Bihar Animal Sciences University (BASU) is a state public university located in Patna, Bihar, India. The university is dedicated to higher education, research, and extension activities in veterinary sciences, animal husbandry, dairy technology, and fisheries. It was established by the Government of Bihar to consolidate animal science education in the state and to support the development of the livestock sector, which forms an important component of Bihar's rural economy.
| Name | Bihar Animal Sciences University |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | BASU |
| Type | State public university |
| Location | Patna, Bihar, India |
| Focus | Veterinary, animal, dairy and fisheries sciences |
| Founder | Government of Bihar |
Animal husbandry, dairy farming, and fisheries are significant livelihoods in Bihar, where a large share of rural households depend on livestock-based income. Prior to the establishment of BASU, veterinary and animal science education in the state was conducted through colleges affiliated with general agricultural universities. The creation of a dedicated animal sciences university was intended to bring teaching, research, and extension in these fields under a single institutional umbrella, on the model adopted by several other Indian states.
Bihar Animal Sciences University was constituted as a state university by an Act of the Bihar Legislature, with its headquarters at Patna. The university brought existing institutions concerned with veterinary education, dairy technology, and fisheries science in Bihar under its administrative jurisdiction. Its governance follows the standard pattern for Indian state agricultural and veterinary universities, with a Vice-Chancellor as the chief academic and executive officer, supported by a Board of Management and an Academic Council.
The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes across disciplines connected to animal sciences. Major academic streams associated with BASU include:
The Bihar Veterinary College, one of the oldest veterinary teaching institutions in eastern India, is among the constituent colleges associated with the university.
Research at BASU is oriented towards problems relevant to Bihar's livestock economy, including animal disease control, improvement of indigenous breeds, dairy productivity, fodder development, poultry science, and inland fisheries. The university also undertakes extension work to disseminate scientific practices to farmers, livestock owners, and field-level functionaries of the state animal husbandry and fisheries departments.
As the first dedicated animal sciences university in Bihar, BASU plays a central role in producing trained veterinarians, dairy technologists, and fisheries professionals for the state. It supports policy goals related to milk production, meat and egg output, animal health services, and the growth of the dairy and fisheries sectors, which are recognised as priority areas for rural employment and nutrition in Bihar.