In India, the livestock production and agriculture are intrinsically linked, each one being dependent on the other and both crucial for the overall food security of the people. Livestock sector is an important subsector of the agriculture of Indian economy. It forms an important livelihood activity for most of the farmers, supporting agriculture in the form of critical inputs, contributing to the health and nutrition of the household, supplementing incomes, offering employment opportunities, and finally being a dependable “bank on hooves” in times of need. It acts as a supplementary and complementary enterprise.

The multiple-species animal-husbandry system is environment friendly. This sector plays an important and vital role in providing nutritive food, rich in animal protein to the general public and in supplementing family incomes and generating gainful employment in the rural sector, particularly among the landless, small, marginal farmers and women. Income from livestock production accounts for significant percentage of total farm household's income. Thus, an increase in demand for livestock products can be a major factor in raising the income and living standards of the rural household. With its large livestock population, India has vast potential for meeting the growing needs of teeming millions, particularly in respect of livestock products such as milk, eggs, meat and wool.

The department with its very well-defined purpose, aims to facilitate the emergence of dairying as a full-fledged agricultural business, generating mass employment particularly in rural areas. Scientific dairy farming is also helping to develop a symbiotic relationship between the farmer and industry. The department is committed to provide a sound base for teaching, research, extension and training with its well-balanced educational programmes. A well-defined course work covers various aspects of animal husbandry at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels. Highly professional faculty is dedicated to share its rich experience with students. For successful livestock production a great deal of knowledge is required in animal genetics and breeding, animal nutrition, livestock production and management, poultry production and animal's welfare in livestock enterprise of small farmers, marginal farmers and landless agricultural laborers who own majority of livestock in the country.

For improving the quality of our indigenous cow in terms of increasing milk production per cow, crossbreeding programme was started from 1910 to 1924; four different zebu breeds (Hariana, Sahiwal, Gir, and Kankrej) were improved by selective breeding. Four European breeds the Holstein Friesian, Brown Swiss, Guernsey and Jersey were imported between 1924 and 1934. From these, Jersey and Brown Swiss were selected for crossbreeding with Red Sindhi. Breeding crossbred cows were performed in order to establish a herd of individuals having between 3/8 to 5/8 Jersey/ Brown Swiss inheritance called as “Jersind” and “Brownsind”, respectively. It is a matter of pride that data on systematic crossbreeding experiments of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Dairying of the university were used by Indian Council of Agricultural Research for national index on livestock improvement.

The practical feeding of the individual animal or commercial herd is related to the nutrient requirements for various physiological functions which are to be provided daily to the farm animals. A significant increase in productivity of livestock without adequate feeding is day dream. The department seeks to promote dairying as a full- fledged business for enhancing profit in dairy farming by scientific feeding and thereby reducing the cost of feeding which is 60-70 percent of the total cost. It has well-equipped laboratory for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmmes.

Human population growth, increasing urbanization and rising incomes are causing a massive increase in demand for food of animal origin (milk, meat and eggs) in developing countries. Globally, livestock sector is growing faster rate (6-8 percent) than any other sector and by 2020 the livestock sector is predicted to become the most important agricultural sector in terms of added value. Hence livestock production and management plays an important role in promoting the sustainable livestock farming.

Poultry has influenced man's civilization in many ways. Egg and meat of birds are being consumed since pre-historic times. Poultry in India is one of the fastest growing segments of the agriculture sector today. While the growth of agricultural crops has been at a rate of 1.9 percent per annum and for eggs and broilers it has been at a rate of 8-10 percent. As a result, India is now the world's third-largest producer of eggs and fifth-largest producer of chicken. Poultry industry, being a very versatile industry can provide jobs and income to all categories of people. It can be adopted as full-time business on large scale and it fits very well in diversified farming system to provide additional income to farmers.