UPSC IFS Mains Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper Optional: Trend, Merit and Demerit Analysis

Priyanka November 30, 2023 06:52 3225 0

The strategic significance of UPSC Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper in UPSC IFS Mains, with insights into its scoring potential, paper format, and trend analysis. Unlocking success with a comprehensive overview, including exam overview, success rates, and expert-recommended booklist for effective preparation

UPSC IFS Mains Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper Optional: Trend, Merit and Demerit Analysis

UPSC IFS Mains Exam: Important of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper Optional paper

The UPSC IFS mains include a total of six papers with a total of 1400 marks. Out of 6 papers  one paper is of English and one on General Knowledge. The remaining four papers (Paper I, Paper II, Paper III and Paper IV) cover optional subjects that candidates have chosen during the application form filling process. Although Paper I and Paper II have a maximum of 300 marks each, the remaining 800 marks of the mains examination depend on the optional subjects. It becomes very crucial to choose the right optional subject and adopt the right strategy so that candidates can score as much as possible. So in this article we will first explore the importance and weightage of optionals, and then we will analyze Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science as an optional subject.

Download IFS 2023 Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional Paper-01
Download IFS 2023 Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional Paper-02

 

Importance of Optional Subject: Key Role of Optionals in Upsc Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper

In UPSC IFS mains examination  candidates have to choose two optional subjects from the list specified in the official notification unlike UPSC IAS mains exam in which candidate has to choose only one optional subject. In IFS exam optional subjects have very high scoring potential because after Paper I and Paper II which consist of  600 marks optional have 800 marks so here optional plays a decisive role in determining your selection as well as to achieve a good rank.

Weightage of Marks in IFS Exam

It is evident that in the entire selection process, the optional subject plays a crucial role in preparing for the UPSC IFS exam, as it accounts for almost 48% of the total marks. This substantial portion contributes significantly to the overall evaluation of the entire exam.

Marks Distributions in IFS Main Exam

Upon further magnification, we can conclude that in the IFS mains examination, the optional section carries almost 58% of the total mains marks. Therefore, scoring well in the optional section, along with Paper I and Paper II, will result in higher overall marks in the exam.

UPSC Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper Format: A Comprehensive Guide to Format and Strategy

  • Optional Subjects (Papers III, IV, V and VI): Upsc Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper Structure and Strategy

    • Candidates have the flexibility to choose optional subjects based on their preferences and expertise. 
    • These selections play an important role in Papers III,IV,V and VI shaping the content and focus of these segments.
    • Understanding each paper and how optional subjects fit in helps you get ready for the UPSC IFS Mains Exam.
    • Total number of questions in the question papers of optional subjects will be eight. 
    • Every question alloted equal marks. Each paper will be divided into two parts, Part A and Part B, each part containing four questions
    • Out of eight questions, five questions are to be attempted. One question in each part will be compulsory. Candidates will be required to answer three more questions out of the remaining six questions, taking at least one question from each Part. 
    • In this way, at least two questions will be attempted from each Part i.e. one compulsory question plus one more.

UPSC Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper: Papers I and II

In the UPSC IFS Mains examination, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional subjects include two papers, specifically Paper I and Paper II. Each of these papers have a maximum weightage of 200 marks, which makes a total of 400 marks for this optional subject. Among the various optional subjects mentioned by UPSC in IFS, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science is one of the 14 optional subjects available to candidates.

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science 

Syllabus for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper
Paper I of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper Animal Nutrition-Energy sources, energy, metabolism and requirements for maintenance and production of milk, meat, eggs and wool. Evaluation of feeds as sources of energy.

  1. Trends in protein nutrition: sources of protein metabolism and synthesis, protein quantity and quality in relation to requirements. Energy protein ratios in ratio.
  2. Minerals in animal diet : Sources, functions, requirements and their relationship of the basic minerals nutrients including trace elements.
  3. Vitamins, Hormones and Growth Stimulating, substances : Sources, functions, requirements and inter-relationship with minerals.
  4. Advances in Ruminant Nutrition-Dairy Cattle: Nutrients and their metabolism with reference to milk production and its composition. Nutrient requirements for calves, heifers, dry and milking cows and buffaloes. Limitations of various feeding systems.
  5. Advances in Non-Ruminant Nutrition-Poultry-Nutrients and their metabolism with reference to poultry, meat and egg production, Nutrients requirements and feed formulation and broilers at different ages.
  6. Advances in Non-Ruminant Nutrition-Swine-Nutrients and their metabolism with special reference to growth and quality of meat production, Nutrient requirement and feed formulation for baby-growing and finishing pigs.
  7. Advances in Applied Animal Nutrition-A critical review and evaluation of feeding experiments, digestibility and balance studies. Feeding standards and measures of food energy. Nutrition requirements for growth, maintenance and production. Balanced rations.

Animal Physiology 

  1. Growth and Animal Production : Prenatal and postnatal growth, maturation, growth curves, measures of growth, factors affecting growth, conformation, body composition, meat quality.
  2. Milk Production and Reproduction and Digestion : Current status of hormonal control of mammary development, milk secretion and milk ejection. Male and Female reproductive organ, their components and function. Digestive organs and their functions.
  3. Environmental Physiology : Physiological relations and their regulation; mechanisms of adaptation, environmental factors and regulatory mechanisms involved in animal behaviour, methods of controlling climatic stress.
  4. Semen quality : Preservation and Artificial Insemination-Components of semen, composition of spermatozoa, chemical and physical properties of ejaculated semen, factors affecting semen in vivo and in vitro. Factors affecting semen production and quality preservation, composition of diluents, sperm concentration, transport of diluted semen. Deep Freezing techniques in cows, sheep and goats, swine and poultry. Detection of estrus and time of insemination for better conception. 
  5. Livestock Production and Management: 
    1. Commercial Dairy Farming-Comparison of dairy farming in India with advanced countries. Dairying under fixed farming and as a specialized farming, economic dairy farming, Starting of a dairy farm. Capital and land requirement, organization of the dairy farm. Procurement of goods; opportunities in dairy farming, factors determining the efficiency of dairy animal, Herd recording, budgeting, cost of milk production; pricing policy; Personnel Management. Developing Practical and Economic ration for dairy cattle; supply of greens throughout the year, field and fodder requirements of Dairy Farm, Feeding regimes for day and young stock and bulls, heifers and breeding animals, new trends in feeding young and adult stock; Feeding records.
    2. Commercial meat, egg and wool production: Development of practical and economic rations for sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits and poultry. Supply of greens, fodder, feeding regimens for young and mature stock. New trends in enhancing production and management. Capital and land requirements and socio-economic concepts.
    3. Feeding and management of animals under drought, flood and other natural calamities. 
  6. Genetics and Animal Breeding : Mitosis and Meiosis; Mendelian inheritance; deviations to Mendelian genetics; Expression of genes; Linkage and crossing over; Sex determination, sex influenced and sex limited characters; Blood groups and polymorphism; Chromosome aberrations; Gene and its structure; DNA as a genetic material; Genetic code and protein synthesis; Recombinant DNA technology, Mutations, types of mutations, methods for detecting mutations and mutation rate.
    1. Population Genetics Applied to Animal Breeding: Quantitative Vs. qualitative traits; Hardy Weinberg Law; Population Vs. individual; Gene and genotypic frequency; Forces changing gene frequency; Random drift and small populations; Theory of path coefficient; Inbreeding, methods of estimating inbreeding coefficient, systems of inbreeding; Effective population size; Breeding value, estimation of breeding value, dominance and epistatic deviation; partitioning of variation; Genotype X environment correlation and genotype X environment interaction; Role of multiple measurements; Resemblance between relatives.
    2. Breeding Systems : Heritability, repeatability and genetic and phenotypic correlations, their methods of estimation and precision of estimates; Aids to selection and their relative merits; Individual, pedigree, family and within family selection; Progeny testing; Methods of selection; Construction of selection indices and their uses; Comparative evaluation of genetic gains through various selection methods; Indirect selection and Correlated response; Inbreeding, upgrading, cross-breeding and synthesis of brees; Crossing of inbred lines for commercial production; Selection for general and specific combining ability; Breeding for threshold character.  
Paper II of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper
  1. Histology and Histological Techniques- Stains-Chemical classification of stains used in biological work-principles of staining tissues-mordants-progressive & regressive stains-differential staining of cytoplasmic and connective tissue elements Methods of preparation and processing of tissues-celloidin embedding-Freezing microtome-Microscopy-Bright field microscope and electron microscope. Cytology structure of cell, organells & inclusions; cell division-cell types-Tissues and their classification-embryonic and adult tissues-Comparative histology of organs:- vascular, Nervous, digestive, respiratory, musculo-skeletal and urogenital systems-Endocrine glands-Integumentary-sense organs.
  2. Embryology : Embryology of vertebrates with special reference to aves and domestic mammals-gametogenesis-fertilization-germ layers-fetal membranes & placentation-types of placenta in domestic mammals-Teratology-twin & twinning organogenesis-germ layer derivatives-endodermal, mesodermal and ectodermal derivatives.
  3. Bovine Anatomy-Regional Anatomy: Paranasal sinuses of OX-surface anatomy of salivary glands. Regional anatomy of infraorbital, maxillary, mandibular alveolar, mental & coronal nerve block-Regional anatomy of para-vertebral nerves, pudental nerve, median, ulnar & radial nerves-tibial, fibular and digital nerves-Cranial nerves structures involved in epidural anesthesia-superficial lymph nodes-surface anatomy of visceral organs of thoracic, abdominal and pelvic cavities-comparative features of locomotor apparatus & their application in the biomechanics of mammalian body.
  4. Anatomy of Fowl : Musculo-skeletal system-functional anatomy in relation to respiration and flying, digestion and egg production.
  5. Physiology of blood and its circulation, respiration; excretion, Endocrine glands in health and disease.
  6. Blood constituents : Properties and functions-blood cell formation Hemoglobin synthesis and chemistry-plasma proteins production, classification and properties; coagulation of blood; Hemorrhagic disorders-anticoagulants-blood groups-Blood volume-Plasma expanders-Buffer systems in blood. Biochemical tests and their significance in disease diagnosis.
  7. Circulation: Physiology of heart, cardiac cycle-heart sounds, heartbeat, electro-cardiograms, Work and efficiency of heart-effect of ions on heart function-metabolism of cardiac muscle, nervous and chemical regulation of heart, effect of temperature and stress on heart, blood pressure and hypertension, Osmotic regulation, arterial pulse, vasomotor regulation of circulation, shock. Coronary & pulmonary circulation, Blood-Brain barrier-Cerebrospinal fluid-circulation in birds.
    1. Respiration : Mechanism of respiration, Transport and exchange of gasesneural control of respiration-chemo receptors-hypoxia-respiration in birds.
    2. Excretion: Structure and function of kidney-formation of urine methods of studying renal function-renal regulation of acid-base balance; physiological constituents of urine-renal failure-passive venous congestion-Urinary recreation in chicken-Sweat glands and their function. Biochemical tests for urinary dysfunction.
    3. Endocrine glands : Functional disorders, their symptoms and diagnosis. Synthesis of hormones, mechanism and control of secretion-hormonal receptors classification and function.
    4. General knowledge of pharmacology and therapeutics of drugs : Cellular level of pharmaco-dynamics and pharmaco-kinetics-Drugs acting on fluids and electrolyte balance-drugs acting on Autonomic nervous system-Modern concepts of anesthesia and dissociative Anesthetics-Autacoids-Antimicrobials and principles of chemotherapy in microbial injections-use of hormones in therapeutics-chemotherapy of parasitic infections-Drug and economic persons in the Edible tissues of animals chemotherapy of Neoplastic diseases.
    5. Veterinary Hygiene with reference to water, air and habitation : Assessment of pollution of water, air and soil-Importance of climate in animal health-effect of environment on animal function and performance-relationship between industrialization and animal agriculture-animal housing requirements for specific categories of domestic animals viz. pregnant cows & sows, milking cows, broiler birds stress, strain & productivity in relation to animal habitation. 
  • Animal Diseases :Pathogenesis, symptoms, postmortem lesions, diagnosis, and control of infection diseases of cattle, pigs and poultry, horses, sheep and goats.
  • Etiology, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment of production diseases of cattle, pig and poultry.
  • Deficiency diseases of domestic animals and birds.
  • Diagnosis and treatment of nonspecific conditions like impaction, Bloat, Diarrhoea, Indigestion, dehydration, stroke, poisoning.
  • Diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders.
  • Principles and methods of immunization of animals against specific diseases-hard immunity-disease free zones-‘zero’ disease concept-chemoprophylaxis.
  • Anesthesia-local, regional and general-pre-anesthetic medication, Symptoms and surgical interference in fractures and dislocation, Hernia, choking, abomassal displacement-Caesarian operations, Rumenotomy-Castrations.
  • Disease investigation techniques-Materials for laboratory investigation Establishment Animal Health Centres-Disease free zone.
  • Veterinary Public Health
    • Zoonoses : Classification, definition; role of animals and birds in prevalence and transmission of zoonotic diseases occupational zoonotic diseases.
    • Epidemiology : Principles, definition of epidemiological terms, application of epidemiological measures in the study of diseases and disease control, Epidemiological features of air, water and food borne infections.
    • Veterinary Jurisprudence : Rules and Regulations for improvement of animal quality and prevention of animal diseases-state and control Rules for prevention of animal and animal product borne diseases-S.P. C.A.-veterolegal cases-certificates Materials and Methods of collection of samples for veterolegal investigation.
  • Milk and Milk Products Technology :
    • Milk Technology : Organization of rural milk procurement, collection and transport of raw milk. Quality, testing and grading raw milk, Quality storage grades of whole milk, Skimmed milk and cream. 
    • Processing, packaging, storing, distributing, marketing defects and their control and nutritive properties of the following milks : Pasteurized, standardized, toned, double toned, sterilized, homogenized, reconstituted, recombined and flavoured milks. Preparation of cultured milks, cultures and their management, youghurt, Dahi, Lassi and Srikhand. Preparation of flavoured and sterlized milks. Legal standards, Sanitation requirement for clean and safe milk and for the milk plant equipment.
    • Milk Products Technology : Selection of raw materials, assembling, production, processing, storing, distributing and marketing milk products such as Butter, Ghee, Khoa, Channa, Cheese; Condensed, evaporated, dried milk and baby food; Ice cream and Kulfi; by products; whey products, butter milk, lactose and casein. Testing Grading, judging milk products-BIS and Agmark specifications, legal standards, quality control nutritive properties. Packaging, processing and operational control Costs.
  • Meat Hygiene and Technology :Meat Hygiene :
    • Ante mortem care and management of food animals, stunning, slaughter and dressing operations; abattoir requirements and designs; Meat inspection procedures and judgement of carcass meat cuts-drading of carcass meat cuts-duties and functions of Veterinarians in Wholesome meat production.
    • Hygienic methods of handling production of meat-spoilage of meat and control measures-Post slaughter physicochemical changes in meat and factors that influence them-quality improvement methods-Adulteration of meat and defection-Regulatory provisions in Meat trade and Industry.
    • Meat Technology
      • Physical and chemical characteristics of meat-meat emulsions-methods of preservation of meat-curing, canning, irradiation, packaging of meat and meat products; meat products and formulations. 
      • Byproducts : Slaughter house by products and their utilisation-Edible and inedible byproducts-social and economic implications of proper utilisation of slaughterhouse byproducts-Argan products for food and pharmaceuticals.
      • Poultry Products Technology : Chemical composition and nutritive value of poultry meat, pre-slaughter care and management. Slaughtering techniques, inspection, preservation of poultry meat, and products. Legal and BIS standards. Structure, composition and nutritive value of eggs. Microbial spoilage. Preservation and maintenance. Marketing of poultry meat, eggs and products.
      • Rabbit/Fur Animal farming : Care and management of rabbit meat production. Disposal and utilization of fur and wool and recycling of waste byproducts. Grading of wool.
    • Extension : Basic philosophy, objectives, concept and principles of extension. Different Methods adopted to educate farmers under rural conditions. Generation of technology, its transfer and feedback. Problems of constraints in transfer of technology. Animal husbandry programmes for rural development. 

 

UPSC Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper (2018-2022): Download  PDF

UPSC Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional Question Papers from 2018 to 2022 are readily available for aspirants seeking to enhance their preparation. We provided access to the UPSC IFS Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science optional question papers in PDF format, an invaluable resource for your preparation.

Year  Paper
UPSC IFS Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional Question Paper  2018 Download Paper I

Download Paper II

UPSC IFS Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional Question Paper 2019 Download Paper I

Download Paper II

UPSC IFS Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional Question Paper 2020 Download Paper I

Download Paper II

UPSC IFS Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional Question Paper 2021 Download Paper I

Download Paper II

UPSC IFS Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional Question Paper 2022 Download Paper I

Download Paper II

 

UPSC Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper 2023 Overview: Strategic Insights

Candidates appearing for the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) IFS examination must make a thoughtful decision while selecting their optional subject, as it holds substantial weightage in the evaluation process. With a total of 800 marks allotted, the optional subject carries approximately 48% of the combined marks for both the written exam and the personality test (interview).

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper Success Rate in IFS Exam: Insights

The table below offers a comprehensive overview of the success rate achieved by candidates who opted for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science optional  as their optional.

Year Number of Candidates
Appeared in Interview Recommended Passing (%)
2015 14 5 35.7
2016 7 5 71.4
2017 6 0 0
2018 3 0 0
2019 2 0 0
2020 0 0 0

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper: Trend Analysis and Success Strategies

By examining the past papers of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional, we can identify a trend in the types of questions asked. There is also a noticeable shift in the themes of the questions. Understanding the UPSC IFS Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Question Paper Trend Analysis is advantageous, as it allows candidates to streamline their preparation effectively and enhance their performance in this optional subject.

  • Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper Trends: Deeper Knowledge Demands Ahead 
    • Recent question papers may test candidates’ depth of knowledge in various topics like, biochemistry, physiology, diversity conservation etc.
  • Influence of Previous Year Papers in Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper: Leveraging Past Papers for Exam Success
    • Many questions are indirectly related to topics previously asked in the preceding years. Therefore, solving questions from previous years will undoubtedly help candidates score well.
  • Current Affairs Impact on Optional Papers: Key to Mastering Optional Papers 
    • In recent years, questions have been posed with relevance to current affairs topics. 

UPSC Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper: Pros for UPSC IFS Success

  • Prior Knowledge of Subject- If a candidate has prior knowledge of the subject it can benefit in scoring good marks.
  • Relevance to IFS profile- The application and concepts of this subject are directly applicable in IFS, which can enhance the understanding of the IFS profile of work.

Booklist for UPSC Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper: Comprehensive Resources for Success

  • Vast Syllabus– Its vast syllabus makes its tiring and interesting for candidates.
  • Lack of Availability of study material- Proper study material for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional Paper is not easily available.

Please note that before selecting Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper as your optional subject, carefully weigh these disadvantages against the advantages and consider your own background, interests, and the time you can dedicate to preparation.

Booklist for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Optional Paper

  • A Textbook of Animal Husbandry by G.C. Banerjee
  • Veterinary Microbiology by D.V.M. Dryden
  • Veterinary Anatomy of Domestic Mammals by Singh, Singh, and Roy
  • Veterinary Physiology by James G. Cunningham
  • Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science by G. Subrahmanyan
Must Read
NCERT Notes For UPSC UPSC Daily Current Affairs
UPSC Blogs UPSC Daily Editorials
Daily Current Affairs Quiz Daily Main Answer Writing
UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers UPSC Test Series 2024

 

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary science FAQs

No, these are not different papers these two segment will be asked in same papers

There are two papers of Botany each paper divided into two parts.

Yes you can choose both subjects.
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Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
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Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
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