Research

Research Projects

  • Establishment of fodder banks with improved perennial fodder varieties for low irrigation input areas under state plan with an out lay of 4.7 lakhs in the year 2004
  • Establishment of Jersey X Sahiwal germplasm was sanctioned under RKVY Project of central government in the year 2008 with an outlay of 117.69 lakhs
  • For the first time in the university, a Public – Private Partnership Project (PPP model Project) from Pfizer Company was sanctioned with an outlay of 31.82 lakhs for studying the depletion profile of the drugs like, Fipronil, Buparvaquone and Piroxicam during the years 2012 to 2014

Research Achievements

  • Seven acres of land has been brought under cultivation and 22 varieties of perennial fodder varieties were established.
  • The dept was pioneered to develop a model on” Environmentally controlled dairy housing system for dairy animals for the first time in India under Modernization of the farms in the year 2014.
  • Developed a feeding system based on Azolla (AzollaParadoxa) and Sheanutcake (VitellariaParadoxa) for Nellore sheep reared in different management systems,
  • Analysed sheep production systems of north coastal zone of Andhra Pradesh
  • Analysed sheep based farming systems in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh
  • Analysed SUNANDHINI calf rearing scheme in Rayalseema region of Andhra Pradesh
  • Validation of Portable Near Infra Red Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) for the evaluation of feeds and fodders in the development of Ruminant Production systems.
  • Application of body condition score (BCS) system for Murrah and Graded Murrah buffaloes for improved productivity under field conditions,
  • Adaptability and performance of Sahiwal and Jersey x Sahiwal crossbred cows in tropical conditions.
  • Identified the different migratory aspects of sheep rearing in Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh
  • Established the correlation of Body Condition Score (BCS) with reproductive performance in Nellore Jodipi sheep
  • Assessed the stress levels in elephants in zoo, wild and semi wild conditions by fecal cortisol estimation

Research

This department has been conducting research on the following areas:

  • To study the shelf life of processed meat products by using various nano encapsulated essential oils and packaging methods.
  • To detect various heavy metals in the ecosystem of industrial region of Tirupati.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of herbal formulation AV/LMP/10 in lean meat production in broilers.
  • Development and quality evaluation of chicken meat sausages enriched with omega-3-fatty acid.
  • Studies on characterisation of slaughterhouse waste water and its impact on public health.
  • Development of novel binding systems for extended restructured buffalo meat products.
  • Assessment of quality of the beef samples intended for feeding of carnivores in S.V Zoological Park, Tirupati,
  • Studies on the utilisation of spent breeder hen meat for the development of value added sausages fortified with different ground vegetable oil seeds.
  • Development of packaging films embedded with different nano particles to enhance the shelf life of pork.

Research Projects

  • Research projects completed (Independently / Collaboration):
  • Studies on semen characteristics and preservation of Native Buck semen andEstablished freezing protocols for the freezing of Native Buck semen.
  • Production of embryos from the primordial follicles of Sheep.
  • On going research project(s) (Collaboration):
  • Identification and Evaluation of Novel Biomarkers for Diagnosing Bovine Uterine Neoplasia.

Research Achievements

  • This department has carried out pioneering works in the area of Seminology.
  • Conducted pioneering works in the clinical research such as estrus synchronisation, induction of estrus, endometritis and anestrous.
  • Established serum profiles of luteinizing hormone in normal and abnormally cycling cows, the first of its kind in India.
  • First time in India this Department identified uterine neoplasia (asymptomatic) in repeat breeding infertile cows and buffaloes.
  • First time in India this Department standardised a simple, cost effective and farmer friendly approach “Non – Manual Removal of RFM” in bovines, the first of its kind in India.
  • First time in India this Department validated Endocervical Cytology for diagnosing subclinical endometritis in bovines.
  • Very recently this Department also standardised PGIMFT as a perfect tool to confirm true anestrous in bovines required for field practice.

Research and other activities

  • Completed 13 research projects funded by various funding agencies and there are four ongoing projects in the department in which one of the project is funded by BBSRC, UK.
  • Research by students and faculty published in high impact peered-reviewed national & international journals.
  • Books, instructional materials and teaching aids are prepared by the faculty as valuable tools to equip students with updated knowledge.
  • Faculty won several coveted awards, prizes, fellowships.
  • Several training and awareness programmes were organized and conducted by this department. Recently ICAR sponsored winter school for 21days was conducted on “Molecular diagnosis of diseases of small ruminants”.

Ongoing Research Projects

  • Epidemiological investigation on prevalence of sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF) in cattle/ Buffaloes of Andhra Pradesh.
  • Epidemiological mapping of Clostridium perfringens toxin types causing lamb mortality in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Recombinant chimeric fusion gene subunit vaccine against Clostridial enteric infections in animals.
  • Production and application of IgY antibodies for passive immunization.
  • Accelerating impact of uptake of best practice of lameness in South India by understanding disease presentation in wet season and role of actor network in sheep management sponsored by BBSRC global challenges research fund.

Research Objectives

  • Documentation and Identification of active principles of plant origin for the treatment of viral & bacterial diseases and metabolic diseases of cattle & poultry.
  • Preparation and validation of various Ayurvedic/herbal formulations for the treatment of viral and bacterial diseases and metabolic diseases of livestock and poultry.
  • Collection of materials to develop an herbal garden for the development of ethno-pharmacology wing.
  • Collaborating with pharmaceutical companies for safety evaluation of their products.

Research Projects

  • The department is involved in research on wildlife forensics to detect species origin of meat, sanitary quality of water, food safety aspects of meat, milk and eggs, sero-diagnosis of zoonotic infections and antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolates from food and clinical samples.
  • This department has been conducting research on the following areas
    • Quality and public health safety of foods of animal origin in and around Tirupati
    • Surveillance of E.coli in animals and humans.
    • Detection of food poisoning microorganisms like Listeria, Yersinia, Aeromonas, Salmonella and E.coli from foods of animal origin and environmental samples.
    • Lyrics bacteriophages against pathogens of zoonotic significance
    • Effect of plant extracts in sanitation programme
  • Eco friendly disposal of slaughterhouse waste
  • Detection of Heavy metal residues in different animal products like milk, meat and eggs.
  • Till now the faculty of this department has published more than 80 articles in various National and International Journals.
  • A State Plan Project on “Clinical pathology, sero epidemiology and diagnosis of Leptospirosis in the domesticated and domiciled animals and man were completed under one health concept”. Under this project serum samples from animals and humans were tested for Leptospirosis and reported the high incidence of Leptospirosis and reported the high incidence of Leptospirosis in and around Tirupati.

Ongoing Research Projects

  • At present the department is handling two Minor research projects
  • Studies on dairy farm sewage treatment using Moringaolifera
  • Eco friendly disposal of solid waste of slaughter house and retail meat shops with pre treatment and co digestion with animal manure.
  • A collaborative research project entitled “Comparative Study of Shiga Toxin producing E.coli Biodiversity in India and Tunisia: An Integrated Surveillance and Molecular Characterisation of Shiga Toxin producing E.coli and its Antimicrobial Resistance and Zoonotic Significance”. this project proposal is a collaborative research project provisionally by the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research of the Republic of Tunisia and Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India. This research project was provisionally selected and final confirmation is yet to come.

Research

The department is conducting Clinical and field oriented research (Post Graduate / Doctoral)

  • Epidural anaesthesia in large animals.
  • Ascites in dogs (diagnostic imaging aspects).
  • Orthopaedic techniques in dogs.
  • Artificial limb prostheses in dogs.