Department of Animal Genetics & Breeding
Bihar Veterinary College, Patna – 14, Bihar, India
About the Department
The Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics came into existence in 1950. Earlier, it was one of the constituent units of the Animal Husbandry Department, the major department of the college, which included Animal Breeding & Genetics, Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition. After implementation of the Minimum Standard of Veterinary Education under the Veterinary Council of India Act, 1984, the department's name became Animal Genetics & Breeding in 2016.
Since its inception, the department has been actively engaged in teaching, research and extension. With the initiation of the B.V.Sc. & A.H. degree programme at Bihar Veterinary College, Patna, in 1950, the department taught the basic principles of genetics and animal breeding according to the syllabus framed by its professors and scientists.
With the establishment of Rajendra Agriculture University at Pusa in 1971, Bihar Veterinary College, Patna, became a constituent college of that university, and the undergraduate curriculum was introduced according to the ICAR syllabus. Since implementation of the Minimum Standard of Veterinary Education at BVC, Patna, in 1997, the department has taught undergraduate courses according to the VCI syllabus. Computer Application was also added.
The postgraduate programme in Animal Genetics & Breeding was introduced in 1960. The first M.V.Sc. degree was awarded to Dr. R. J. Prasad in 1962, and the first Ph.D. degree was awarded to Dr. R. L. Singh in 1973.
Besides teaching, the department has undertaken various ICAR research projects, including estimation of chromosome numbers and karyotyping in cattle. It was actively engaged in the progeny testing programme of the Tharparkar herd maintained at Bihar Veterinary College, Patna.
Currently, the department is involved in characterization of Animal Genetic Resources of Bihar, genetic improvement of poultry, molecular genetics of disease resistance, transcriptomics and bioinformatic analyses.
Department scientists also provide extension services to livestock farmers through Kisan Melas and Animal Health Camps organized by the college and university, supporting genetic improvement of cattle in Bihar through crossbreeding and grading-up programmes.
Animal Genetic Resources, Animal Breeding, Population and Quantitative Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Poultry Breeding, Disease Resistance, Transcriptomics and Bioinformatics.
Faculty Members
Facilities
Academic Activities
U.G. Courses (As per VCI)
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Genetics and Breeding (AGB) | ||
| AGB UNIT-1 | Biostatistics & Computer Application | 3+1 |
| AGB UNIT-2 | Principles of Animal and Population Genetics | — |
| AGB UNIT-3 | Principles of Animal Breeding | — |
M.V.Sc. Courses (As per ICAR)
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AGB 601 | Animal Cytogenetics and Immunogenetics I | 2+1 |
| AGB 602 | Molecular Genetics I | 2+1 |
| AGB 603 | Population and Quantitative Genetics | 2+1 |
| AGB 604 | Selection Method and Breeding Systems | 2+1 |
| AGB 605 | Biometrical Genetics I | 2+1 |
| AGB 606 | Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources | 2+0 |
| AGB 607 | Cattle and Buffalo Breeding | 2+1 |
| AGB 608 | Sheep and Goat Breeding | 2+0 |
| AGB 609 | Poultry Breeding | 2+1 |
| AGB 610 | Laboratory Animal and Rabbit Breeding | 2+0 |
| AGB 611 | Swine Breeding | 1+0 |
| AGB 612 | Pet Animal Breeding (Dogs and Cats) | 1+0 |
| AGB 613 | Wild Animal Genetics and Breeding | 1+0 |
| AGB 614 | Equine Breeding | 1+0 |
| AGB 615 | Camel Breeding | 1+0 |
| AGB 616 | Yak and Mithun Breeding | 1+0 |
| AGB 617 | Statistical Methods in Animal Breeding | 2+1 |
| AGB 691 | Seminar | 1+0 |
| AGB 699 | Research | 30 |
Ph.D. Courses (As per ICAR)
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AGB 701 | Molecular Genetics II | 2+0 |
| AGB 702 | Trends in Animal Breeding | 2+0 |
| AGB 703 | Biometrical Genetics II | 2+1 |
| AGB 704 | Advances in Selection Methodology | 2+1 |
| AGB 705 | Bioinformatics in Animal Breeding | 1+1 |
| AGB 706 | Animal Cytogenetics and Immunogenetics II | 2+0 |
| AGB 707 | Statistical Software in Animal Breeding | 1+1 |
| AGB 791 | Seminar I | 1+0 |
| AGB 792 | Seminar II | 1+0 |
| AGB 799 | Research | 75 |
Research Activities
Completed Research Projects
| Sl. No. | Title of the Project | Duration | Funding Agency | PI / Co-PIs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Network Project of AnGR on “Survey and characterization of Bachaur Breed of cattle in Bihar”. | 3 Years | NBAGR (ICAR) | PI: Dr. S. R. Singh Co-PI: Dr. K. G. Mandal |
| 2 | Non-plan Project on “Development of Breed Descriptors for Shahabadi cattle and Diara buffalo in their native tracts”. | 3 Years | BAU, Sabour / Bihar Animal Sciences University | PI: Dr. K. G. Mandal Co-PI: Dr. Birendra Kumar |
| 3 | DNA Polymorphism of MHC DRB3 gene in Crossbred and purebred Cattle in their native tract. | 3 Years | BAU, Sabour | PI: Dr. Birendra Kumar Co-PI: Dr. K. G. Mandal |
| 4 | Study on DNA polymorphism at Fec B gene and its association with litter size trait of Local Goats in Bihar. | 2 Years | BAU, Sabour | PI: Dr. R. K. Singh Co-PIs: Dr. S. B. Verma, Dr. K. G. Mandal, Dr. Birendra Kumar |
| 5 | Phenotypic and Genetic Characterization of Goats of West Champaran, Bihar. | 2 Years; 2023–2025 | Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna | PI: Dr. R. K. Singh |
| 6 | Detection of polymorphism in MHC class II genes and their association with theileriosis in cattle. | 2 Years; 2023–2025 | Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna | PI: Dr. Soni Kumari |
Ongoing Research Projects
Externally Funded Projects
| Sl. No. | Title of the Project | Duration | Funding Agency | PI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Network Project on Animal Genetics Resources | 2023 onwards | ICAR-NBAGR, Karnal | Dr. J. P. Gupta |
| 02 | AICRP on Poultry Breeding (AICRP-PB) | 2026 onwards | ICAR-DPR, Hyderabad | Dr. J. P. Gupta |
Bihar Animal Sciences University (BASU) Funded Project
| Sl. No. | Title of the Project | Duration | Funding Agency | PI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Comparative global gene expression profile of interaction of host against natural infection of Theileria in crossbred and indigenous cattle. | 3 Years; 2023–2026 | Institutional Research Project | Dr. J. P. Gupta |
Photo Gallery
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