCA. More details at AWBI

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Business Management
With the rapid growth of corporates in agriculture production, processing and marketing, there is great

interest in the field of Livestock Business Management.

Veterinary Graduates can take up post graduation in Agri-Business Management (ABM) from the Indian

Institutes of Management, Institute of Rural Management Anand and any of the Veterinary/Agriculture Universities to occupy managerial positions in many firms involved in the agri-business sector.
More details at IIMA

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Civil Services
Many veterinarians take up careers in the Central Civil Services and State Civil Services as Animal

Husbandry & Veterinary Science is one of the Optional Papers for the exam.
More details at UPSC

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Clinical Practice
Veterinarians can take up either full-fledged or part-time clinical practice depending on their inclination. Clinical practice can be oriented towards pets or farm animals, or a combination of both.

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Livestock Enterprise
Veterinarians are increasingly turning into job providers rather than job seekers. Some of the enterprises which vets can consider starting are:-

Dairy farming crossbred cows Dairy farming - buffaloes Rearing of male buffalo calves Sheep farming Goat farming Swine farming Rabbit farming Poultry farming broiler Poultry farming layer Poultry - hatchery Other poultry species ducks, quails, emu, turkey Kennels Pet care centre
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Livestock Product Manufacture

Value addition of livestock produce is essential for the success of any livestock enterprise. Veterinarians are ideally suited for starting ventures in fields such as:-

Milk processing Milking station Poultry meat processing Poultry byproducts processing Egg processing Sheep meat Wool processing

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Admission Procedure

All Veterinary Colleges in India commence the first semester on the 1st of August 15% seats in all Veterinary Colleges are reserved for candidates admitted through All India Pre-Veterinary Test (AIPVT)

Notification in Dec/Jan Entrance exam is held in May Eligibility : Candidates must have passed Higher Secondary Examination or the Indian School Certificate Examination equivalent to 10+2 Higher/Senior Secondary Examination after a period of 12 years of study the last two years of study with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and any other elective subject with English More details at VCI

Remaining seats are allotted through separate State-level admission procedure of each University.

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Summary
The veterinary graduate has a multitude of prospects open to him/her, with options including Government service, administrative posts, research, academics, wildlife management, banking, military service, corporate jobs, livestock farming, entrepreneurship etc. The B.V.Sc. & A.H. programme equips veterinarians with versatile skills and enables them to decide what course their career should take based on their interests.

The best doctor in the world is a veterinarian. He can't ask his patients what is the matter -he's got to just know. - Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)
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