Animal Farm

The Livestock Production and Management (LPM) section came into being in June, 2009 after being carved out of Dairy Cattle Breeding Division of the institute. Separate faculty of LPM along with board of studies was in existence since 1976 and post graduate and doctorate degree programmes in LPM were continuing. The faculty of LPM is engaged in conducting research in the frontline areas of all applied aspects of dairy animal production and has been successful in evolving many transferable technologies and development of package of practice on the routine care and management of dairy animals. The faculty of LPM is engaged teaching both at UG and PG levels. The LPM faculty is also shouldering the responsibility of the routine management of the cattle yard and breeding bulls maintained at the Animal Breeding Research Center of Institute besides supporting the training and extension activities of the institute.

To maintain elite germplasm repository of dairy animals of the identified breeds.
Development of state-of-art dairy animal management facilities and infrastructure for high yielding dairy animals.
To carry out research, in collaboration with different divisions, in the upstream areas of dairy animal production.
To standardize the package of management practices and to demonstrate the state of the art dairy animal production system to clients.
To provide consultancy to the needy farmers and entrepreneurs for establishment of commercial dairy farms.

Modernized dairy production system in dairy cattle and buffaloes for augmenting productive and reproductive performance (Shiv Prasad, T.K. Mohanty, M.L. Kamboj, S.S. Lathwal, R. Malhotra and A. K. Tyagi).
A pilot study on the development of organic milk production system (M.L. Kamboj, A.S. Harika, Chander Datt, Shiv Prasad, Naresh Kumar and S.S. Lathwal.)
Effect of Shatavari on milk production and composition in Murrah buffaloes (R K Mehla, Shiv Prasad, M.L. Kamboj, S.S. Lathwal, Mahinder Singh, S.K. Sirohi, R. R. B. Singh).
Study of vocalization patterns of Murrah buffaloes (S.S. Lathwal, T.K. Mohanty, A.P. Ruhil)

Externally funded project

Development of Wireless Sensor Network for Animal management (C4/C2008) (T. K. Mohanty, A. P. Ruhil. S. S. Lathwal, D. K. Jain and Shiv Prasad).

Management practices for calves and heifers

Feeding of young calves with surplus colostrums, whole milk diluted with Dahi (1:1) and probiotics supplement improved the growth rate and reduced morbidity and mortality.
Feeding of growing Holstein Frisian crossbred dairy heifers can be done successfully in the form of total mixed ration as per NRC standards in proportions of 60:20:20 (concentrate mixture: wheat straw: maize/oat) to achieve higher growth rate for attaining early sexual maturity. Intensive feeding and management intervention was conducive to reduce age at maturity by upto 3 months in Sahiwal heifers.
In KF calves aged 1-6 months, replacing skimmed milk with soya and maize based milk replacer was effective in reducing the cost of calf rearing without adversely affecting the growth rate.
One (KF) and 2 weeks (Sahiwal and Murrah) prepartum training in the milking parlour helped to improve the productive performance and milking temperament of first calf heifers.

Cryopreservation of bovine semen

Antioxidant fortification and seeding was found to be beneficial for better cryo-survival of cattle spermatozoa.
Controlled freezing rates and induced ice nucleation resulted in enhanced post thaw recovery of spermatozoa with improved structural and functional integrity.
Prediction equations were developed to predict semen quality on the basis of body size and testicular characteristics in Sahiwal, KF cattle bulls and Murrah buffalo bulls.

Management practices for lactating dairy cows and buffaloes

The mist and fan cooling was very effective in ameliorating the impact of heat stress in KF cows by maintaining the milk production and feed consumption of lactating crossbred cows during hot dry and hot-humid seasons.
Extra protection during winter to adult crossbred cows with moderate production and ad lib. roughage feeding offered no added advantage in milk production and reproduction performance.
Higher concentrate allowances in the ration along with effective evaporative cooling system was the best strategy to maximize production of crossbred cows under hot environmental conditions.
The feeding of 50-60 g mineral mixture, 100 g mustard oil and 750 g protected mustard oil cake daily in the ration of high yielding animals under rural households helped to increase average daily milk yield in cattle and buffaloes.
Provision of sand bedding and rubber mats to KF cows during winter significantly improved milk production and resting and feeding behaviour.
Additional feeding of high energy during early postpartum in high yielding KF cows was effective in ensuring higher feed intake, higher peak milk production, better reproductive efficiency and persistency.
Estimates of economic losses due to different diseases and infections during peripartum period of Sahiwal and Karan Fries cattle and Murrah buffaloes were generated for improving the health management.
A simple method based on careful physical observation and palpation of muscle and fat cover over different points over the body of the animal for scoring the body condition of crossbred dairy cows developed and standardized.
Data on Milk conductivity, pH, somatic cell count (SCC) in different stage of lactation in crossbred Karan Fries cow has been collected in normal and oncoming mastitis animals and under evaluation with sensitive enzymatic confirmation of status of mastitis for developing algorithm by using Artificial Neural Network technique for different stages of lactation in Karan Fries cow.
Change in milk neutrophils was found to be a good indicator of milk quality. Milk SCC in conjunction with DLC can provide a better picture of udder health and milk quality.
Supplementation of Shatavari to high producing cows during pre and postpartum period resulted in improvement of milk production, milk composition, reproductive performance and udder health.
Polyherbal supplementation @ of 200-250 mg/kg BW improved immunity and antioxidant status and thus reduced periparturient stress and associated health problems. This optimized production and reproduction performance and consequently improved economics of milk production.
The best time of insemination from the initiation of estrus in Sahiwal was observed to be 12.5-18 h (59.25). Delaying insemination beyond 18 hours from the initiation of estrus reduced the conception rate of Sahiwal cows to below 15%.
There was no adverse effect on the milk production, reproduction and health of buffaloes maintained under organic production system vis a vis conventional system.
Biotin supplementation was effective against hoof lesions. It helped to reduce lameness score, restore DM intake and improve productive performance of Karan Fries cows.
Muzzle dermatoglyphs of animals have successfully been used to uniquely identify the individual animals for settlement of legal disputes.
The use of vocalization pattern of cows and buffaloes in determining their physiological and pathological status has been established.

Machine milking practices in buffaloes:

Somatic cell counts of indigenous and crossbred cows and buffaloes under farm and field conditions as well as under hand and machine milking practices have been standardized and prediction equations to predict milk loss from SCC values developed.
Pre milking teat stimulation in buffaloes for 1.5-2.2 min prior to application of machine resulted in reduced machine on time, higher milk flow rate and thus better milking efficiency.
The Clientele groups include Dairy Farmers, Farm Women, Rural Youth and Dairy Entrepreneurs. Pre and post milking dipping of teats of cows and buffaloes in iodophore solution improved milk quality and udder health.

Courses offered with syllabus (current)

Ph.D.

LP-711: Advances in Cattle and Buffalo Production and Management (3+0)
LP-712: Advances in Swine and Equine Management (2+1)
LP-713: Advances in Applied Ethology (2+0)
LP-721: Advances in Sheep and Goat Production and Management (3+0)
LP-722: Advances in Poultry Production and Management (3+0)
LP-723: Advances in Environmental Management (1+0)
LP-719: Seminar – I (3+0)
LP-729: Seminar – II (1+0)
Minor disciplines: DCB / DCN / DCP (Any course from the chosen minor discipline) 6
Supporting courses: (DCB/DCN/DCP/DESM) Courses depending upon requirement of student from other than minor/major discipline of the student 5

M.V.Sc

LP-611: Cattle and Buffalo Production and Management (2+1)
LP-612:Livestock Reproduction Management (2+1)
LP-613: Livestock Shelter Management (1+1)
LP-614: Poultry and Rabbit Production and Management (2+1)
LP-615: Climatology and animal production (1+0)
LP-621: Sheep and Goat Production and Management (2+1)
LP-622: Management of Swine, Equine and Wildlife (2+1)
LP-623: Principles of Environmental Hygiene and Waste Management (2+1)
LP-624:Farm Animal Behaviour (2+2)
LP-625: Integrated Livestock Farming System(2+1)
LP-626: Livestock business management (1+1)
LP-619: Seminar (1+0)
LP-629: Seminar (1+0) Minor: DCB / DCN / DCP (Any course from the chosen minor discipline) 6

Non credit courses

GS-632: Technical writing (1+1)
GS-633:Intellectual property and its management in agriculture (1+0)
GS-634: Basic concepts in laboratory techniques/practices (0+1)
LP-635: Disaster Management (0+1)

Sr. No.	Name	Designation
1	Dr. Pawan Singh	Principal Scientist
2	Dr. A.K. Misra	Principal Scientist
3	Dr. T.K.Mohanty	Principal Scientist
4	Dr. M.L. Kamboj	Principal Scientist
5	Dr. S.S. Lathwal	Principal Scientist
6	Dr. Ramesh Chandra	Senior Scientist
7	Dr. Mukesh Bhakat	Senior Scientist
8	Dr. Nishant Kumar	Senior Scientist
9	Dr. Rubina K Baithalu	Scientist

Apart from teaching and research activities LPM faculty is training needy farmers and dairy entrepreneurs by providing technical knowhow, on farm solution for farmer’s problems. The Division has been providing technical expertise/consultancy services to the farmers, dairy entrepreneurs and other livestock development agencies for setting up the dairy farm and implementation of improved breeding and managemental practices under field conditions and at organized farms. In addition, we are also providing certification for frozen semen equipments.

LPM division provides an excellent learning environment with well-equipped class rooms with latest audio-visual aids, with internet connectivity and well-equipped sectional library. We have created data bank of research works/thesis on LPM to facilitate the students to aware of previous research activities to avoid repetition. Central LPM laboratory with uninterrupted power supply and directory of LPM personnel will be useful for easy access to information and to develop contact.

Laboratories: