UPSC exam is a popular exam in India and considered as one of the toughest exams. But candidates with a good understanding and knowledge about their subjects won’t find it difficult. There are many resources for each of the subjects. Finding them and studying the subject matter is the one and only way to earn a higher mark. There are 48 optional subjects where aspirants can choose their subjects. One subject has two papers and each paper carries 250 marks. So in total there are 500 marks for a subject.
Among those 48 optional subjects Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science is a popular one. In this subject aspirants have to face two papers. They include the topics like animal nutrition, physiology, reproduction, livestock production & management, genetics & animal breeding, anatomy, pharmacology, hygiene, animal diseases, veterinary public health, milk products & technology related to it, meat hygiene & technology related to it.
Books to Refer for Animal Husbandry and veterinary science optional exam
Like every other subject, this subject requires referring to a lot of books too. You cannot expect to crack animal husbandry optional exams without referring to animal husbandry and veterinary science optional upsc books. Animal husbandry and veterinary science optional science syllabus includes a variety of components. Every student is required to go through the animal husbandry and veterinary science optional books for upsc before appearing the main exam. Here are some of the best animal husbandry and veterinary science optional upsc books that you can refer to crack the exams for the very first time.
- Principles Of Genetics & Animal Breeding- F H KHAN, Jaypee Brothers
- A guide on forest Entomology – Regupathy
- Advanced Animal Nutrition- D. V Reddy
- Principles Of Animal Nutrition & Feed Technology- D V Reddy, Oxford
- Milk And Milk Products Technology -Subhash Biswas, Jaypee Brothers
- Indian forestry – A breakthrough approach to forest service- K. S Manikandan and S. Prabhu
- Animal husbandry & veterinary science- T.N. Palanivel
- Basics Of Animal Physiology- Monalisa Kar, Anmol Publishers
- Essentials Of Plant Breeding -Phundan Singh, Kalyani Publishers
- Horticulture At A Glance Volume II -A S Salaria, Jain Brothers
- Principles Of Agronomy- Yellamanda Reddy, Kalyani Publishers
- Biotech’s Dictionary Of Animal Husbandry – Daya Publishing
- General Agriculture- Muniraj S Rathore, Jain Brothers
- Animal Physiology- K. A. Goyal, Rastogi publishing
- Principles Of Genetics & Animal Breeding- F H KHAN, Jaypee Brothers
Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional Syllabus Paper-I
Animal husbandry optional syllabus for upsc is comparatively not vast like many other optional syllabus. Animal husbandry and veterinary science optional is often chosen by people who are veterinary doctors or people who have interest in animal husbandry.
#1. Animal Nutrition:
1.1 Partitioning of food energy within the animal, Direct and indirect calorimetry, Carbon – nitrogen balance and comparative slaughter methods, Systems for expressing energy value of foods in ruminants, pigs and poultry, Energy requirements for maintenance, growth, pregnancy, lactation, egg, wool, and meat production.
1.2 Latest advances in protein nutrition, Energy protein interrelationships, Evaluation of protein quality, Use of NPN compounds in ruminant diets, Protein requirements for maintenance, growth, pregnancy, lactation, egg, wool and meat production.
1.3 Major and trace
1.4 Feed
1.5 Conservation of fodders, Storage of feeds and feed ingredients
1.6 Advances in ruminant nutrition, Nutrient requirements, balanced rations, Feeding of calves, pregnant, work animals and breeding bulls, Strategies for feeding milking animals during different stages of lactation cycle, Effect of feeding on milk composition, Feeding of goats for meat and milk production, Feeding of sheep for meat and wool production.
1.7 Swine Nutrition, Nutrient requirements, Creep, starter, grower and finisher rations, feeding of pigs for lean meat production, Low cost rations for swine.
1.8 Poultry nutrition, Special features of poultry nutrition, nutrient requirements for meat and egg production, formulation of rations for different classes of layers and broilers.
#2. Animal Physiology
2.1 Physiology of blood and its circulation, respiration; excretion
2.2 Blood constituents
2.3 Circulation
2.4 Respiration
2.5 Excretion
2.6 Endocrine glands
2.7 Growth and Animal Production Prenatal and postnatal growth, maturation, growth curves, measures of growth, factors affecting growth, conformation, body composition, meat quality.
2.8 Physiology of Milk Production, Reproduction and Digestion- Current status of hormonal control of mammary development, milk secretion and milk ejection, Male and Female reproductive organs, their components and functions, digestive organs and their functions.
2.9 Environmental Physiological relations and their regulation
#3. Animal Reproduction:
Semen quality
#4. Livestock Production and Management:
4.1 Commercial Dairy Farming Comparison of dairy farming in India with advanced countries
4.2 Commercial meat, egg and wool production
4.3 Feeding and management of animals under drought, flood and other natural calamities
#5. Genetics and Animal Breeding:
5.1 History of animal genetics
5.2 Population Genetics applied to Animal Breeding
5.3 Breeding Systems
#6. Extension:
Basic philosophy, objectives, concept and principles of extension, different methods adopted to educate farmers under rural conditions, generation of technology it’s transfer and feedback, problems and constraints in transfer of technology and Animal husbandry programs for rural development.
Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional Syllabus Paper-II
#1. Anatomy, Pharmacology and Hygiene:
1.1 Histology and Histological Techniques
1.2 Embryology
1.3 Bovine Anatomy
1.4 Anatomy of Fowl
1.5 Pharmacology and therapeutic drugs
1.6 Veterinary Hygiene with reference to water, air and habitation
#2. Animal Diseases
2.1 Etiology, epidemiology pathogenesis, symptoms, postmortem lesions, diagnosis, and control of infectious diseases of cattle, sheep and goat, horses, pigs and poultry.
2.2 Etiology, epidemiology, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment of production diseases of cattle, horse, pig and poultry.
2.3 Deficiency diseases of domestic animals and birds.
2.4 Diagnosis and treatment of non-specific conditions like impaction, Bloat, Diarrhea, Indigestion, dehydration, stroke, poisoning.
2.5 Diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders.
2.6 Principles and methods of immunization of animals against specific diseases herd immunity- disease free zones- zero disease concept- chemoprophylaxis.
2.7 Anesthesia- local, regional and general- pre anesthetic medications
2.8 Disease investigation techniques.- Materials for laboratory investigation Establishment of Animal Health Centers Disease free zone.
#3. Veterinary Public Health:
3.1 Zoonosis
3.2 Epidemiology
3.3 Veterinary Jurisprudence
#4. Milk and Milk Products Technology:
4.1 Market Milk
4.2 Milk Products Technology
#5. Meat Hygiene and Technology:
5.1 Meat Hygiene.
5.1.1 Ante mortem care and management of food animals, stunning, slaughter and dressing operations; abattoir requirements and designs; Meat inspection procedures and judgment of carcass meat cuts- grading of carcass meat cuts- duties and functions of Veterinarians in wholesome meat production.
5.1.2 Hygienic methods of handling production of meat- Spoilage of meat and control measures- Post – slaughter physicochemical changes in meat and factors that influence them- Quality improvement methods – Adulteration of meat and detection – Regulatory provisions in Meat trade and Industry.
5.2 Meat Technology.
5.2.1 Physical and chemical characteristics of meat- Meat emulsions- Methods of preservation of meat- Curing, canning, irradiation, packaging of meat and meat products, processing and formulations.
5.3 By- products- Slaughterhouse byproducts and their utilization- Edible and inedible by products- Social and economic implications of proper utilization of slaughter house by-products- Organ products for food and pharmaceuticals.
5.4 Poultry Products Technology Chemical composition and nutritive value of poultry meat
5.5 Rabbit/Fur Animal farming All of these topics are discussed under this animal husbandry and veterinary science subject. So, all the aspirants need to go through these subjects if they want to earn a good mark. Studying is the one and only way for success in these cases. There are many resources where anyone can find in the market and read to learn about the syllabus. Following a good preparation strategy is the best way to successfully face this exam.
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