Dairy Cattle Nutrition Division is one of the founding divisions of this prestigious institute National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. It was established in the year 1972, as Dairy Cattle Nutrition and Physiology Division, headed by Prof. S.P. Arora. Later in the year 1978, it was bifurcated into independent division as Dairy Cattle Nutrition and Dairy cattle Physiology. Research and teaching in the field of animal nutrition has been the main focus of the division. Dairy Cattle Nutrition Division was renamed as Animal Nutrition Division in the year 2016. Work on various aspects of energy and protein nutrition in cattle and buffalo was initiated in context of Indian scenario since inception of this division. Milk replacer and calf starter based on locally available sources were developed along with their feeding schedule. Utilization of NPN compounds upto 33% of the requirement was worked out and recommended. Protection of protein and fat was carried out resulting into efficient utilization of protein and decrease in bio-hydrogenation of fats leading to production of unsaturated fatty acids in milk. Work was also done on nutrient requirements of cattle, buffalo and goats. Utilization of Zn and vitamin A and iodine was studied. Degcure mixture was developed as a cure for degnala disease. Sulphur requirements with NPN compounds were also standardized. Sources of minerals were evaluated for their availability and chelated minerals were prepared and evaluated. Utilization of various newer feed resources and improvement of nutritive value of straw by biological treatment, block making and detoxification of anti-nutritional factors had been carried out. Surveys have been carried out to find the prevalence of pesticide and toxic metals as well as essential trace minerals. Recently work has been initiated on newer feed resources and trace elements, utilization of various newer feed resources and improvement of nutritive value of straw to curb the shortage of feed resources for the livestock. With the emergence of one health concept more focus has been diverted into value addition of milk and meat products, probiotics and prebiotics application in animal nutrition, mineral nutrition, and methane emission and its mitigation strategies.
Animal nutrition division has many national, international and collaborative research projects which are externally funded by agencies like ICAR, DBT, DST, NABARD, NDDB and MoE. Every year this division publishes several research papers in national and international journals which are on par with the international research papers. In recognition of the research work, faculty of dairy cattle nutrition division are appreciated with various awards like Vasvik research award, NAAS fellow, ANA fellow, Dr. K. Pradhan Young Scientist Award and several. Scientists of the division are activity involved in extension activities, and village awareness programs such as Swach Bharat Abhiyan and also involved in educating dairy farmers on ration balancing through technical bulletins, folders and manuals of feed formulations. This division offers PhD and Masters Program in animal nutrition discipline. Students of animal nutrition have bagged various national and international scholarships like with PM international scholarship, JENESYS International fellowship and are being placed in various institutes as scientist, assistant professors and also in industry.