Veterinary College & Research Institute, Orathanadu, Tamil Nadu

About

To boost the livestock sector and improve the livelihood of farmers in the Cauvery delta region, the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu proposed the establishment of a new Veterinary College and Research Institute at Orathanadu in Thanjavur district. This college functions under the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), Chennai. It is situated about 25 km from Thanjavur on the way to Pattukottai and spans a campus area of 206.96 acres.

The Government of Tamil Nadu officially approved the college, sanctioning manpower, civil works, and equipment, allowing the college to function fully in line with the norms of the Veterinary Council of India (VCI). The college was formally inaugurated on 9th October 2012 The main college building was also inaugurated on 15th July 2015 through the same mode.

To launch the B.V.Sc. & A.H. programme, seven foundational departments were initially established in 2012. These included Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Animal Genetics, Animal Nutrition, Livestock Production and Management, the Instructional Livestock Farm Complex, and the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex. Additional departments such as Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology, and Pathology were set up in the second year. By 2013-14, departments for Pharmacology, Public Health, Livestock Products Technology, and Animal Husbandry Extension were added. In 2014-15, three clinical departments — Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Radiology, and Gynaecology and Obstetrics — were also established. As of now, the college has 17 departments. From the 2015-16 academic year onwards, student intake increased to 60 with VCI approval.

College Infrastructure includes five lecture halls equipped with multimedia projectors and internet access. A separate examination hall is also available. A dedicated computer centre has been established to provide internet facilities to students and staff. Computers across departments are connected via LAN, and students receive hands-on training in computer applications.

To expose students to rural veterinary practice, two Ambulatory Veterinary Clinics were inaugurated in the villages of Kannathangudi Melaiyur and Telungankudikadu. These clinics offer treatment facilities to nearby villages and practical training for students. A Clinical Club was also launched in March 2016 to help students better understand and analyse clinical cases.

The college library, covers 8,037 square feet and is divided into several sections including a circulation centre, e-resources centre, reference and journal sections, and technical and staff rooms. It supports both academic and research needs. The library has over 1,500 books (including competitive exam materials), 15 journals, 98 veterinary CD-ROMs, 17 magazines, and both Tamil and English newspapers. Services provided include book lending, reference assistance, document scanning and printing, and online access to journals. The library has 254 registered users, including students and staff.

Separate Hostel facilities are available for boys and girls. The hostels provide healthy food through student messes, RO drinking water, and facilities for both indoor and outdoor games. Amenities also include reading rooms, computer centres with Wi-Fi, television halls, washing machines, and water heaters. One warden and three deputy wardens, including a female deputy warden, oversee hostel operations.

The college has an active NSS unit with 100 volunteers and one programme officer. Regular and special NSS camps are held throughout the year.

A Red Ribbon Club was started in 2014 and has organized several activities, including a human chain to raise AIDS awareness and student competitions in painting, sketching, and slogan writing.

Various departments also conduct regular outreach activities. These include animal health and vaccination camps in nearby villages. In 2015, mass vaccination drives were held to prevent diseases such as FMD and Rabies. Flood relief camps were organized in Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts to safeguard livestock during the December 2015 floods. Faculty members also participate in television and radio programmes to share useful information with the farming community.

Some Highlights Of Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu, Thanjavur

Why Choose Veterinary College and ResearchInstitute, Orathanadu, Thanjavur?

1. Part of a Reputed University
The college is a constituent of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University which is a well known and government recognized institution focused on veterinary and animal sciences.

2. Modern Education and Facilities
The college follows a curriculum approved by the Veterinary Council of India. It has good infrastructure including labs animal farms and clinical facilities for hands on learning.

3. Practical Learning in Rural Setting
Located in a rural area it gives students real life exposure to field conditions especially in livestock and farm animal care.

4. Research and Community Outreach
Students can take part in research projects and government extension programs helping them apply their knowledge in real situations.

5. Good Career Prospects
Graduates can work in government services private practice research or pursue further studies. The degree is recognized across India.

6. Affordable Education
Being a government college the fees are lower compared to private institutions. Scholarships and financial aid are also available.

7. Supportive Faculty and Growing Network
The college has qualified faculty and an emerging alumni network in various fields of veterinary science.

Vision & Mission Of Veterinary College and ResearchInstitute, Orathanadu, Thanjavur

Vision 

• VCRI, Orathanadu was established by the Government of Tamil Nadu with the aim of giving a “new impetus to the livestock sector” and improving the livelihoods of farmers in the Cauvery delta region .

• The institute is spread across a 206‑acre campus and was created with the intent to be fully functional as per Veterinary Council of India norms

Mission

• Department of Veterinary Medicine:
  Educate undergraduate students, demonstrate diagnosis and treatment for livestock and poultry diseases, conduct field‑oriented research, and communicate lab technologies to farmers in accessible language (“think globally, act locally”) .

• Department of Veterinary Microbiology:
  Deliver quality education, carry out research, develop affordable diagnostics and vaccines, and transfer technologies to farmers .

• Livestock Farm Complex:
  Improve reproductive and productive performance of livestock through scientific management, support postgraduate research, provide hands‑on training to undergraduates, transfer knowledge to farmers, and supply breeding stock and fodder materials .

• Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology:
  Educate on public health and epidemiology, study environmental hazards and food safety, assess antimicrobial resistance and zoonotic disease prevalence, create public awareness, and conduct epidemiological investigations

• Department of Animal Nutrition:

• Impart undergraduate and postgraduate education, research livestock/poultry nutritional needs, and implement advanced feeding technologies for economical livestock farming .

• Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology:
  Educate undergraduates, manage clinical cases, guide research students, provide extension services to animal owners, and operate as a referral unit for neighboring districts .

• Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics:
  Train UG/PG students, treat reproductive ailments in animals, conduct field‑based research, execute lab-to-field technologies, deliver continuing education to officials and vets, run reproductive health camps and training for farmers, and function as a reproductive referral center for the region

Admission Procedure

Admission to the Veterinary College and Research Institute (VCRI) in Orathanadu is done through the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) on its official admission portal https://adm.tanuvas.ac.in. You must apply online during the specified application window and meet the eligibility criteria, which include passing your 10+2 (Higher Secondary) examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Admission Criteria

B.V.SC & AH - 5.5 Years Course

Admission Process

1. Application

• Apply online via the official TANUVAS admission portal

• Submit required documents (mark sheets, certificates, etc.) and pay the application fee of approx. ₹350‑₹700 depending on the category. 

2. Merit-Based Selection (85% State Quota)

• Eligibility and selection are based solely on 10+2 academic marks, not NEET. 

• Academic Stream scoring method:

  • Biology / Zoology & Botany: 100 marks.

  • Physics + Chemistry: 100 marks.

  • Total: 200 marks. 

3. Counselling and Seat Allotment

• Online counselling based on merit, reservation, and campus preference. You must register to participate.After registration:

• 1. Download your admission letter.

  2. Report to the allotted college with original documents.

  3. Pay the required fees and finalize admission.

• Additional rounds/sliding for re-allotment based on vacancy and preferences. 

4. All India Quota (15% via VCI)

• 15% of seats are filled through the All India Entrance Examination conducted by the Veterinary Council of India (VCI). NEET scores are typically used for this quota. Admission under this quota follows the VCI counselling process separately

Eligiblity

1. Nativity and Academic Qualifications

• Tamil Nadu native: Candidates must be residents of Tamil Nadu. If you studied from Class VIII to XII in Tamil Nadu, you don’t need a separate nativity certificate; otherwise, it must be provided. 

• Educational Qualification:

  • Completed 10+2 (HSC) or equivalent.

  • Academic Stream: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (or Botany & Zoology).

  • Vocational Stream (TN Board only): Biology with Agricultural Practices / Poultry / Dairy. 

2. Minimum Marks Required (Academic Stream)

• OC / BC: ≥ 60% in Physics + Chemistry and ≥ 60% in Biology (or Botany & Zoology), and overall aggregate ≥ 70%.

• MBC / DNC: ≥ 55% in each subject; aggregate ≥ 60%.

• SC / ST: Pass marks in individual subjects and overall.

3. Age Limit

• Minimum age: 17 years as of July 1 of the admission year.

• Maximum age:

  • OC / BC: 21 years.

  • SC / SCA / ST: No upper age limit.

  • Differently-abled: Additional 5 years relaxation.

Placement 

Placement is an important aspect of higher education, especially for professional courses like veterinary science, engineering, and management. It provides students with opportunities to secure jobs in reputed organizations before completing their studies. A strong placement system reflects the quality of education and training offered by the institution. At veterinary colleges, placements may include roles in government veterinary services, private clinics, pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and NGOs. Though placements in veterinary fields may not be as corporate-driven as in other fields, many students successfully pursue careers through campus guidance, competitive exams, or higher studies.

Scholarship

Benefits

• First Generation Graduate Scholarship — Covers full tuition for students who are the first in their family to graduate and are admitted under professional courses (e.g., veterinary).

• Adidravidar & Tribal Welfare Scholarship — For SC & ST students who are state natives.

• BC, MBC & DNC Scholarships — Applicable to Tamil Nadu students from these communities.

• Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance Scheme — Offers ₹1,000/month for female students enrolled in UG, Diploma, or ITI programs.

• 7.5% Quota Scholarship — For students who studied Std 6–12 in government schools

Veterinary College and ResearchInstitute, Orathanadu, Thanjavur

The Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu offers a range of facilities that support both academic learning and hands-on training in veterinary science. The campus is spread across a large rural area, providing an ideal environment for livestock-based education. The institute is equipped with modern laboratories for subjects like microbiology, pathology, animal nutrition, and biotechnology. Clinical training is provided through well-maintained outpatient and inpatient veterinary hospitals that cater to both large and small animals. A Livestock Farm Complex on campus houses cattle, goats, sheep, poultry, and other farm animals, enabling practical exposure in animal husbandry. There are also facilities for diagnostic imaging, surgical procedures, and artificial insemination training. Additionally, the college has classrooms with smart teaching aids, a central library with access to journals and e-resources, student hostels, sports grounds, and an auditorium for academic and extracurricular events. These combined resources provide students with a well-rounded veterinary education aligned with the standards set by the Veterinary Council of India.

Transport

Transport plays a vital role in our daily lives by helping people and goods move from one place to another efficiently. It includes various modes such as roadways, railways, airways, and waterways. A good transport system supports economic growth, connects rural and urban areas, and makes education, healthcare, and employment more accessible. In educational institutions, transport facilities like college buses or vans are often provided to help students commute safely and on time. Overall, transport is an essential part of modern life, making travel faster, easier, and more convenient.