As most veterinary colleges in India are affiliated to agricultural universities, it has been commonly mistaken that veterinary science is allied to agriculture. But the reality is quite different and goes against the notion. From an analytical study, we can infer that neither veterinary science nor veterinary service is allied to agriculture.Veterinary science is a distinct field of study that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and disorders in animals.
Veterinary professionals work in diverse fields ranging from animal health, wildlife management, public health, control of zoonotic diseases to natural disaster management, food safety, research and conservation. They ensure that our animals are healthy and free from diseases that can spread to humans, and also protect our environment from the harmful impact of animal waste.
Agriculture is primarily concerned with the production of crops and livestock for food, fibre and other products. It involves a range of activities including planting, harvesting, breeding and processing. Veterinary science, on the other hand, is focused on the health and wellbeing of animals along with taking care of human health through public health measures. It involves the study of anatomy, surgery, medicine, gynaecology, pharmacology and other disciplines to diagnose and treat animal diseases and disorders which are completely different from agriculture.
One of the reasons for the misconception that veterinary science is part of agriculture is that many veterinarians work in rural areas and provide services to farmers and pastoralists. They are involved in the care and treatment of livestock which is an important part of livelihood and income enhancement of farm families. However, this does not mean that veterinary science is allied to agriculture. Veterinary science is a distinct and specialized field of study with its own unique body of knowledge and methods, more inclined towards study of medical sciences.
Veterinary services also don’t relate to services provided by agricultural experts. Veterinary doctors are an unequalled lot in terms of providing services as both of their intellectual and somatogenic strengths are utilised to the optimum. Performing a caesarean section operation in Indian conditions without an equipped operation theatre comes above all other services in testing the endurance level of a vet. How could one compare opening visceral organs of an animal to spraying pesticides in a paddy field? It’s quite ridiculous that repairing a visceral organ with due care to the surrounding nerves, arteries and veins is compared to testing a soil sample. Understanding physiology of animals more or less comes closer to understanding body processes in human beings and not the physical processes of plants.
Wildlife healthcare measures which protect endangered species from extinction don’t share a common platform with agriculture. It’s an established fact that treatment and care of pet animals with diagnosis of their diseases is no way related to agriculture. It seems puerile when one shows the audacity to compare prevention and control of animal diseases and zoonotic diseases to control of plant pathogens. Animal welfare field in veterinary services involving animal birth control operational procedures and providing emergency healthcare services to animals slights agricultural intervention and demands obliteration of the allied tag.
Unlike agricultural professionals, a veterinary professional remains ready to provide services 24×7 with most of the emergency cases being attended in the wee hours or late at night. Vets are subjected to occupational hazards with chances of getting infected in quite a number of diseases they treat. At times of natural calamity like flood, cyclone etc., veterinarians bear the brunt and are subjected to drudgery as a means to save animal lives.
With all the above discussion, it seems that putting an allied tag to the veterinary services lessens its importance and demotivates professionals engaged in the unique profession. Hence, it’s high time that veterinary service was provided a primary status without clubbing it with agriculture. On the occasion of World Veterinary Day, let’s support this cause.
(DrMahapatra is a veterinarian and freelance columnist; M-9437313183; email: madan.m3@rediffmail.com)
