About the Directorate

University Research Mandate

• To coordinate research in all the areas of animal sciences with emphasis on animal health and production, dairy and fisheries sciences.
• To develop collaborative research linkages with other international and national research institutes and universities
• Guide and assist the university scientists in acquiring funding for new research projects from national/international funding agencies.
• Monitoring and technical evaluation of research activities of constituent departments of the university.
• To define the future thrust areas and implement short term/long term research strategies of the university.

Goals

• To organize research activities aimed at improving the health and production of animals in the state.
• Developing low cost, cutting-edge technologies that are effectively transferable to the state farmers, entrepreneurs and other stake holders.
• To orient the research mandates for economic upliftment of the state livestock farmers.

Thrust Area

Veterinary Science

• Conservation of germplasm and Genetic improvement of various livestock species
• To establish elite herd of Nili Ravi for the production of genetically superior young bulls. And to produce, test, propagate and conserve high genetic merit male germplasm
• To monitor and establish physiological and biochemical markers for climate change, health and animal production with multidisciplinary approach
• Ensure sustainable levels of livestock production in heat stress conditions
• Mitigation of enteric methane emission from ruminants using plant secondary metabolites
• Evaluation of existing feed practices followed by canine owners and pet food formulation for different categories/breeds using novel feed resources
• Potential of different maize hybrids for ensiling
• Impact of nutritional interventions in manipulating RM & PV
• Nutritional evaluation of cull fruit and vegetables in ruminants and poultry
• Use of cereal milling by-products in straw based complete rations and evaluation in ruminants
• Use of paddy straw as livestock feed
• Surveillance and Monitoring of economically important diseases of livestock and Disease forecasting activities
• To improve diagnostics for major infectious diseases of livestock, poultry and companion animals.
• Development of improved vaccines.
• To study molecular epidemiology and develop strategies for control of major infectious diseases of domestic animals (brucellosis, FMD, HS, TB, JD, Canine Parvovirus, CDV, Chicken anemia virus etc.)
• To investigate the antigenic relationship among the various antigenic types of CPV and vaccine strains as well as their cross-protection efficacy
• Development of a single multiplex PCR for identification of mastitis causing microorganisms along with the antibiotic resistant genes against commonly used antibiotics in dairy animals
• One Health approach to ensure food safety, the control of zoonoses and combatting antibiotic resistance.
• Monitoring of Environmental pollutants and drug residues
• Ensuring Safety and Quality of Food of Animal Origin
• Animal Health Economics of important zoonotic disease for prioritizing research and disease control policies.
• Environmental pollutant/pesticides vis-a-vis immune modulations
• Identification, characterization of genes implicated in reproduction, production, disease & stress tolerance and their utilization in genetic improvement of animals
• Characterization of stem cells and exploration their use in regenerative medicine
• Elucidating the role of Cas6, Cas7 and Cas8 in spirochetes CRISPR adaptive immunity against alien genetic elements
• Development and evaluation of therapeutic xenogenic DNA vaccines based on canine homologous marker sequences against mammary tumors in mice models
• Xanthosine treatment: A novel strategy to increase milk production and mammary stem cells”
• Parentage Determination and Cytogenetic Profiling in Dogs
• Assessment of current practices, related risks and policy development for carcasses disposal ecosystem in Punjab, India
• Epidemiology, diagnostics (classico-immuno-molecular) and drug resistance (anthelmintics and acaricides) of  important parasitic diseases of livestock and pet animals.
• Diagnostic approaches for the detection of co-infection of Bovine Tuberculosis and Paratuberculosis
• Development and application of newer technological interventions and control strategies to minimise the occurrence of parasitic diseases of the state.
• Cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of pesticides and its amelioration with conventional and indigenous means
• Evaluation of efficacy of herbal supplementation on production performance of dairy goats
• Screening of Citrullus colocynthis and Pongamia pinnata for medicinal potential.
• Development of nanoparticle based anti-microbial drug delivery system for combating antibiotic resistance
• Studies on B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography and to work on prognostic and surgical protocols in bovine and equine patient suffering from abdominal affections
• To evaluate laser, endoscopic, laparoscopic and Ophthalmic surgery and advanced orthopedic techniques in veterinary patients
• Development of novel suture materials and implants for canine arthropathies
• Development and clinical applications of biomaterials for root canal treatment and crown therapy in dogs
• Diagnosis and surgical management of abdominal and reproductive disorders in equine
• Development of Bioactive biodegradable films for the extension of storage stability of livestock products
• Encapsulation of natural bioactive compounds and micronutrients for the enhancement of nutritive, stability and processing functionality of meat products
• Development of extended storage life functional meat products by incorporating bioactive phyto-ingredients.
• Development of species specific, fortified, age specific variety of pet foods by incorporating byproducts of animal industry.
• Extraction, characterization and application of multifunctional peptides to develop functional meat products.
• Processing and packaging of meat and egg into novel value added meat and egg products
• Preservation methodologies and interventions like encapsulation technologies, nanotechnology etc. for quality improvement of livestock products.
• Novel value added/Functional meat and egg products with improved functionality by enrichment with fiber, minerals, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid, bioactive peptides etc.
• Processing technologies for extension of storage life of meat and egg products by incorporating antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds of plants and animal origin and coating with bioactive nano-composite films.
• Development of high-value low-volume processed products (ossein, bone morphogenic proteins, gelatine sheets, neat’s foot oil etc.) from slaughter house by-products for environmental safety.
• Development of natural scavengers (microbes, enzymes etc.) for reduction of biological oxygen demand of effluents from animal industry to check environmental degradation.

FISHERIES

• Development/testing, demonstration and replication of Inland saline water aquaculture technologies
• Diversification of carp culture with high value pangas catfish
• Development/testing, demonstration and replication of integrated Aquaculture Models
• Development of medicated aquaculture feeds by incorporating medicinal herbs
• Incorporation of  non-conventional feed resources in aquaculture fish feed formulation
• Development, demonstration and adoption of Zero wastage fish/shellfish processing technologies
• Development, demonstration and replication of Duckweed based eco-friendly bioremediation technology for waste water/village ponds
• Non-Food aquaculture (Ornamental fisheries and freshwater pearl culture) technologies
• Development, demonstration and replication of region specific Azolla culture technology
• Pond cage Aquaculture technologies - Cage culture of high values species in fresh water carp aquaculture ponds
• Ecological Mapping of natural water resources – water quality, biodiversity and population dynamics, pollution status & bioaccumulation of potential pollutants in the food chain
• Disease Surveillance in aquaculture systems with special reference to village ponds and inland saline areas

DAIRY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Food fortification with micronutrients, vitamins and other functional ingredients using encapsulation of bioactive ingredients and nanotechnology
• Prototype development for value addition of whey and pearl millets: for gluten free cookies and muffins
• Development and characterization of antimicrobial nanobiocomposite film using nanoparticles
• Synergistic Effect of Modified Atmospheric Packaging(MAP) and Antimicrobial Edible packaging on shelf life enhancement of Composite Dairy Foods(Doda Burfi etc.).
• Bioactive biodegradable composite films for the extension of Livestock products
• To develop innovative technology for the development of new functional dairy foods with enhanced functionality and better acceptability
• Animal model study for the safety and bioavailability of nanotechnology based newly developed food ingredients and foods
• Utilization of whey and its components as novel food ingredients
• Isolation and Characterization of Novel Oxalate Degrading Lactic Acid Bacteria for Possible Probiotic Management of Kidney Stone
• Development of Designer Foods for Management of Metabolic disorders
• Exploring whey for bioactive peptides for industrial application 
• Establishment of candidate probiotic strains of Indigenous origin and exploring molecular mechanism of probiotic functionality
• Antimicrobial Resistance in Dairy Microflora
• Development of paper based microfluidic device for selected adulterants in milk
• Development of Ultra-Sonication Based Homogenizer for Small Scale Dairy Farmers
• Development of whey protein based biodegradable cup for food and dairy product packaging
• Application of thermo fluid for mechanization of process used for manufacture of dairy products
• Mechanization of process involved in manufacture of mozzarella cheese
• Development of process technology for heat treatment of milk using solar concentrator to manufacture of sterilized milk
• Examining the profitability and marketing pattern of livestock based integrated models in Punjab