RAJUVAS Profile

The Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (RAJUVAS), Bikaner is a newly constituted body established under sub section (3) of section 1 of the Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Act, 2010 consequent to carving out of units pertaining to Veterinary & Animal Sciences from Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner and Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture & Technology, Udaipur. The University came in to existence on 13th day of May, 2010 with His Excellency the Governor of Rajasthan as the Chancellor of the University. Professor A.K. Gahlot was appointed as first Vice Chancellor of the University.

The University is located in heritage and palatial buildings of erstwhile Ganga Avenue housing the College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Bikaner (since 1954) and its precincts, spreading over 200 acres of land. The University has sophisticated equipments and well equipped facilities for execution of three major organs of the University, i.e., Teaching, Research and Extension. The Bijey Bhavan Palace, a magnificent red sandstone edifice designed by well-know architect Sir Swinton Jacob, was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh (1881-1942) as residence of his son Prince Bijey Singh in 1927. Two other buildings, the state Museum known as Sadul Sadan and State Librarywere also built contemporarily. These magnificent buildings are an example of pure Rajput martial architecture. They have several grand halls lounges, cupolas and pavilions. The exotic palatial buildings have magnificent pillars richly carved fire mantles, Italian colonnades etc. After independence, the Government of Rajasthan thought to open a veterinary college in the state. The custodians of the earst while state of Bikaner came forward and offered these three monumental buildings of the Ganag Avenue for the college along with a land of about 200 acres (1200 Bighas, as the measurement unit existed at that time).

The University is having 3 constituent colleges i.e. at Bikaner, Navania-Vallabhnagar (Udaipur district) and PGIVER, Jaipur. Out of this, the oldest one is College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Bikaner, established in 1954. Recently, a new veterinary college at Jodhpur has been sanctioned by the Government of Rajasthan. There are 7 private veterinary colleges affiliated to RAJUVAS out of which two are situated in Jaipur district and one each in Bharatpur, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Sriganganagar, and Dungarpur districts. The graduate education is imparted as per Veterinary Council of India’s Minimum Standards of Veterinary Education Regulation 1993 and 2008 through 17 departments. The University has also added four more institutes for providing two years diploma in Animal Husbandry at Jaipur, Vallabhnagar (Udaipur), Chandan (Jaisalmer) and Nohar (Hanungarh). In all, the University has 51 institutes providing 2 years diploma in Animal Husbandry after 10+2 spread over whole Rajasthan producing about 2500 para-vets annually.

The Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner is to look after the work of teaching, research and extension in the fields of veterinary and animal science, dairying, fisheries and allied sciences in the state of Rajasthan. At present only the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science is there. The University is offering a 5 years Bachelors degree of the B.V.Sc. & A.H., two years Masters Degree, M.V.Sc. in 16 subjects, and 3 years Doctoral degree the Ph.D. in 11 subjects and a two years Animal Husbandry Diploma Programme besides many short term training courses for Animal Husbandry, Disease Investigations, Biotechnology usage in Animal Science and Refresher Courses for vets and para-vets of Rajasthan and other states engaged in Animal Husbandry and Extension Services. Total student strength in constituent colleges of RAJUVAS is about 700 out of which around 79% are pursuing B.V.Sc. &A.H., 10% M.V.Sc, 1% Ph.D. and 10% Animal Husbandry Diploma Programme. Student welfare is well institutionalized and regular activities of NCC, NSS, Games and Sports, Cultural, Union, Scholarships etc. are taken care of.

RAJUVAS governs the research activities at its on campus and off campus research stations, Institutional research in different disciplines at College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Bikaner, Post Graduate Institute in Veterinary Education, Jaipur and Apex Center, Bikaner.

Salient Research Areas

There are various projects under RKVY to improve the Indian breeds of cattle, viz., Tharparkar at LRS, Chandan (Jaisalmer), Rathi at LRS, Bikaner, Kankrej at LRS, Kodamdesar and Gir cattle at LRS, Vallabhnagar.
A programme on improvement of Surti breed of buffalo is running at LRS, Vallabhnagar (Udaipur).
World bank Projects on the breed improvement of Sirohi goats at Udaipur and Marwari goats at Bikaner.
AlCRP on Goat Improvement, ICAR funded project on Marwari goats is going on in the villages of Deshnoke, Raisar, Dhaiya and Kalyansar of Bikaner district.

Feed blocks using non-conventional and conventional feed and fodder have been designed to reduce losses on transportation and feeding of animals with improved palatability and digestibility.

The research work is underway to identify local herbs and the techniques to reduce methane production without deteriorating productivity and livestock health with financial support through National Fund for Basic and Strategic Research in Agriculture (NFBSRA), ICAR.
Analysis of available nutrients in feed and fodder and their utilization by the livestock in producing good quality animals products is done through latest and modern techniques.

A project to identify molecular markers for analysing Rathi,Tharparkar, Gir and Kankrej breeds of cattle.
A Data Base project for Assessment of Occurrence of Various Diseases in Camel Prevailing in Arid and Semi Arid Region of Rajasthan State.
A project in collaboration with University of Tuffts Boston USA on evaluating antibiotic resistivity patterns of bacteria in the environment.
Various measures are taken to sustain livestock health and there is mitigation in the mortality rate in animals.
The University is establishing Veterinary University Training and Research Centre (VUTRC) in each district of Rajasthan.
A project to develop Sewan grass with fodder conservation units for Sustainable Livestock Production in arid region of Rajasthan.
Centre for Disaster Management Technology for Animals and Centre for Excellence for use of space based Technology in Animal Science are started in the University.

A Centre for Etheno Veterinary Practice & Alternative Medicines and wild Life Management & Health care are functioning.
Publication of three journals from Bikaner of international repute, RAJUVAS Newsletter and Disease forcast bulletins .
An on-line animal health call centre (toll free number 0151-2200064) is contemplated and shall be usable by livestock owners, poultry farmers, vets as well as students to seek latest information regarding recent research and disease diagnosis.

Through a network of affiliated institutes of Animal Husbandry Diploma Programme, constituent and private Veterinary Colleges and Livestock Research Stations, VUTRC and KVK situated across entire Rajasthan, the University plans to make its technologies and knowledge available to the animal keepers and other stake holders associated with veterinary, animal husbandry, dairy and fishery production. The elite germplasm of Tharparkar and Rathi cattle, Magra, Marwari and Sonadi sheep, Marwari and Sirohi goats is made available to farmers, village panchayats, dairy federation, cooperatives, gaushalas, non–government organizations and institutions within and outside the state of Rajasthan.