Research and Technology » Animal Health

The division of Animal Health has its origin from the Sheep Husbandry Section initiated at the inception of Institute in 1962. In 1970 the Sheep Husbandry Section was renamed Sheep Health Section. Up to 1978, the main role of section was to provide health cover to the flocks of the Institute and support to the main animal breeding research programme. The section initiated a long term research project on the epidemiology of sheep and goat diseases in 1978. The section has provided valuable insight on the various diseases and health related problems that occur when the production potential and genotypes of animals are progressively altered. The Animal Health Section was re-designated as Division of Animal Health in 1987 and initiated developing rapid diagnostic facilities for epidemiological studies, disease surveillance and monitoring, forecasting, prevention and control of sheep diseases in the Institute / field flocks.

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Disease data information system for sheep and goat flocks at organized farms has been developed.
• Sheep flock health management calendar and package of practices for control of infectious diseases has been evolved.  
• Planned flock health management programme reduced the mortality in sheep from 23% to around 5% in TOT flocks.
• Epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematodosis has been completed and suitable methods for its control were developed.
• Formulated region based modified worm management programme for sheep flocks of Rajasthan.
• Mechanism for targeted selective treatment was developed for effective worm management and judicious use of anthelmintics.
• Developed forecasting system (“FROGIN”) for gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep flocks of Rajasthan.
• Established intensity of emergence of anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in Rajasthan.
• Estimated economic losses caused by gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep flocks of Rajasthan.
• Created divergent lines of sheep with respected to resistance/resilient to H. contortus. Animals of resistant line were maintained without anthelmintic since 2004.
• Established role of Fec B gene in resistance / resilience to gastrointestinal nematodes in Garole sheep.
• Bionomics of nasal myiasis has been studied and control measures were developed.
• ELISA for diagnosis of Blue tongue disease has been standardized and establishment sero-prevalence of Blue tongue disease in Rajasthan.
• Diagnostic methods for Johne’s disease have been perfected.
• The incidence of enterotoxaemia, Johne’ disease, sheep pox in the farm has been reduced.
• PCR based rapid diagnostic methods were developed for diagnosis of ovine pulmonary adenomatosis, Johne’ disease, caseous lymphadenitis and foot rot.