Early-warning tech for livestock: Gadvasu joins Rs 90cr research push | Ludhiana News

Ludhiana: Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Gadvasu) is collaborating with the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela to develop technology aimed at predicting animal sickness before visible symptoms appear. The initiative is part of a research project funded under a grant of more than Rs 90 crore through the partnerships for accelerated innovation and research (PAIR) programme of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). According to the university, the project seeks to strengthen early-warning systems for livestock health so that preventive measures can be taken in advance, reducing losses for farmers and improving animal welfare.Dr Devendra Pathak, principal investigator, said the research covers three major areas. The first, titled “AI/ML-enabled systems for monitoring livestock health, optimizing production, and improving sustainability,” focuses on the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning for assessing livestock parameters and improving monitoring systems.

The objective is to enhance health tracking, increase productivity, and support sustainable animal farming practices. The second area, “Enhancement of protein functional properties via non-thermal techniques for novel food product development: Modeling, in vitro evaluation, and human health implications,” examines non-thermal technologies to improve protein functionality for innovative food products. The third research area, “Development of biodegradable biomaterials for application in healthcare technologies,” is aimed at creating eco-friendly biomaterials for medical use in support of global sustainability goals.Explaining the practical application of the livestock health project, Dr Pathak said NIT Rourkela will develop devices such as tags that will be attached to animals to record behavioural parameters. Gadvasu will provide data needed to develop AI algorithms capable of analysing factors like movement patterns and duration of rumination. This system is designed to trigger alerts before any physical signs of sickness are visible, allowing timely intervention to prevent disease. He added that the protein-related project will emphasise improving the availability and absorption of protein for human health.The PAIR programme operates through a flexible hub-and-spoke model to promote mentorship and collaboration between emerging institutions and leading research centres. Under this initiative, the vet varsity will work alongside Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Sambalpur University, Odisha University of Technology and Research (OUTR), Fakir Mohan University (FMU), the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Bhubaneswar, and Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT), with NIT Rourkela functioning as the hub. These institutions will collectively form a multidisciplinary research consortium named the “Consortium of technologies for sustainable agriculture, health, energy, and environment.” According to the university, the grant marks a major milestone in Gadvasu’s efforts to advance translational research and innovation.Gadvasu vice-chancellor Dr Jatinder Paul Singh Gill congratulated the team and said the grant would further strengthen research capabilities while expanding the university’s role in addressing challenges related to animal health, food innovation, and sustainable healthcare technologies. He expressed confidence that the projects would significantly contribute to national development and enrich global scientific conversations. Director of research Dr Parkash Singh Brar also commended the faculty and said the grant represented an important achievement for the university’s research journey.Under the PAIR–ANRF programme, a total budget of Rs 90.53 crore has been allocated, of which the vet varsity will receive Rs 4.08 crore.