What is Veterinary Science?
Veterinary science and animal husbandry is a wide subject that deals with the study of animal breeding, product development, treatment of ailments and injuries in animals, prevention of disease, and its diagnosis. It covers the study of both domestic and wild animals of every species which increases its scope of study. after completion of this course, medical professionals who are generally called veterinarians get expertise in animal care and they also prevent the spread of many animal diseases by treating them at the right time. They also take care of food safety and sanitization in poultry farming and animal breeding. These medical professionals are responsible for animal patients monitoring and their treatment to provide a healthy, long life to animals.
Key skill to be a veterinarian
- Able to adapt to the working environment
- Should be vigilant in emergency situations
- Able to perform postmortems of animals
- Should be animal friendly and dedicated towards animals
- Should possess empathy and love to animals
- One must be mentally and emotionally strong
- Must be careful while treating an animal
- One should have decision making and effective communication skills
Course Curriculum of Veterinary Science
Since veterinary science is a vast subject, it deals with the study of the animal body and its functioning. Unlike the human body, the anatomy and physiology of every animal differ and so their functioning. Here is a list of subjects that students will get to study during the course
- Veterinary Anatomy
- Veterinary Physiology
- Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Veterinary Pathology
- General Veterinary Biochemistry
- Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology
- Biostatistics and Computer Application
- Animal Nutrition
- Animal Genetics and Breeding
- Livestock Production Management
- Livestock Products Technology
- Fodder Production & Grassland Management
- Veterinary Histology & Embryology
- Avian Production Management
- Veterinary Immunology and Serology
- Aquatic Animal Diseases, Hearth Care and Management
- Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics
- Veterinary Surgery and Radiology
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education
- Veterinary Clinical Practice
- Animal Welfare, Ethics & Jurisprudence
Career Opportunities in Veterinary Science
Veterinary science is a field of ample career opportunities that one might want to pursue. Due to the tremendous demand for veterinarians, it provides a huge aspect of employment sectors such as agriculture sectors, government animal husbandry departments, poultry farms, veterinary hospitals, and private clinics, defence dog training centres, zoological parks, aviaries, wildlife sanctuaries, research institutes, animal breeding centres, animal resource development, biological products or vaccine institutions, central farms, diagnostic laboratories, department of animal husbandry & dairying, disease investigation centres, drug research institutions, feed processing industry, ministry of agriculture, veterinary instruments/equipment industry, and many more such fields.
Job Prospects of Veterinary Science
Veterinarians get desired job positions after having a degree in veterinary science
| Veterinary anesthesiologist | Veterinary behaviorist |
| Animal breeder | Army veterinarian |
| Animal care specialist | Emergency and critical care veterinarian |
| Animal nutritionist | Food safety and inspection veterinarian |
| Research veterinarian | Veterinary professor |
| Food animal veterinarian | Wildlife veterinarian |
| Veterinary assistant surgeon | Companion animal veterinarian |
Salary Package
This field offers a great package despite the country and region as the need for veterinarians is always in demand to provide medical treatment to animals. Also, this sector has diverged and not only limited to government or private hospitals but it also has extended to poultry and livestock to examine animals and treat them to produce high yield products in cattle farming and dairy industries. Initially, a veterinarian can get to work in government/private hospitals with an average starting salary of 4-5 LPA. Depending on the practice and experience, one might get a remuneration of 15-20 LPA. The average pay scale in foreign countries is however slightly high as compared to India, it may range between $20,000-$50,000 per annum.
Eligibility and Course Duration
- Diploma degree: Diploma in veterinary science and animal husbandry is a full-time 2-year degree program that focuses on training students in animal care. There are varied diploma programs that can be pursued
- Diploma in animal reproduction
- Diploma in preventive veterinary medicine
- Diploma in veterinary and livestock development assessment
- Diploma in veterinary pharmacy
- Diploma in veterinary science and animal health technology
- Diploma in Animal Husbandry & Dairying
- Diploma in Veterinary Lab Technician
- Diploma in Veterinary Assistant
Eligibility: Aspiring candidates can pursue a diploma in veterinary science after 10th from a recognized board with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in the board examination.
- Graduate degree in veterinary science: BVSc. (Bachelor of veterinary science) is a full-time 5 years program that is more likely an MBBS program but here students gain deep knowledge about the animal body, its illness, and the required treatments. Students can opt for any of the bachelor’s degree in veterinary sciences
- BVSc. Animal Genetics and Breeding
- BVSc. Animal Nutrition
- BVSc. Veterinary Microbiology
- BVSc. Veterinary Pathology
- BVSc. Veterinary Surgery and Radiology
- BVSc. Livestock Production and Management
- BVSc. Veterinary Anatomy and Histology
- BVSc. Pharmacology and Toxicology
- BVSc. Veterinary Medicine, Public Health and Hygiene
- BVSc.in Veterinary Gynecology & Obstetrics
Eligibility: To be eligible to pursue BVSc. Course, candidates must have passed 10+2 higher secondary examination from a recognized board with physics, chemistry, and biology as mainstream subjects. After completing 12th, they have to appear for any one of the state level or national levels entrance exams such as NEET, AIPVT, AICEE, MHTCET, RPVT, or any other exams conducted by the respective universities they would like to enroll in.
- Postgraduate degree in veterinary science: This is a master’s level post-graduation program that can be opted after completion of BVSc. This program is generally a specialization course that takes 2-3 years of completion. In masters also, students get to choose a variety of programs such as
- M.Sc. in Veterinary Medicine
- M.Sc. in Livestock Products Technology
- M.Sc. in Livestock Production & Management
- M.Sc. in Veterinary Microbiology
- M.Sc. in Veterinary Parasitology
- M.Sc. in Veterinary Gynecology & Obstetrics
- M.Sc. in Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology
- M.Sc. in Veterinary Surgery & Radiology
- Master of Veterinary Medicine (MVM)
- MVSc.in Veterinary Physiology
- MVSc.in Veterinary Pathology
- MVSc.in Veterinary Preventive Medicine
- MVSc.in Veterinary Physiology & Biochemistry
- MVSc.in Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology
- Master of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry (MVSc. & A.H.)
- MVSc.in Animal Biochemistry
- MVSc.in Animal Genetics & Breeding
- MVSc.in Animal Biotechnology
- MVSc.in Epidemiology
- MVSc.in Animal Nutrition
- MVSc.in Biostatistics
- MVSc.in Livestock Economics
- MVSc.in Livestock Products Technology
- MVSc.in Livestock Production & Management
- MVSc.in Anatomy & Histology
- MVSc.in Gynecology & Obstetrics
- MVSc.in Veterinary Bacteriology
- MVSc.in Veterinary Biochemistry
- MVSc.in Veterinary Medicine
- MVSc.in Veterinary Immunology
- MVSc.in Veterinary Microbiology
- MVSc.in Veterinary Parasitology
- MVSc.in Veterinary Virology
- MVSc.in Veterinary Surgery & Radiology
- MVSc.in Wildlife
- MVSc.in Veterinary Anatomy
- Master of Science [MS] (Quality Systems in Dairy Processing)
List of some PG diploma courses after BVSc.
- PG Diploma in Small Animal Diagnostic Ultrasound
- PG Diploma in Veterinary Ophthalmology
- PG Diploma in Small Animal Orthopedics
- PG Diploma in Small Animal Dermatology
- PG Diploma in Regenerative Medicine
- PG Diploma in Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care Medicine
- PG Diploma in Zoonoses
- PG Diploma in Commercial Poultry Production & Management
- PG Diploma in Diversified Poultry Production
- PG Diploma in Ethno Veterinary Practices
- PG Diploma in Feed Manufacturing Technology
Eligibility: To pursue a master's degree or postgraduate diploma in veterinary science, candidates must have completed BVSc. or any relevant subject with a minimum of 50% marks in graduation. Some colleges might also take entrance exams for the admission process.
- Ph.D. specialization in veterinary science: There are also many doctoral programs in veterinary science, the time taken to complete a Ph.D. in veterinary science is a maximum of 3-5 years. Courses available for Ph.D. in veterinary science are namely as
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Surgery & Radiology
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Physiology
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Pathology
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Microbiology
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Parasitology
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Biochemistry
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Gynecology & Obstetrics
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine
- Ph.D. in Animal Science
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Extension Education
- Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Anatomy & Histology
- Ph.D. in Animal Husbandry
Eligibility: A master’s degree in the relevant field is necessary to pursue Ph.D. in veterinary science.
Top colleges of Veterinary Sciences in India
- IACR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal
- Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Haryana
- Guru Anand Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University, Punjab
- College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Uttarakhand
- Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Rajasthan
- Tamil Nadu Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Chennai
- Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Durg
- College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, U.P
- Birsa Agriculture University, Jharkhand
- College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Madhya Pradesh
- Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Andhra Pradesh
- Bombay Veterinary College, Maharashtra
- Nagpur Veterinary College, Maharashtra
- Sir PV Narasimha Rao Telangana State Veterinary University, Telangana
- Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Science University (TANUVAS), Tamil Nadu
- Veterinary College Hebbal, Karnataka
Top Colleges of Veterinary Sciences in USA
- University of Cambridge, UK
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
- Stanford University, USA
- Cornell University, USA
- University of Wageningen, Netherlands
- University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- University of Pennsylvania, USA
- University of California, Davis, USA
- University of Edinburgh, UK
- LMU Munich, Germany
- The Royal Veterinary College, the UK
- The Ohio State University, the USA
- University of Cambridge, the UK
- University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Vetsuisse Faculty Bern and Zurich, Switzerland