VETERINARY COLLEGE AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE, TIRUNELVELI

DEPARTMENT OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

Genesis

The Department of Livestock Production Management was established in the year 2012 with the goal of imparting knowledge on scientific methods of livestock and poultry handling, breeding, feeding, housing, and general management for increased productivity for Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc. & AH.,) students. Presently, the department offers courses for both undergraduate and post graduate degree programmes.

Objectives

Education:

Offering undergraduate courses for Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry students as well as postgraduate courses for Master of Veterinary Science students majoring in Livestock Production Management.

Researach:

Conducting research on livestock and poultry farming management to improve their productivity.

Extension:

Popularizing scientific livestock and poultry husbandry practises among the farmers.

Education

The Department is currently offering the courses such as General livestock (Ruminants and Non – ruminants) and poultry management, Fodder production and conservation, Zoo animals production management, Animal welfare, Shelter management, Laboratory and pet animal production management, eenvironmental hygiene and waste management, Climatology and animal production, Farm animal behavior, Integrated livestock farming system, Livestock business management in the subject of Livestock Production Management for UG and PG students. The Department organises frequent field trips to organised livestock farms, zoological parks, and stud farms for both B.V.Sc. & A.H. and M.V.Sc. students to familiarise and expose them to various management approaches that may be used to boost the productivity.

Research

Ongoing Research Projects

Project title	Funding agency	Fund outlay(Rs.lakhs)	Period
Agrisilvipasture systems integrated with livestock farming – a critical analysis of pros and cons in terms of C and N sequestration; N2O emission and cattle enteric methane emission and mitigation practices	International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria (IAEA – FAO Joint Project)	30.85 (35,000 EUR€)	11.09.2020

Research Projects Completed

Sl. No	Project title	Funding agency	Fund outlay (Rs. lakhs)	Period
1	Establishment of Kanni and Kodi adu goat units at Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tirunelveli for production and distribution of superior germplasam for the upliftment of farming community	Govt. of Tamil Nadu: Part II scheme	49.00	October 2014 to May 2017
2	Study on management practices influencing mineral nutrient status of sheep in southern agro climatic region of Tamil Nadu	TANUVAS Research Corpus fund	2.50	March 2013 to December 2014
3	Establishment of digital Infobase on livestock markets in Southern districts of Tamil Nadu	TANUVAS Research Corpus fund	3.75	March 2013 to March 2015
4	Effect of physical characters of Jersey Crossbred cows on milk yield	TANUVAS Sub-Project	0.09	May 2019 to December 2020

Extension

Farm Advisory Services are offered to the stake holders for augmenting the livestock and poultry productivity
Hands on training and demonstrations are conducted to the livestock and poultry entrepreneurs on need basis

Infrastructure

Laboratory is equipped with tools and equipments required for handling and management of livestock and poultry species.
Modern museum consists of different livestock and poultry breeds with housing models.
Animal handling area for practical demonstration and restraining of animals.

Salient Achievements

Progressive livestock farmers from Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari districts were provided with valuable scientific inputs and techniques through training programmes under various scheme implemented by the department for the upliftment of farming community.
Various research findings on management techniques used by sheep farmers were documented under the TRCF programme on "Study on management practices impacting mineral nutritional status of sheep in the southern agro climatic zone of Tamil Nadu." It was observed that soil, foliage and sheep blood serum in Tamil Nadu's southern agro-climatic zone were deficient in Cu, Zn, Ca, and P minerals, and sheep farmers were recommended to replenish the mineral nutrients.
According to the TRCF scheme on "Establishment of digital Infobase on livestock markets in Southern districts of Tamil Nadu," livestock market days are available all weekdays except Wednesday, and livestock marketing occurs in the morning (06-11 AM). Further, Livestock merchants dominate all marketplaces, and the principal marketing routes are farmers to intermediaries (38.75 per cent) and intermediaries to farmers (25.00 per cent).
Released an interactive CD on “Livestock markets of Southern Tamil Nadu”.
Published a monograph on “Digital Infobase on livestock markets in southern districts of Tamil Nadu”.
Published a monograph on “Mineral profile status of sheep in southern districts of Tamil Nadu”.

Faculty

Dr. K. Suresh Kumar, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Head
Dr. A. Clement Ebenezer Henry, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Dr. N. Balamurugan, M.V.Sc., Assistant Professor

The Associate Professor and Head,
Department of Livestock Production Management,
Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tirunelveli - 627 358.
Phone: +91-462-2336345
E-mail: lpmvcritni@tanuvas.org.in