Veterinarians Contribution to Livestock Sector Growth through Physiological Innovations for Viksit Bharat 2047
Vijayalakshmi1
PhD. Scholar, Dept. of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Veterinary College, KVAFSU, Bidar.
Email I.D: vijju4254@gmail.com
Abstract
India’s vast livestock population plays a vital role in supporting rural livelihoods and food security. To achieve Viksit Bharat 2047, a blueprint for India’s developed nation status, sustainable animal production and health are crucial. Recent advancements carried out by veterinary professionals in animal physiology have transformed the livestock sector, enhancing productivity and efficiency. Innovations include biosensors for health management, infrared thermography for early disease diagnosis, and advanced estrus detection technologies. The Department of Biotechnology has supported key initiatives, such as the Prosync-NF nanofiber patch for ovulatory heat induction, Bovine Sexed Semen Sorting Technology, early pregnancy diagnosis kits, and standardized Embryo Transfer Technology. These breakthroughs enable improved reproductive strategies, disease management, and genetic progress, contributing to a healthier and more productive livestock sector. As the nation strives for Viksit Bharat 2047, these milestones will play a vital role in shaping a more resilient, efficient, and environmentally sustainable livestock sector.
Keywords: Viksit Bharat 2047, Sustainable livestock farming, animal physiology, biosensors, embryo transfer technology,
Sustainable livestock farming seeks to produce high-quality food (milk, meat) without harming the environment. To accomplish this, animals must receive nutritious feed, which is then processed through various nutritional mechanisms, including digestion, absorption, and metabolism. Understanding normal reticulorumen physiology is essential for accurately diagnosing and managing forestomach diseases, enabling improved prognosis and therapy. Hence, understanding animal physiology is crucial for optimal livestock growth, as it informs reproductive strategies, enhances fertility and breeding success, enables effective disease management, reduces mortality rates, and promotes healthy growth.
As it is known, India is the largest animal husbandry sector in the world with the largest livestock population to support the livelihoods of more than two-thirds of the rural population, mainly small and marginal farmers. Livestock can sustain the food demands of rural households and also provide stability at the time of crop failures. Therefore, sustainable animal production and health is important as healthy animals are closely related to healthy people and a healthy environment. Viksit Bharat 2047 is India’s blueprint for achieving developed nation status by 2047, integrating economic growth, sustainable development, social justice, and good governance to propel the country toward a brighter future. With its unparalleled livestock population, India’s animal husbandry sector is pivotal to achieving Viksit Bharat.
Veterinarian’s innovative approaches to physiology have propelled the livestock sector toward exceptional growth and development.
The following physiological innovations have revolutionized the livestock sector, driving significant improvements in productivity and efficiency:
- Biosensors are revolutionizing animal health management worldwide. By monitoring behavioral and physiological indicators, dairy farmers can detect subtle changes, preventing disease progression and improving treatment outcomes. Sensors track animal movements, feed intake, sleep patterns, and air quality.
Head/muzzle, and noseband sensors
A non-invasive noseband sensor was developed and validated for automated monitoring of rumination and eating behaviors in livestock, eliminating the need for direct animal contact.
Motion, movement, and behavior sensors:
These include namely, Accelerometers, pedometers, and global positioning system (GPS) tracking. All can be used to monitor animal behavior. Active time can predict heat; prolonged laying time can signal diseases such as mastitis, ketosis, and lameness. GPS helps to locate animals on the farm.
- Infrared Thermography
Lameness in dairy cows severely affects welfare, milk production, reproductive health, and mortality. Early diagnosis of foot lesions through infrared thermography can prevent long-term damage and improve treatment outcomes. Temperature monitoring using thermal infrared sensors supports rapid health assessments, enabling the identification of animals requiring isolation or specialized care, and informing optimal housing temperature management. Further investigation is needed to determine the underlying causes.
- Bolus Sensors
Ruminal temperature monitoring via bolus sensors helps identify changes in animal physiology, including decreased temperature during feeding and drinking, and increased temperature during infection or heat stress. Cattle metabolic disorders, such as rumen acidosis and hypocalcemia, and fever-inducing diseases alter ruminal contraction patterns. Wireless sensors, inserted via the esophagus, monitor rumen and reticulum temperature and pH. A study utilizing bolus sensors discovered that cows with elevated rumen pH levels (6.22-6.42) generate significantly more methane (46.18%) than those with lower pH levels.
- Body Condition Score (BCS) Cameras
The Body Condition Score (BCS) measures a cow’s fat reserves, providing insight into its energy balance. A higher BCS corresponds to increased fat mobilization. In small ruminants, Body Condition Score (BCS) strongly correlates with reproductive and lactational performance, making it a vital well-being indicator. Various sensors have been developed, like two-dimensional (2-D) and 3D sensors. Recent advancements in 3D camera technology offer innovative solutions for optimizing feed management on dairy farms. Time-of-Flight (ToF) cameras have emerged as a leading technology for capturing 3D data.
- Advanced Estrus Detection
Electronic Nose Technology captures and analyzes perineal odors to identify optimal breeding times.
2.Some of the innovative tools developed in farm animals are as follows,
- Milk Analyzers
Modern dairy farms rely on sensor devices to measure milk’s fat and protein content, with customized systems tailored to each farm’s milking setup. These sensors also monitor cattle health, fertility, and reproductive performance. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a well-established, efficient technology for analyzing milk composition, accurately quantifying fat, protein, and lactose content, with applications in both laboratory research and online/offline milk testing. It is also a viable method for assessing individual milk progesterone levels.
- Saliva, sweat and breath analysis
Beyond milk analysis, saliva offers promising diagnostic applications, including the detection of oral cancer through biomarkers and monitoring physiological conditions like pregnancy status in cattle. Saliva-based rapid tests are also being developed. Biosensors developed for human sweat metabolite analysis are being repurposed for veterinary applications, specifically to monitor animal stress levels through non-invasive perspiration tracking. Scientists have explored non-invasive disease detection through volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in breath, bodily secretions, and waste. VOCs serve as biomarkers for health issues. Research has successfully applied VOC analysis to diagnose respiratory sickness, tuberculosis, and other diseases in cattle.
The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, has launched the Network Programme for,
- Induction of ovulatory heat:The Prosync-NF nanofiber patch has been developed by TRPVB, TANUVAS, Chennai with financial support from DBT, which is designed for controlled progesterone release, efficiently inducing estrus in bovines within 6-7 days of application and synchronizing reproductive cycles.
- Bovine Sexed Semen Sorting Technology (BSSST):A groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing cattle productivity and improving livestock fertility through advanced semen sorting techniques
- Early pregnancy diagnosis in cattle and buffalo:A novel urine-based pregnancy diagnostic kit, Preg-D, has been developed at ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, with financial support from DBT. Employing a thermophilic biochemical reaction, this non-invasive, cost-effective assay detects metabolites indicative of pregnancy in bovines, providing preliminary pregnancy diagnosis as early as days 18-25.
- Embryo transfer technology (ETT): The department implemented a mission-oriented program to enhance livestock productivity by standardizing Embryo Transfer Technology (ETT). The program achieved standardization of ETT in multiple species and established a network of three central ETT centers and 14 regional laboratories. Standardized techniques include superovulation, in vitro embryo culture, and embryo transfer. Farmer-level demonstrations showcased ETT’s efficacy in producing cattle and buffalo calves. By facilitating early-age selection, ETT reduces generation intervals, enabling rapid genetic improvement in elite livestock populations.
Conclusion
As India is progressing towards Viksit Bharat, implementing all the above-discussed innovative technologies at field levels by the Veterinarians and Dept. of AHVS, GoI will empower farmers to boost livestock productivity, fertility, and reproductive management, propelling the livestock sector progressive growth.
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