Career Options in Veterinary Science

In one of my recent career counseling program, I have come across many students asking me about a career in healthcare. Many students have appeared in National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and few will make their way towards medical colleges through their score of NEET while many will not get admission in medical colleges, whether it is government or private. Well, we are always concerned about our health. At the same time, there are many animals which also need medical care. Importance of animal care is close to those who possess livestock or pets at home.

There is a special science or medicine that deals with animals. Veterinary medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in animals. The scope of veterinary medicine is wide, covering all animal species, both domesticated and wild, with a wide range of conditions which can affect different species. Veterinary science helps human health through the monitoring and control of zoonotic disease (infectious disease transmitted from non-human animals to humans) and veterinary scientists often collaborate with epidemiologists. Veterinary Science is the science of diagnosing, treating and curing the diverse types of diseases amongst animals and birds. The subject generally covers the study of animal physiology, treatment, and prevention of diseases among animals.

Like doctors for human beings, there are doctors who deal with animal health and they are known as veterinary doctors. A veterinary doctor has a major role in the conservation of livestock and domestic animal wealth. Veterinary doctors deal with the treatment, care, and handling of domestic pets, livestock, animals in the zoo, laboratory, sporting animals or animals with the government's animal husbandry departments. They take up practice exclusively of either large animals, such as cattle, including horses, pigs, sheep; poultry, etc or small animals mainly household pets, including dogs, cats, birds, etc. or both.

To become a veterinarian it is essential to have a Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc.). Aspirants need to be from a science background in senior secondary level and possess biology apart from physics and chemistry. Admission to most veterinary colleges is on the basis of results obtained in the entrance examination conducted by the concerned universities apart from national entrance examinations. Some of the departments in veterinary sciences are Animal Genetics & Breeding, Animal Nutrition, Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology & Obst, Extension Education, Livestock Production & Management, Livestock Products Technology, Poultry Science, Veterinary Anatomy & Histology, Veterinary Biochemistry, Veterinary Public Health, etc.

There are many different scope and opportunities for successful veterinarians who can choose to work with the government animal husbandry departments, poultry farms, dairy farms, sheep and rabbit farms, race clubs, stud farms, private and government veterinary hospitals and clinics. There are emerging scopes in the field of wildlife conservation. The Army and some of the Para Military Forces also employ veterinarians for the care and treatment of their mounted regiments which have horses, mules, camels, dogs, etc. Apart from this, there are other options where they can become self-employed or take up research activities with reputed institutes like the Indian Council for Agricultural Research. Pharmaceutical industries appoint veterinary scientists in their research and development divisions for the research and development.

There are around 41 government colleges offering courses related to veterinary. Few institutes of universities are Faculty of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara Campus, Guwahati; College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University Selesih, Mizoram; College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, etc.

College of Veterinary Science, AAU: The faculty of Veterinary Science is under Assam Agriculture University. This faculty comprises of two Colleges, viz., College of Veterinary Science situated at Khanapara, Guwahati and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Joyhing, North Lakhimpur located at a distance of 300 km and 440 km from AAU Headquarters, respectively. The College of Veterinary Science, Guwahati had its origin in Assam Veterinary College established in 1948 at Nagaon. The College was shifted to the premises of the Directorate of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department, Government of Assam at Chenikuthi, Guwahati in 1950. Later in 1960, the College was again shifted to its present location at Khanapara, Guwahati. This college was affiliated to the AAU in 1969. The Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Joyhing offers only the Bachelor of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc. & A.H.) degree program starting from 1988 onwards.

The degree programs offered by the Faculty of Veterinary Science are as follows: B. V. Sc. & A. H. of 5 ½ years (including internship of 1 year), M. V. Sc. of 4 semesters and Ph. D. of 6 semesters.

The departments involved in offering undergraduate courses are:

1) Animal Genetics & Breeding

2) Animal Nutrition

3) Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology & Obstetrics.

4) Extension Education

5) Livestock Production & Management

6) Livestock Production Technology

7) Poultry Science

8) Veterinary Anatomy & Histology

9) Veterinary Biochemistry

10) Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Ethics & Jurisprudence

11) Veterinary Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine

12) Veterinary Microbiology

13) Veterinary Parasitology

14) Veterinary Pathology

15) Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology

16) Veterinary Physiology

17) Veterinary Public Health, and

18) Veterinary Surgery & Radiology

Apart from qualification some of the attributes are needed to become successful in this field. One needs to have patience as they deal with animals or birds and not unlike human being who can speak and express their problem. There are demands in this field and aspirants may take it up and contribute for the animal care and also for the conservation of rare and endangered species.

SCHOLARSHIPS UPDATE:

Scholarships for Girls: DRDO has launched the ‘DRDO Scholarship Scheme for Girls’ through Aeronautics Research and Development Board (AR&DB), DRDO HQ. AR&DB has been mandated to nurture quality aeronautics human power in the country since inception in 1971. This scholarship scheme would attract such women power from various institutes through a transparent process with an objective to tap the talent of bright students across the country. RAC invites online scholarship applications from the Girls / Women students studying in first year of Under Graduate (BE/B.TECH: Full time four year degree) and Post Graduate (M.TECH/ME: Two year full time degree course) under “DRDO Scholarship Scheme for Girls in Aerospace Engg / Aeronautical Engg / Space Engg / Rocketry / Avionics / Aircraft Engg” through RAC website https://rac.gov.in. Last date is 10th September.

(Ranjan K Baruah is a career mentor, skill trainer, motivational speaker and strategic planner who has conducted career awareness programme in different parts of Assam and Northeast and can be reached at bkranjan@gmail.com or 8473943734 for any career-related queries)

Ranjan K Baruah

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