byDinesh
Updated on - 23 May, 2024
Animal Nutrition is a post-graduate level course and Ph.D. (Animal Nutrition) is the doctoral level course dealing with the feed and feeding needs of livestock and poultry. This is a 3-4 year degree program that offers students deep understanding of subjects such as feed formulation, nutrient metabolism, nutritional disorders, and nutrition-disease interactions in animals. This way, students receive rather profound knowledge about the nutritional biochemistry and physiology of farm, as well as companion animals. In addition to sophisticated courses in animal nutrition the curriculum comprises seminars, lab work and writing a dissertation with the help of faculty members. When they complete the program, the students can go for the following jobs, animal feed industry, livestock farming, poultry production, dairy industry and also go for further studies in academia and research institutions.
Admission for the programmes is based on the marks secured in NET, GATE, ARS and GCET conducted by the university. There are some institutes also which carry out their own written tests too. They are conducted usually in May-July of every year. It is decided during the period of December-January and students are called for counseling from the month of August every year after the declaration of their examination. The seats are then reserved according to merits, preference and the availability in the class. As mentioned earlier, this course is generally conducted when the new academic batch is admitted and this is generally during October/November.
Feature
Description
Full Form
Doctor of Philosophy (Animal Nutrition)
Duration
3 - 5 years (full-time), longer for part-time
Course Level
Doctoral
Eligibility
Master's degree in Animal Science, Veterinary Science, Animal Nutrition, or a closely related field with a strong foundation in animal physiology, biochemistry, and nutrition.
Top Colleges (India)
* Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar * National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal * College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry (CVSAH), Mumbai * Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS), Hisar * Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana
Entrance Exam
University/Institute specific entrance exams (e.g., ICAR AIEEA PG, ICAR JRF/SRF)
| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | Master's degree in Animal Science, Veterinary Science, Animal Nutrition, or a closely related field from a recognized university. |
| Strong Animal Science Background | A solid foundation in core animal science areas like animal physiology, biochemistry, nutrition science, and animal feed technology is preferred. |
| Minimum CGPA/Percentage | Specific CGPA or percentage requirements vary by institution. Generally, a minimum of 55% - 60% in both Master's and Bachelor's degrees is expected (check official websites). |
| Entrance Exams | Most universities require you to pass an entrance exam specific to their Ph.D. program (e.g., ICAR AIEEA PG, ICAR JRF/SRF). |
Stage
Description
Possible Coursework Topics (Examples)
Coursework (First Year)
Advanced animal nutrition topics, research methodology, statistics
* Advanced Ruminant Nutrition, Non-Ruminant Nutrition, Poultry Nutrition * Research Methodology in Animal Sciences, Scientific Writing, Grant Proposal Writing * Statistics & Research Design in Animal Nutrition
Coursework (Later Years)
Specialization courses, electives (may vary)
* Nutritional requirements of specific animal species (e.g., dairy cattle, poultry, aquaculture) * Feed analysis, feed processing technologies * Advanced topics in animal physiology & biochemistry relevant to nutrition (e.g., digestive systems, nutrient metabolism) * Electives in related areas (e.g., Animal Biotechnology, Veterinary Public Health)
Qualifying Exams
Assess your understanding of core concepts and research skills
Written and/or oral exams covering advanced topics in animal nutrition, research methodology, and your chosen area of specialization.
Ph.D. Dissertation
Conduct original research, write a dissertation, and defend it before a committee.
You'll select a specific research topic in animal nutrition (e.g., developing new feed formulations, evaluating feed additives, studying nutrient absorption in animals). You'll conduct experiments, analyze data, and contribute new knowledge to the field.