At the erstwhile Project Directorate on Cattle (PDC), Meerut Cantt. (UP), the animal nutrition laboratory was set up during the month of February 1991 with the purpose of developing feeding practices especially for the Frieswal breed of cattle, and providing technical guidance for the feeding of different categories of cattle under Frieswal project and Indigenous Cattle Breeds Project. Since beginning, animal nutrition laboratory has been engaged in conducting research work on the nutrient requirement, feed conversion efficiency and studying effect of nutrition on semen quality in the Frieswal breed of cattle. The work related to standardization of management practices like housing and environmental parameter setting etc. for Frieswal bulls was also undertaken by the associated research workers. 

The laboratory is well equipped with the facilities for performing routine nutritional analyses of feed and fodder samples by using traditional procedures and automated equipments.

Facilities available

            The facilities in the animal nutrition laboratory of division of Cattle Nutrition & Management are capable of handling the advanced research work on various aspects of nutrition and analyses of feeds and fodders for proximate principles, VanSoest analysis, micro-mineral, and colorimetric estimation of various nutrients and parameters. Equipment required for the routine use like- analytical balances, pH meter, digital titrator, vortex shaker, magnetic stirrer, table top centrifuges, automatic shaker, water bath, hot air ovens, muffle furnace, feed grinder, feed digestion unit, refrigerator and deep freezer are available in the laboratory. Apart from above, the automatic instruments for the analyses of crude protein, ether extract and fiber etc. The metabolic shaker is available for carrying in vitro fermentation and digestibility studies. Sophisticated instruments viz. atomic absorption spectrophotometer and UV-visible spectrophotometer are available for performing micro-mineral estimation and variety of colorimetric tests respectively. For the preparation of concentrate feed for animal experimental feeding studies, a feed grinder along with horizontal feed mixer is also available with the division.