About Temperate Animal Husbandry
The Division had its inception on 21/22 June, 2004 under Xth plan after merging the existing
Livestock Production Research (LPR) section with the objective of improving animal production at
temperate Himalayan regions. Earlier in July, 1979, a Livestock Production Research Unit comprising
of cattle, Pashmina goats, equines and laboratory animals was set up to enhance livestock production
at temperate climate of Mukteswar and surrounding hill areas. However, livestock production activities
at Mukteswar can be traced back to 1919 when the then state government had taken over the charge of
Dairy for the supply of whole milk to experimental animals and sale of the surplus to the employees of
the Institute. Initially, the main emphasis has been given for conducting research on various diseases
and to harvest sera for developing prophylactic and diagnostic reagents. Breeding and production of
laboratory animals for bacterial, viral and other studies started from mid-twenties.
In the fourth five year plan (1969-74) a research unit of All India Coordinated Research Project on
Goat for Pashmina was established and coordinated research activities were undertaken (1974-78).
To strengthen livestock research units including other supporting/service units like Veterinary Medicine,
Clinical pathology, Animal Reproduction etc., a new division was initiated after amalgamating all these
production and research units through a multidisciplinary approach. The objectives are broadened in
view of national perspectives under the new set up of Division of Temperate Animal Husbandry.